How to find the best electricity retailer in Australia

There is no single best retailer, only the best plan for your usage. Here is how to compare properly and avoid the marketing traps.

By EnergySorted Editorial Team · Updated 8 July 2026 · 7 min read

Why "the best retailer" is the wrong question

People often want to be told which retailer is best, as if one company is cheapest for everyone. It does not work that way. Retailers set dozens of different plans, price them differently by network area, and change rates regularly. The retailer that is cheapest for a solar household in Adelaide might be among the most expensive for a renter in western Sydney.

The better question is: which plan is cheapest for my usage, right now, in my network area? Brand loyalty, a familiar logo, or a big advertising campaign tell you nothing about whether a plan is good value for you. The best retailer is simply whoever offers the best plan for your specific pattern of use, and that can change from year to year.

The marketing traps to avoid

Headline discounts: A "40% off" claim is off a reference price that varies. A smaller discount off a lower base can be cheaper. Compare dollars, not percentages.
Conditional discounts: Pay-on-time or direct-debit discounts only apply if you meet the condition every time. Miss one and the "discount" vanishes.
Benefit periods: Many market offers discount for 12 months, then step up. The plan that looked cheapest can quietly become expensive.
Sign-up perks: Gift cards and credits are one-offs. A slightly higher rate can erase a $75 welcome credit within a couple of bills.
Low usage rate, high supply charge: A cheap-looking c/kWh paired with a high daily fee can cost more overall, especially for low-usage homes.
Paid shortlists: Many comparison sites only show retailers that pay them a commission, so the cheapest plan for you may never appear. Our look at whether comparison sites are actually independent explains the model.

How to compare properly

Compare on total annual cost for your real usage, not on discounts, percentages or headline rates.
Include every charge: supply charge, usage rates across all tariff periods, controlled load and solar feed-in.
Check the whole market, not a commission-paid shortlist, so you actually see the cheapest option.
Read the benefit period and any conditions, so a cheap first year does not become an expensive second one.
Re-check periodically. The best plan a year ago is often not the best today.

Where EnergySorted fits

EnergySorted is built for exactly this problem. It compares every plan from every AER-listed retailer (not a paid shortlist) and it takes no retailer commissions. You pay a small yearly fee (around $39 at the time of writing), which means it answers to you, not to the retailers. That removes the biggest conflict of interest in energy comparison.

Crucially, it does not rank on headline rates. It costs every plan against your real usage from an uploaded bill (your peak and off-peak split, controlled load, and solar feed-in) so the "best retailer" it points you to is the one that is genuinely cheapest for your household, with a savings guarantee to back it. If you are weighing up tools, see how it stacks up in our rundown of the best energy comparison site in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the cheapest electricity retailer in Australia?

There is no single cheapest retailer for everyone. It depends on your usage, tariff and network area, and it changes as retailers adjust rates. The only reliable answer comes from costing plans against your own usage. Any fixed "cheapest retailer" claim dates quickly.

Are the big-name retailers more expensive?

Not necessarily, and not always. Brand size tells you little about value. Big retailers sometimes have very competitive plans and sometimes do not; the same is true of smaller ones. Judge the plan on cost for your usage, not the logo.

Why do comparison sites show different results?

Many only list retailers that pay them a commission, so their "best" is limited to their paying partners. EnergySorted takes no retailer commissions and compares every AER-listed plan, so its results are not filtered by who pays it.

Should I just pick the plan with the biggest discount?

No. Discounts are quoted off different reference prices and are often conditional or time-limited. A smaller discount off a lower base can be cheaper overall. Always compare on total annual cost for your usage, not on the discount headline.

How often should I re-check the best retailer?

At least once a year, and whenever your bill jumps or a benefit period ends. The cheapest plan changes as retailers adjust rates, so last year’s best is often not this year’s. Tracking it over time makes this effortless.

Is a big retailer better than a small challenger?

Not inherently. Big brands sometimes have sharp plans and sometimes rely on customer inertia, while smaller challengers can be cheaper but vary in service. Our comparison of big retailers versus small challenger retailers weighs the trade-offs so you judge on value, not size.

Is AGL or Origin cheaper?

It depends entirely on your usage and network area; neither is universally cheaper. We break down the two in AGL vs Origin Energy, but the only firm answer comes from costing their actual plans against your bill.

How do I switch once I have found a better retailer?

It is quick and there is no interruption to your power. Our step-by-step guide on how to switch electricity retailers covers what you need and what happens, and most plans have no exit fee to leave your current one.

Who is the cheapest retailer right now?

Any fixed "cheapest retailer" claim dates fast because rates move constantly. Rather than chase a name, it is more useful to understand how the cheapest electricity retailer is worked out and to re-cost the market on your own usage.

Does the best retailer depend on whether I have solar?

Very much so. A solar home cares about feed-in rates and daytime usage, so the best retailer for it can be near the most expensive for a non-solar renter. That is why brand rankings are misleading and per-household costing wins.

Will EnergySorted push me toward a retailer that pays it?

No. It takes no retailer commissions and charges a small yearly fee (around $39 at the time of writing) so it answers to you, not to retailers. That is the whole point of the paid, commission-free model: no incentive to steer you anywhere but the genuinely cheapest plan.

General information only, current at the time of writing. Not financial advice. Rebate schemes and rules change; always confirm details with your retailer or state government energy site.