ECONNEX

Energy Comparison – NSW

Helping you find the cheapest electricity and gas plans in Sydney, NSW. Energy Comparison is easy with Econnex Comparison.

NSW has the highest energy consumption of any state in Australia, largely because it is the most populous. Econnex compares all the current energy providers and supplies its customers with the information to find the cheapest gas and electrical solutions for them in Sydney, NSW. Don’t pay more than you must for your energy!

Compare NSW Electricity & Gas Rates

Currently available in NSW, ACT, SA, VIC, parts of QLD, TAS & WA (only Gas). Not available in Ergon Area (QLD), NT and embedded networks or non-quotable meters.

Finding Sydney’s cheapest electricity providers

There are three distributors of electricity in Sydney: Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, and Essential Energy. Your location determines your distributor. Even so, there are a range of retailers you can choose from. Some of the big names include Origin, Red, Simply Energy, and a whole range of others.

In 2014, the government brought in deregulation legislation. This leads to more competition in the market, which should drive prices down further. In order to take advantage, first, check your current tariff rate. Your electricity tariff is the pricing structure that determines how much you are charged for energy, 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

Smart meters are another option to reduce your costs.

As well as measuring electricity use, they also track in real time, are more accurate, and you can access your usage data from an online portal. A recent study in 2015 found that consumers who switched to the lowest available offer could save up to $522.

Nearly 40% of households haven’t compared prices and switched to a cheaper plan; if you haven’t, now is the time! For thorough and always industry-current comparisons of gas and electricity providers in Sydney and NSW, look no further than Econnex Comparison. Not in NSW? We also help residents in Victoria source the cheapest energy!

Want to choose a new retailer? Click here to compare.

Cheapest Gas Energy Providers in Sydney and NSW

Similar to electricity, three companies distribute gas in NSW. These are the Central Ranges System, Jemena Gas Networks, and Wagga Wagga Gas Distribution Network which is owned by Australian Gas Networks who outsources the operation of the network to the APA Group.

Your distributor is determined by where you live, but you can choose a range of retailers. Some of the big names include Origin, Red, Simply Energy and a whole range of others.

Some suppliers (standard gas suppliers), are assigned to certain regions and can only offer one price. This is determined on the 1st of July each year by IPART.

Gas tariffs are typically less flexible than electricity. However, you still may be able to find a cheaper tariff by comparing your gas plan.

Certain households, those using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), may be eligible for a NSW gas rebate excluding small gas bottles, saving you $99 a year.

If you are undergoing financial hardship, you may be also eligible for vouchers through the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme.

You can choose a gas retailer for a lower rate – compare energy rates.

Top 20 Energy Deals for New South Wales

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

If you haven’t previously thought about switching your retailer, our price comparison tool suggests it’s worth a look. It’s the same deal when it comes to the find the cheapest electricity prices in Victoria.

Save on your energy bills with rebates

Energy rebates and concessions can help reduce the cost of your electricity and gas bills. Most rebates have been brought in by governments to help low-income earners and concession card holders pay their bills. You might also be eligible for a rebate if you have a medical condition. We’ve highlighted rebates for New South Wales below, so take a look to see if you could be eligible for one.

NSW Energy Rebates and Concessions

Family Energy Rebate

Rebate value:
  • Eligible customers who don’t do not hold a DHS Concession Card or Health Care Card will receive $180 a year; or
  • Eligible customers that hold a DHS Concession Card or Health Care Card and also qualify for the Low Income Household Rebate, will receive $20 a year.

Eligibility:

  • Family Tax Benefit (FTB) recipients for the previous financial year and have had their entitlement to the FTB payments finalised.

How to apply:

Visit Service NSW.

Low Income Household Rebate

Rebate value:

  • Eligible customers who already hold an electricity account will receive $285 (excluding GST); or
  • Eligible long-term residents of residential communities (such as caravan and mobile home parks), retirement villages and strata schemes will receive $313.50.

Eligibility:

Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Department of Veterans Affairs Card.

How to apply:

Visit Service NSW.

Life Support Rebate

Rebate value:

The rebate will vary depending on the equipment you use. For example, $1.54 per day for a home dialysis machine and $0.71 per day for a Continuous Positive Airways Pressure machine.

Eligibility:

People with concession cards that use electrically-operated life support equipment to treat life-threatening conditions.

How to apply:

Visit Service NSW.

Medical Energy Rebate

Rebate value:
  • Eligible customers who hold an electricity account with an electricity retailer of their choice receive $285 (excluding GST) a year; or
  • Eligible residents of on-supplied residential communities, retirement villages, and strata schemes will receive $313.50 a year.

Eligibility:

People with concession cards that cannot self-regulate their body temperature.

How to apply:

Visit Service NSW.

Gas Rebate

Rebate value:
  • Eligible customers who hold a natural gas account with a gas retailer of their choice will receive $110 (excluding GST) each financial year; or
  • Eligible customers with on-supplied LPG or natural gas and living in residential communities, retirement villages and strata schemes will receive $121 each financial year; or
  • Eligible customers that use delivered LPG (bottled gas) for basic household needs such as cooking, heating or hot water will receive $121 each financial year.

(This rebate cannot be claimed for the use of small BBQ gas bottles or bottled gas less than 45Kg/88L.)

Eligibility:

Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card. (If you hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Foster Child Health Care Card or Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card you won’t be eligible for this rebate.)

Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Vouchers

Rebate value:

$50 excluding GST or $55 including GST.

Eligibility:

People who have difficulty paying their electricity or natural gas bill.

How to apply:

Community welfare organisations distribute EAPA vouchers to electricity and gas customers. You can find out more at Service NSW.

More ways to save on your power bill

Even if you’re not eligible for an energy rebate, you might be able to make some savings by changing your energy plan – especially if you’ve been on the same plan for a long time.

See how much you could save. Energy Comparison NSW.

How to save on solar in NSW?

Over the years, governments have provided incentives for renewable forms of energy such as solar power. As the uptake of solar systems has increased, solar rebates have decreased in value. And in some cases, the rebates for installing solar systems have been removed all together.

The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme provided financial assistance for many households to go solar up until 31 December 2016. That scheme is now closed. However, a couple of other initiatives have been implemented to assist households. So, if you’re thinking about going solar, it’s worth checking to see you might be eligible for the offers below.

Empowering Homes solar battery loan offer

Rebate value:
  • An interest-free loan of up to $14,000 towards a solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery system (repayable over a range of terms up to 8 years); or
  • $9,000 towards retrofitting a battery system to an existing solar PV system (repayable over a range of terms up to 10 years).

Eligibility:

  • Households in selected areas of the Hunter region.
  • Households with an income of no more than $180,000 per annum.
  • Owner-occupiers who have the authority to install the system.
  • Be connected to the national electricity grid.
  • Satisfy the loan criteria.

Note: The battery-only option is for homes with existing solar. This offer does not include solar-only options. Businesses and participants in the Solar for Low Income Households trial (see below) are not eligible.

How to apply:

Visit the Energy NSW website to find out more.

Solar for low income households

Rebate value:
  • The cost for purchasing and installing a solar system at your home.

Eligibility:

  • Currently receiving the Low Income Household Rebate.
  • Agree not to receive the Low Income Household Rebate for ten years.
  • Valid Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card.
  • Own your house.
  • Do not already have a solar (photovoltaic) PV system.
  • Do not live in a retirement village or strata building.
  • Use at least 3600 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in a year.

Live in one of the following regions:

How to apply:

Apply online at the Energy NSW website.

Solar feed-in tariffs

While not a government rebate, solar feed-in tariffs can also help you save money. Also known as ‘buy back rates’ or ‘solar tariffs’, feed-in tariffs give you money back for any surplus electricity you export to the national electricity grid.

To be eligible to receive a solar feed-in tariff, you will need a solar system that is connected to the grid.

You may also be able to receive feed-in tariff credits on your electricity bill if you are renting. However, this would need to be agreed upon with the owner of the rental property.

Feed-in tariffs will vary depending on the area in which you live and the electricity plan you have. When comparing feed-in tariffs, it’s important to consider your electricity usage, the usage rates, the supply rates, any discounts, and the contract period.

To learn more, see Using solar feed-in tariffs to save.

For more information on going solar, see A little guide to solar.