Are you looking for an energy provider (also known as a gas retailer or gas supplier) that offers competitive rates and features to lower your gas bill? You’re not alone. Natural gas accounts for 27% of Australia’s energy consumption,1 meaning more than a quarter of us rely on gas for our daily needs.
Here’s how to get the most from your gas price comparison.
Each energy plan offering natural gas in Australia is similarly structured. Here’s a list of things to look out for when comparing gas prices:
Compare gas and electricity plans for free with our handy comparison tool.
Natural gas is available across the country. However, availability can vary based on your location. Even if your home or business doesn’t have access to gas plans, there will be an electricity supply. Find more information about gas plans for your state below:
Please note that we don’t currently compare gas plans in:
Gas has numerous purposes in Australian homes and businesses, including:
In the same way you should compare gas plans for your home, you can compare gas plans for your small business. Using our free energy comparison tool, we’ll ask questions about your business’ gas usage and display a range of plans from a variety of providers in minutes. Learn more about gas plans for businesses.
You can switch gas providers if you’re in an area with more than one provider, such as Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra, and your state or territory’s tenancy laws allow switching.
Remember: not all areas in Australia have more than one gas provider, which means not all renters will be able to switch gas providers. This is true for all Australians, not just renters.
Yes, you can switch providers or gas plans if you’re moving to a new house. You will have to sign up for a new plan with your new provider and cancel your existing one when you move.
If you compare and switch gas or electricity plans with us while moving, we will even help sort out the paperwork. For details on how the process works, check out our guide to connecting utilities when moving.
Your usage charges for gas may fall into a block rate tariff, where you’re charged different amounts depending on how much you use. For example, the first 100MJ per day is charged at 3c/MJ, but the next 200MJ per day is charged at 2c/MJ. Alternatively, you may be charged a flat rate for gas usage throughout the day.
Victoria has a seasonal gas rate, with winter months having different usage charges to non-winter months. This is because gas is often used in heaters and there may be more demand in Victorian communities during winter.
To learn more about different tariff types, you can see our handy tariff explainer.
Natural gas generally comes from pockets of gas buried underground, but it can also be harvested from landfills. You can learn more by checking out our page on natural gas here.
Compare the Market doesn’t currently offer LPG on our energy comparison service. However, we can assist with quotes for natural gas if you live in an area serviced by natural gas pipelines. Read more about LPG in our guide to LPG.
If you have energy-hungry older appliances, you may want to consider upgrading and replacing them with newer, more energy-efficient alternatives. For example, did you know you can invest in gas clothes dryers, which can be much more cost-effective to run than their electric counterparts?
If you’re ready to be more efficient with your gas usage, here are some useful things to consider:
If you’re using a gas oven, try to keep preheating and cooking time to a minimum. Avoid opening the oven door too many times, as this releases much of the heat.
Putting lids on your pots and pans saves energy as less heat is wasted. It can also speed up the cooking process.
You may want to consider ‘zoning’ your gas heating throughout your home (i.e. confining heating to rooms often used in the house). This way, you have the flexibility to use only what is required.
There are many ways to save gas and save on your next gas bill. For more ideas, read our full list of gas-saving tips.
As the General Manager of Utilities at Compare the Market, Brett Mifsud is our resident expert in energy. He believes in educating Australian customers about the ins and outs of the gas market in their area, so they can make informed energy decisions.
With more than 10 years of experience in the energy sector across energy exploration, production and sales, Brett hopes to change the energy landscape in Australia through comparison services. He holds a Master of Business Process Management from QUT and has led operational and project teams in the energy industry to deliver transformative change across sales, customer service, marketing and energy meter reading and billing. Brett also guest lectures at The University of Queensland.
