Victoria Energy Plans 2026

Victorian Electricity Network

Victoria has five electricity distributors:

• Citipower: Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs
• Powercor: Western Melbourne, Geelong, western Victoria
• Jemena: Northern Melbourne suburbs
• United Energy: South-east Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula
• AusNet Services: Eastern Victoria, Gippsland, north-east

Victorian Default Offer (VDO)

The Victorian Default Offer (VDO) is a price cap set by the Essential Services Commission (ESC). For 2026 — 27 (effective 1 July 2026), the ESC set the VDO so a typical 4,000 kWh household pays about $1,591 a year — down from $1,675 in 2025–26. Approximate annual bills by zone (usage varies):

• Citipower: ~$1,400 — $1,500/year
• Powercor: ~$1,550 — $1,650/year
• Jemena: ~$1,450 — $1,550/year
• United Energy: ~$1,450 — $1,550/year
• AusNet Services: ~$1,650 — $1,800/year

Victoria has the most competitive energy market in Australia. Many market offers are 20 — 30% below the VDO. Use Victorian Energy Compare (vic.gov.au) for official plan comparisons.

Best Electricity Deals in Victoria

• Powershop: Very competitive rates, 100% carbon-neutral, app-based
• Momentum Energy: Strong VIC presence, good FITs, no exit fees
• Red Energy: Excellent customer satisfaction, competitive plans
• Origin Energy: Broad coverage, good online tools
• Globird Energy: Often among the cheapest in VIC

Victorian Gas Plans

Gas distributors: AusNet Services, Multinet Gas, Australian Gas Networks. Many Victorians use gas for heating and hot water. Dual-fuel plans (electricity + gas with one retailer) can save 5 — 10% on both bills.

Rebates and Concessions

• Winter Gas Concession: 17.5% off gas usage between 1 May and 31 October
• Electricity Concession: 17.5% off electricity bills for eligible concession card holders
• Home Heating Bonus: Annual lump sum payment for winter (varies each year)
• Solar Homes Program: Rebates for solar panels and solar hot water (subject to eligibility)

Apply via your energy retailer or the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

Victoria's Feed-In Tariffs Are Deregulated (2026)

Since 1 July 2025, Victoria no longer sets a minimum feed-in tariff — retailers set their own rates, with a legal floor of $0.00 per kWh. In practice, most advertised offers in 2026 sit between about 0 and 8 cents per kWh, sometimes with a higher rate for the first block of exports each day. Because the old 3.3 c/kWh minimum is gone, comparing the feed-in tariff alone is no longer enough: always compare the total annual bill, including usage rates and supply charges, on Victorian Energy Compare.

Use Victorian Energy Compare

Victoria is the only state with its own official comparison tool, run by the Essential Services Commission. It shows every retailer's offers in your distribution zone with your actual usage. Steps: have your last bill handy, enter your usage and postcode at compare.energy.vic.gov.au, sort by estimated annual cost, and switch online. Most transfers complete within two to three business days.

Concessions to Check

Eligible concession card holders can receive a 17.5% discount on electricity usage and the Winter Gas Concession on gas usage between 1 May and 31 October, plus the annual Home Heating Bonus. The Solar Homes Program has offered rebates for solar panels, batteries and hot water — check the current round on the Victorian Government's website, as program funding and eligibility change each year.

What the VDO Covers — and How to Beat It

The VDO is a safety net, not a target: it caps what retailers can charge on standing offers and serves as the reference price every market offer is measured against. In 2026–27 the typical VDO bill is about $1,591 a year, and most Victorians on market offers pay 20–30% less. The mechanism to understand: retailers are required to show the reference price on every bill and advertisement, so a quick glance at the comparison line on your bill tells you whether your plan is above or below it. If you are at or near the VDO, you are almost certainly overpaying — the market is competitive enough that switching usually saves several hundred dollars a year.

Energy Upgrades and Rebates

Victoria's energy upgrade landscape changes yearly, so check current programs before paying full price: the Solar Homes Program has offered rebates for rooftop solar, batteries and solar hot water in past rounds, and the Victorian Energy Upgrades program provides discounted efficient appliances and heating through accredited providers. Concession card holders should also confirm they receive the 17.5% electricity concession and the Winter Gas Concession — both are applied through your retailer once you register.