Compare Electricity and Gas Providers in South Australia

South Australia is at the forefront of green technology but has the highest energy prices in the nation. Econnex Comparison makes energy comparison in SA easy to keep your energy bills low.

Electricity Providers in SA

There is only one distributor in South Australia called the SA Power Network.

Consumers are free to compare retailer prices as the government brought in deregulation legislation in 2002. This leads to more competition in the market, which should drive prices down further.

Suppliers of electricity include big names such as Origin, Red, Simply Energy, and a whole range of others.

Extreme weather may contribute to price spikes that are passed on to consumers. In order to take advantage of pricing benefits other than this, check your current tariff rate.

Your electricity tariff is the pricing structure that determines how much you are charged for energy. For example, this includes:

• The time of use (peak/off-peak)
• A controlled load with a lower rate (such as your hot water system)
• Whether you have a renewable energy feed, and
• Whether your supplier has certain ‘blocks’ that cost more or less

Concession card holders may be eligible for:

• Energy bill concession: supplements electricity and gas payments up to $215 per year
• Medical heating and cooling concession: Eligible customers with qualifying medical conditions requiring heating or cooling can receive $215 per year
• Cost of living concession: Assists low-income customers with electricity costs
• Residential park resident concession: Concession for eligible residents of a residential or caravan park to assist with energy bills
• Home dialysis electricity concession: Patients who receive kidney dialysis treatment at home may receive $165 per year.

Top 20 Plans for South Australia

As of 4th May 2023, here are the top 20 cheapest electricity deals in SA. These costs are for the SA Power network in Adelaide but rates may vary depending on your circumstances like your distributor, your meter type, and actual usage. This comparison is for a residential customer on a single-rate tariff. Please use our extensive comparison platform for a specific comparison in your area and to see other plans in our database that may be available. Our database may not include all energy plans in your area.

Gas Providers in SA

Similar to electricity, one company that distributes gas in South Australia is called Australian Gas Networks.

AGL and Origin dominate the market in South Australia. They do so as they are able to offer gas separately from electricity bundles. However, there are a number of suppliers to choose from that may suit your needs including bundle discounts.

Concession card holders may be eligible for:

• Energy bill concession: supplements electricity and gas payments up to $215 per year
• Medical heating and cooling concession: Eligible customers with qualifying medical conditions requiring heating or cooling can receive $215 per year
• Cost of living concession: Assists low-income customers with gas costs
• Residential park resident concession: Concession for eligible residents of a residential or caravan park to assist with energy bills

New customers may benefit from a connection bonus with eligible appliances that connect to a gas main for the first time. 

How Rebates can help you save on your energy bills

Did you know that the South Australian government offers financial assistance for people who have difficulty paying their energy bills? These rebates – or concessions – offer money back on your electricity and/or gas bill.

SA’s rebates include the Energy Bill Concession, SA Medical Concession, and Cost of Living Concession.

To find out if you might be eligible for one of these SA energy rebates, see the details below.

SA energy rebates and concessions 

1. Energy Bill Concession

Rebate value: $226.67 to help cover both your electricity and gas bills.

Eligibility:

• Valid concession cards include Pensioners Card, Seniors Card, Health Care Card, DVA Gold Card, or if you receive certain Centrelink benefits.
• Not be living with someone with an income greater than $3,000 per year, unless they either:
• Receive an allowance from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
• Are your spouse, domestic partner, or dependent?

How to apply: Apply online at the SA concessions website.

2. SA Medical Concession

Rebate value: $226.67 to cover both your electricity and gas bills.

Eligibility:

• People (or their parent or legal guardian) who have a qualifying medical condition requiring cooling or heating to prevent severe worsening of their condition.
• Certification from their medical specialist or general practitioner.
• Use an air conditioning unit to meet their medical heating and cooling requirements.
• The applicant is financially responsible for the full or partial payment of the energy bill.
• Eligible concession card holders or receive an eligible Centrelink payment.

How to apply: Apply online at the SA concessions website or call 1300 735 350 to ask for an application form to be sent to you. Alternatively, you can complete and sign the application form with your doctor/medical practitioner.

3. Cost of Living Concession

Rebate value:

• $715.10 for JobSeeker Payment homeowner-occupiers.
• $607.60 for JobSeeker Payment tenants.
• $215.10 for homeowner-occupiers.
• $107.60 for homeowner-occupiers who are self-funded retirees with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
• $107.60 for tenants.

Eligibility:

Pension card, Department of Veteran Affairs card, health care card, seniors’ card, receive a selected Centrelink payment, or you can show low-income provisions are met.

How to apply: Apply online at the SA concession website. If your application is approved, your concession will be paid directly into your bank account by electronic funds transfer.

4. Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme (EEPS)

Rebate value: Up to $400 excluding GST or $440 including GST.

Eligibility:

• People with significant financial difficulties; or
• People who receive an energy bill concession from the Department of Human Services and have had their electricity disconnected or are at risk of disconnection.

How to apply: If you’re a SA resident and think you meet the criteria, visit a financial counselor to assess your situation. To find out more, visit the SA concessions website or call the Department of Human Services ConcessionSA hotline on 1800 307 758.

More ways to save on your energy bills - Energy Comparison South Australia

Not eligible for an energy rebate? You might be able to make some savings by changing your plan.

There are still savings to be made on solar

Going solar can be a big investment. That’s why over the years, many governments have offered financial incentives to install solar systems. However, as the uptake of solar systems has increased, solar rebates have decreased in value. And in some cases, the rebates have been removed altogether.

Currently, South Australia only offers one incentive for purchasing solar batteries: The Home Battery Scheme. With this scheme, all South Australian residents are eligible to receive up to $4,000 for each battery installed.

We’ve included a summary of the scheme’s details below. Econnex’s Comparison Electricity Comparison SA allows you to switch to a better energy plan.

The Home Battery Scheme

Rebate value:

• Up to $4,000 per battery installation.
• The subsidy is calculated on the kilowatt-hour capacity of the battery purchased:
  • $400 per kWh for Energy concession holders; or
  • $300 per kWh for all other householders.

Eligibility:

• All South Australians.
• The batteries installed must comply with certain specifications.
• Battery systems are also required to be virtual power plant (VPP) capable (see an explanation of virtual power plants below).

How to apply: Find out more at South Australia’s Home Battery Scheme website.

What does virtual power plant (VPP) capable mean?

With a virtual power plant (VPP), operators use a network of energy resources to support the existing electricity grid.

Virtual power plant capability means the battery system is able to function as part of this virtual power plant if need be.

As an incentive, householders are offered incentives to install a virtual power plant-capable solar battery system. Such incentives can include reward payments, a discounted battery (as per The Home Battery Scheme), or a retail offer.

Things to consider before joining a virtual power plant (VPP):

• What type of batteries can be enrolled in the VPP?
• How much will the system cost? (including installation and new solar panels if needed)
• How will you be rewarded for participating in the VPP?
• What electricity plan will you be on?
• How will your plan’s usage charge, daily supply charge, and feed-in tariff compare to other retail offers in the market?
• How much of the battery can you reserve for backup protection?
• Is there a contract term and/or early termination fee?
• How much electricity is the VPP operator contractually allowed to draw from your battery each year?

Saving with solar feed-in tariffs

Solar feed-in tariffs can also help you save money on your energy bills. Also known as ‘buy-back rates’ or ‘solar tariffs’, feed-in tariffs give you money back for any surplus electricity you export to the electricity grid.

To benefit from a solar feed-in tariff, you’ll need a solar system that is connected to the electricity grid. You may also be able to benefit from feed-in tariff credits if you are renting. However, you would need to discuss this with your property manager and/or landlord.

To give you an idea of how much you could receive, currently feed-in tariffs might range from 10 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 18 cents per kWh. But these can vary greatly depending on the area in which you live.

Tip: Don’t forget to consider your electricity usage, the usage rates, the supply rates, any discounts, and the contract period when comparing feed-in tariff rates.