Western Australia’s (WA) sheer size, combined with a smaller population than Australia’s eastern states, means its energy sector is a bit more complicated than elsewhere in the country. So, we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to energy in WA to help you navigate the sector.
Please note: We only offer quotes for WA gas plans through our service and do not currently offer WA electricity plans.
There are a few electricity providers (also known as retailers) available in Perth and other parts of the region, but you have to have a contestable meter to choose your own provider and energy plan.
A contestable meter means energy companies can see you’re available as a potential customer, and you can choose your energy provider. To become contestable, you must live outside the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), where electricity is primarily distributed by Western Power. Or, if you do live within this area, you must use more than 50 MWh of electricity per year of electricity, which generally excludes residential and small business customers.1
As such, residential customers in the SWIS almost never get to choose their electricity provider. Businesses, however, are a different story, as they use much more electricity and account for virtually all contestable SWIS electricity consumers.
WA’s electricity market is broken up into multiple areas:
If Western Power is your distributor and are a contestable consumer, you may be able to choose electricity plans from the following companies (availability can differ depending on your exact location):2
Information accurate as of 15 June 2021 and subject to change.
In order to supply electricity to customers, providers purchase electricity from the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) rather than the National Electricity Market (NEM), which operates in most other states and territories except for the Northern Territory.
Non-contestable customers within the Western Power electricity network are supplied by Synergy and electricity prices are regulated by the Western Australian Government.1
Typically, in a functional and competitive market, there are benefits to energy deregulation. It gives consumers the power of choice, and competition between energy companies can help drive prices down.
However, there is no getting around the vast distances in WA.
These distances would normally drive up the cost of electricity. However, the market is regulated, so prices are similar whether you’re in Perth, Broome or all the way out at Balgo. This means you won’t be penalised for electricity use based merely on your geography.
WA’s gas market is deregulated, meaning private gas companies can enter the market and set their own prices. The free market (under the watchful eye of the state’s energy ombudsman) maintains healthy competition between gas providers. This benefits you as a customer as gas providers that excessively charge risk losing all their customers and business.
All gas customers can choose their own provider; however, some (like Synergy) can only supply gas if you use a certain amount each year.
Additionally, in areas around Perth, Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie, there is a gas price cap on what providers can charge ‘small use’ customers (such as households and small businesses), which is set by the state.3
The Western Australian Government has a number of concessions available:
N.B. Information accurate as of August 2022.
Read more about rebates and concessions you may be eligible for and senior discounts you could be entitled to. Eligible concession cards can include Pensioner Concession Cards, Senior’s Cards, Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards, Health Care Cards and Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Cards. You can learn more about these and other utility concessions with the state government’s list.
In WA, renewable energy is on the rise as the government moves towards a brighter energy future. The power generation share in WA during spring 2021 was:4
Wind power creates just over half (52%) of the renewable energy in WA, followed by rooftop solar energy (41.4%) and then large-scale solar (4.9%).4 A tiny portion of renewable energy is also generated from landfill gas (1.6%). The growing percentage of electricity generation through renewable energy sources helps WA move towards the zero emissions energy target.
While fossil fuel power stations still exist in order to maintain a continuous electricity supply to WA, non-renewable sources are slowly being phased out as renewable energy power plants take their place and the WA government establishes new and innovative energy solutions.
Yes, solar feed-in tariffs are available for those with solar panels at home. There are eligibility requirements to access these tariffs, which are part of the state’s Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS).
Typically, electricity customers in WA receive their electricity bills once every three months, though you may be able to choose to be billed monthly instead. On the other hand, gas customers will typically receive their bill at least every 105 days.
You may be able to choose your gas provider, certainly. Residential customers can choose gas plans from the following providers (depending on your location, not all plans or providers may be available):
N.B. Information accurate as of August 2022.
Western Power is the WA electricity distributor that manages the network of powerlines within the SWIS region of the state. The distribution zone extends all the way from Kalbarri in the north, to Albany in the south and Kalgoorlie in the east.
In the SWIS region, electricity is generated by Synergy, transferred along the network operated by Western Power and then sold on to customers by Synergy or other providers. Outside of the SWIS region, Horizon Power is responsible for generating, distributing and selling energy for consumers.
ATCO operates three gas distribution systems across WA and provides gas to 750,000 homes and businesses across the state. These distribution systems include the Mid-West and South-West systems, the Kalgoorlie Gas Distribution System as well as the Albany Gas Distribution System.5
Through 14,000km of pipeline, ATCO already services parts of Perth, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Albany and Bunbury, with gas connections soon to be available to other communities, including Upper Swan, Whitby and Two Rocks.
Gas providers sell this energy to homes and businesses across the state and manage your gas account. For the full list of providers for both residential and commercial customers on the ATCO website.
Do you use natural gas at home in WA? We may be able to help you search for available gas plans and see if you can find savings. Our free comparison service makes it easy, and you could see available gas plans by usage and supply charges in minutes.
1 Western Australian Government. Electricity Industry. Last reviewed July 2022. Accessed August 2022.
2 Economic Regulation Authority. Contact and more information. Last updated June 2021. Accessed August 2022.
3 Government of Western Australia. Household gas pricing. Last reviewed July 2022. Accessed August 2022.
4 Government of Western Australia – Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Sustainably Renewable. Accessed August 2022.
5 Atco. WA Gas Network. Accessed August 2022.
