What the saving is measured against
The headline saving is the difference between what a plan would have cost you over a year on your actual usage, and what your current plan actually charged you. It is not a comparison against a "typical" household, and it is not a comparison against the market average.
That distinction matters. A saving quoted against an average household tells you nothing if you are not average — and almost nobody is.
Why the cheapest headline rate is often not the cheapest plan
A plan is not one number. It is a usage rate (sometimes several, by time of day), a daily supply charge you pay whether you use power or not, possibly a controlled-load rate, possibly a demand charge, a feed-in rate if you have solar, and discounts that may or may not apply to you.
A low usage rate attached to a high daily supply charge routinely costs more than the reverse. The only way to know is to cost the whole structure against your real consumption pattern, which is what the ranking does.
Before you switch, check these
- Look at whether the discount is guaranteed or conditional. A conditional pay-on-time discount is worth nothing if you sometimes pay late.
- Check the contract length and whether there is an exit fee.
- If you have solar, look at the feed-in rate alongside the usage rate — a great feed-in rate on an expensive plan can still lose you money, and vice versa.
- Check whether the plan has a demand charge. These are billed on your single highest half-hour of the period and are hard to predict.
- Confirm you meet any conditions attached to the plan before you sign up.
When we say we could not reproduce your bill
Every bill is checked by rebuilding its total from the rates and usage read off it, then comparing that to the total the bill states. When those agree closely, the comparison is running on figures verified against the bill itself.
When they do not agree, you are told so rather than being shown a confident number built on a shaky reading. It usually means a charge on the bill was missed. Re-uploading a clearer copy often fixes it.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the saving different from what the retailer advertises?
Advertised savings are usually quoted against a reference household or a headline rate. This is costed against your own usage and your own current rates.
Why do some plans not appear?
Plans you are not eligible for are removed rather than shown and then withdrawn at sign-up. Members can read the full detail in the methodology guides.
Does the ranking favour any retailer?
No. There are no commissions, referral fees or paid placements, so nothing in the ranking has a reason to prefer one retailer over another.