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If any of the jargon above has you scratching your head, visit our helpful Sergei’s Solution Hub for more information.
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Read our guideIn NSW, you pay a fixed daily fee (supply charge) based on cents per day for your electricity supply. Additionally, you also pay usage charges at a rate set by your provider for the amount of electricity they consume; charged in cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh). The more electricity you use, the higher your usage charges will be.
For customers to take advantage of peak, off-peak and shoulder electricity usage rates, you will need to have a smart meter installed and be connected to a ‘time of use’ tariff. A smart meter is a digital communication device that records and transfers energy data to your electricity provider. This device eliminates manual readings and estimations, which, in turn, allows real-time processing to ensure accuracy, as well as transparency.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in the quarter of September 2017, the average weekly household cost of electricity in Sydney was $38.69, the fourth highest out of our capital cities. For the same period, residents in Sydney spent $10.20 a week on gas and other household fuels.
A tariff is essentially the way you are charged for electricity or gas. In NSW, each energy provider sets the price of your bill. Keep in mind that there are usually (fixed) supply charges and (variable) usage charges that determine which tariff(s) you are on.
Customers in NSW may have access to the following tariffs:
If you have a smart meter installed at your premises and you’re connected to a time of use tariff, you should be able to take advantage of cheaper energy rates (off-peak) during quieter times of the day.
The cost of electricity in NSW will usually depend on which tariff (time of use, controlled load, single rate), energy provider and distribution network your home or business is connected to. According to the ABS, the average weekly household cost of electricity and gas for customers in Sydney was $48.89.
A time of use tariff offers different rates for different times of the day but only applies to the usage portion of your bill. Most energy providers have reduced rates (off-peak) during quieter times of the day and higher rates (peak) during the busier times. To be connected to this tariff in NSW, you must have a smart meter installed.
If you’re connected to a time of use tariff, the peak, off-peak and shoulder time periods vary in accordance with your energy distributor.
Ausgrid is the distributor for inner, northern and eastern metropolitan Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. Peak time periods are between 2pm-8pm weekdays from 1 November to 31 March and between 5pm-9pm weekdays from 1 June to 31 August. Off-peak is between 10pm-7am weekdays and weekends, while shoulder periods are all other times.
| Ausgrid | |
| Servicing inner, northern and eastern metropolitan Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley | |
| Peak | 2pm to 8pm weekdays from 1 November to 31 March 5pm to 9pm weekdays from 1 June to 31 August |
| Off-peak | 10pm to 7am weekdays and weekends |
| Shoulder | All other times |
Essential Energy distributes energy to country and regional New South Wales. Peak usage periods for electricity consumption are between 5pm-8pm weekday, while off-peak is between 10pm-7am weekdays and weekends. Shoulder periods are considered all other times outside of peak and off-peak.
| Essential Energy | |
| Servicing country and regional New South Wales | |
| Peak | 5pm to 8pm weekdays |
| Off-peak | 10pm to 7am weekdays and weekends |
| Shoulder | All other times |
Endeavour Energy is the network provider servicing southern and western metropolitan Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra. This distributor lists its peak usage periods on weekdays from 1pm to 8pm and off-peak usage periods from 10pm-7am weekdays and weekends. Shoulder periods are all other times.
| Endeavour Energy | |
| Servicing southern and western metropolitan Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra | |
| Peak | 1pm to 8pm weekdays |
| Off-peak | 10pm to 7am weekdays and weekends |
| Shoulder | All other times |
In NSW, manual read meters are being replaced with digital or smart meters. Your energy provider may install one for free, however, it’s recommended that you contact your provider directly to ensure the costs of installation are covered under your energy contract.
A controlled load is a tariff with a lower rate that is applied during off-peak hours – generally overnight. This type of tariff is designed for larger household appliances with high energy consumption, like a pool pump or electric hot water system. In NSW, there are two controlled load tariffs available: Controlled Load 1 and Controlled Load 2.
The type and price of your controlled load tariff will depend on the distribution network you are connected to.
The times above are indicative and to be used as a guide only. Each distribution network may change times at their discretion.
Generally, Controlled Load 1 is marginally cheaper than Controlled Load 2 as energy consumption time periods are shorter, however, charges may vary across distribution networks and energy providers.
You can see which electricity providers are available in NSW by reviewing our comprehensive list below. The energy providers listed in blue are partnered with Compare the Market and feature in our comparison service, while those in black are not current partners. You can also gain access to a range of Sydney electricity providers.
Whether you’re in Sydney or Newcastle, Central Coast or Wollongong, you’ll be able to review energy plans specific to your exact location through our free comparison service. All you’ll need to do is enter a few details to gain access to suitable electricity and gas plans. From here, you can weigh up each product’s discounts, usage/supply rates, contract length and much more.
To find the best electricity deals in NSW, we recommend comparing energy prices from a range of different providers. In our table below, we’ll show you the cheapest electricity Sydney has to offer, for other metropolitan and regional areas throughout the state, see below.
| Provider | Plan | Annual Cost (inc. discounts) | Price per kWh (cents) | Discount Offered | Discount Benefit Period | Contract Term |
| Reamped Energy | ReAmped Handshake | Anytime | $1,470.00 | 22.13 | 0% | None | None |
| Powerclub | Powerbank Home Flat | $1,490.00 | 22.45 | 0% | None | None |
| Powershop | Shopper Market Offer | $1,550.00 | 27.35 | 15% | None | None |
| 1st Energy | 1st directSaver – Single Rate | $1,550.00 | 26.07 to 26.68 | 10% | None | Ongoing |
| Sumo | Sumo Select Residential Single Rate | $1,550.00 | 27.28 | 15% | 1 year | Ongoing |
| Energy Locals | Online Saver – Anytime | $1,570.00 | 23.5 | 0% | None | None |
| Future X Power | Flexi Saver – Single Rate | $1,590.00 | 32.82 | 27% | None | Ongoing |
| Momentum Energy | Smile Power Flexi_EA010 | $1,600.00 | 23.98 to 24.73 | 0% | None | None |
| EnergyAustralia | No Frills | $1,610.00 | 25.3 | 0% | 1 year | Ongoing |
| Origin Energy | Origin Max Saver | $1,630.00 | 29.52 | 12% | 1 year | Ongoing |
| Powerdirect | Powerdirect Residential Discount Saver | $1,630.00 | 29.15 | 12% | 2 year | Ongoing |
| AGL | Residential Essentials Plus | $1,640.00 | 26.33 | 0% | 2 year | Ongoing |
| Alinta Energy | No Fuss (Single Rate) | $1,640.00 | 24.98 | 0% | None | None |
| Red Energy | Living Energy Saver | $1,650.00 | 25.30 to 28.45 | 10% | None | None |
| Commander Power & Gas | Residential Market | $1,700.00 | 25.63 | 20% | None | None |
| Dodo Power & Gas | Residential Electricity Plan | $1,700.00 | 25.63 | 0% | None | None |
| Click Energy | Click Banksia | $1,710.00 | 26.36 | 0% | None | None |
| Simply Energy | NSW Simply NRMA Blue +$100 | $1,710.00 | 26.51 | 0% | None | None |
| CovaU | Default Market Offer – Residential Ausgrid Single | $1,790.00 | 27.5 | 0% | None | None |
| Diamond Energy | Diamond Power | $1,800.00 | 29.03 to 35.15 | 0.07 | None | None |
| BlueNRG | DMO – General Usage | $1,810.00 | 27.29 to 41.25 | 0 | None | None |
| amaysim Energy | amaysim Default Market Offer (DMO) | $1,840.00 | 28.35 | 0 | None | None |
| Mojo Power | SE Legacy Standing Offer | $1,850.00 | 29.54 | 0 | None | None |
| Discover Energy | Ausgrid Residential Single Rate Standing Offer | $1,860.00 | 29.48 | 0 | None | None |
| DC Power Co | DC Power Co Market Offer | $1,910.00 | 28.39 | 0 | None | None |
* The prices and information provided above are based on a house with two adults and one child in the postcode of 2000 and are accurate as of September 2019. Data sourced from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). Plans are prices are subject to change.
It doesn’t matter if you’re in Coffs Harbour or Wagga Wagga, you can compare a wide variety of electricity rates in NSW by using our free online comparison tool. Just enter your suburb or postcode, plus a few small details about your property, and in only minutes we’ll provide a list of energy plans tailored to your address. Simples!
Customers in Sydney will usually pay a daily supply charge for distribution of electricity, as well as relevant usage charges per kilowatt hour (kWh) in cents per kWh for energy consumption.
The amount a customer is charged will depend on the volume of power consumed at the premises. Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy are the electricity distributors in Sydney.
If you’d like to browse the cheapest electricity rates in Sydney, please see our main NSW table under the title ‘Which electricity provider in NSW is the cheapest?’ above, which is based on the Sydney postcode 2000.
In Newcastle, customers will normally pay two types of charges on their electricity bill – supply charges and usage charges. Supply charges are calculated daily by the distributor, while the provider determines usage charges. However, other factors contribute to costs. Ausgrid is the energy distributor in Newcastle.
Other contributing factors include the type of tariff available in your area, as well as your electricity consumption needs.
Whether you’re situated in Newcastle, Adamstown or Mayfield, to review a bunch of Australia’s largest energy providers available in your area, have a look at our table under the title ‘Which electricity provider in NSW is the cheapest?’ above, as it also applies to the Newcastle area.
When looking for energy, it’s important to also compare discounts, usage rates and contract or plan terms before settling on a particular product.
Ausgrid distributes Central Coast electricity onto providers, which can then be purchased by residential and business customers. These customers are charged a fixed daily fee for distribution costs (known as supply charges), while retail costs are the usage charges, both of which will contribute to the overall cost of your power bill.
Other factors that impact your bill are your energy consumption needs and which tariff(s) you are connected to.
Whether you’re located in Gosford, Killarney Vale or Mardi, we’ve compiled a list of reputable energy providers accessible to customers throughout the Central Coast region. Please see the table under the title ‘Which electricity provider in NSW is the cheapest?’ above, as it also applies to the Central Coast region.
Compare the Market has simplified your quest to find cheaper electricity by listing prices available in your area. Although it may be tempting to only look at the cheapest rates, it’s also a great idea to compare discounts, usage rates and the length of contracts before making a decision.
