Let’s admit it — it’s easy to be drawn in by the tall claims of those so-called popular electricity providers in New South Wales. But what’s not so easy is finding a provider that truly provides the best value for your bucks. Don’t worry —we’ve got you covered!
To save you the headache (and your hair) over increasing electricity bills, we’re diving into a detailed comparison of the cheapest electricity providers in NSW. Get ready to compare NSW electricity deals, explore the best offers, and choose the one that helps you save more money.
NSW Electricity Market – A Quick Background Check
Before you carve out time for an NSW power companies comparison, it’s worth gleaning some insights into New South Wales’s current electricity market. The state is primarily powered by these 3 distribution networks, each covering some specific regions.
- Ausgrid:
Covers inner, eastern, and northern metropolitan Sydney and the Central Coast, Newcastle and Hunter Region.
- Endeavour Energy:
This serves especially Western Sydney, the Southern Highlands, the Blue Mountains, and the Illawarra.
- Essential Energy:
Covers regional NSW that includes remote and rural areas and extends into northern Victoria and southern Queensland.
Each network has a specific reference price set by the AER (Australian Energy Regulator), serving as a benchmark to compare electricity prices in NSW.
These pricing options reflect average infrastructure costs and household usages across different areas, as suggested in the following chart –
| Network | Average Annual Usage (kWh) | Reference Price (Annual Cost) |
| Ausgrid | 3,900 | $1,810 |
| Endeavour Energy | 4,900 | $2,223 |
| Essential Energy | 4,600 | $2,513 |
These reference prices are important to identify savings on market offers, with rates fluctuating across networks.
Cheapest Electricity Providers by Distribution Network
You’re actually at a disadvantage if you haven’t taken the time out to compare NSW electricity deals! You might be missing out on a more affordable option! Sure, it takes effort and time to sift through different plans and figure out what’s cheaper.
That’s why we have done the legwork for you! We have listed NSW’s top providers for each network, based on recent comparisons and potential savings. Take a look –
Ausgrid Network (Sydney, Hunter Region, Central Coast, Newcastle)
The Ausgrid Network supplies electricity mainly to urban and suburban areas with high to moderate energy consumption. Below are mentioned the Ausgrid network’s top 10 most affordable electricity plans –
| Rank | Energy Retailer & Plan | Annual Estimated Cost (incl. GST) | Difference from Reference Price |
| GloBird Energy – GLOSAVE | $1,354 | 25% less | |
| 2 | Ampol Energy - Powering On | $1,364 | 24% less |
| 3 | Momentum Energy - Warm Welcome | $1,390 | 23% less |
| 4 | Kogan Energy - Free FIRST | $1,399 | 22.7% less |
| 5 | Energy Locals - Online Member $100 Special | $1,410 | 17% less (plus further 6% less) |
| 6 | Sumo – sumoSPARK | $1,426 | 21% less |
| 7 | Red Energy - Qantas Red Saver | $1,435 | 20% less |
| 8 | Powershop - Switch Saver | $1,440 | 20.4% less |
| 9 | OVO Energy - One Plan | $1,476 | 18% less |
| 10 | CovaU Energy – Freedom | $1,497 | 17% less |
Potential Savings –
According to a recent report by WATTever, households using 3,900 kWh/year could potentially save up to $523 per year by switching to the cheapest market deal. As more than 80% of NEM households are in the same boat, it’s a perfect time to compare NSW electricity deals.
Key Providers –
GloBird Energy, Momentum Energy, and Ampol Energy lead with low annual costs and huge discounts off the reference price. Red Energy adds a bit of extra perks like Qantas points for timely payments, ideal for frequent flyers.
Endeavour Energy Network (Blue Mountains, Western Sydney, Southern Highlands, Illawarra)
The Endeavour network covers mainly areas with generally higher energy usage, reflected in its reference price of $2,223/year for 4,900 kWh.
While it’s difficult to mention any specific providers’ names, a thorough NSW power companies comparison suggests top competitive options including Ampol Energy, GloBird Energy, and others, are likely available, providing comparable discounts.
Potential Savings –
Households in Endeavour areas can potentially save up to $617 per year by switching to the most affordable market deal. The higher reference price makes these areas worthwhile for impressive market offers.
Key Providers –
With higher energy usage in Endeavour areas, electricity plans providing lower usage rates and extras such as loyalty perks or bill credits offer more value.
Essential Energy Network (Regional NSW)
The Essential Energy network covers remote and rural areas, with a reference price of around $2,513/year for 4,600 kWh. Though not listed, providers such as Ampol Energy and GloBird Energy offer competitive options. It’s advisable that you compare NSW electricity deals to pick your region’s best fit.
Potential Savings –
Households can save up to $592 every year just by switching to the most cost-effective market deal. In fact, more than 80% of NEM households could greatly benefit from making the switch.
Key Insights –
Regional areas often deal with higher infrastructure costs, so strong customer support, flexible payment options, and TOU plans work best for predictable usage.
Time to Choose a Suitable Electricity Plan for Your Area
When you compare electricity deals to pick a suitable option, keep in mind that the suitability of a plan depends on distribution network, household energy usage, and specific needs.
Here’s a quick breakdown of which plan might be suitable for which area –
Ausgrid Network (Urban and Suburban areas)
- Ideal for households with high to moderate energy usage, like those in Newcastle, Sydney, and the Central Coast.
- Recommended: Flat rate plans from Ampol Energy, GloBird Energy, or Momentum Energy for consistent usage.
- Special Consideration: Households with solar must trust providers offering high feed-in tariffs like Red Energy or Energy Locals.
Endeavour Energy Networks (Suburban and Higher Usage areas)
- Perfect for households in Western Sydney or nearby regions with comparatively higher energy usage because of more occupants or larger homes.
- Recommended: Choose flat rate plans with comparatively lower usage rates or TOU plans, and consider those offering bill credits or loyalty programs.
- Special Consideration: Pick plans with and strong customer service and flexible payment options to ditch billing issues.
Essential Energy Network (Regional and Rural Areas)
- Ideal for both regional and rural households with higher infrastructure costs and lower energy usage.
- Recommended Plans: TOU, Flat rate, or demand tariffs for households with predictable usage patterns, like off-peak hot water systems.
- Special Considerations: Consider opting for providers with unmatched customer support and plans providing concessions for eligible consumers, like pensioners.
In NSW, it’s easy to be caught up in bold claims or flashy marketing gimmicks about electricity plans. But to get the best value for your money, it's worth squeezing out time to compare electricity prices in NSW using the information we've outlined above.
