The companies behind your energy
There are different companies involved in getting energy to your home. Some make it, some move it, and others sell it.
- The companies that make and move energy are responsible for the quality and reliability of your supply. You can’t choose these companies – they’re determined by where you live.
- The companies that sell energy are called energy retailers, and these are the ones you can choose.
In Victoria, there are many energy retailers offering different prices and plans (also known as energy offers).
Now let’s look at what makes up an energy plan and how these plans affect what you pay.
Energy plans and prices
Energy plans are made up of two charges:
- A price for every unit of electricity or gas you use
- A fixed supply charge to cover the cost of bringing energy to your home
Choosing the right energy plan and retailer can make a big difference – the difference between plans can be hundreds of dollars each year.
Good to know
- Your energy plan doesn’t affect the quality or reliability of your energy. Everyone in your area gets the same electricity and gas.
- Energy retailers offer many different plans, so you and your neighbour might both be with the same retailer but pay different prices.
- Energy prices change over time, so it’s worth checking regularly that you’re on the right plan for your household.
- Energy retailers can only increase prices once per year, and they must tell you at least five business days before any changes take effect. If you’re not happy with the new price, shop around for something cheaper.
- If your energy retailer stops operating, you won’t lose power or gas – your account will automatically move to another company to keep your energy running.
Changing energy companies or energy plans
Changing energy plans is easy. It’s not like a mobile phone contract – you don’t have to pay out a contract or wait until it ends.
Just call the energy company you want to switch to, and they’ll guide you through the process.
Once you choose a company to buy your energy from, you enter into a contract to pay for the energy they supply to your home.
Energy contracts
Your contract sets out:
- the prices you’ll pay for energy
- how long your contract is for
- how often you’ll get your bill and how you can pay (for example, direct debit, BPAY, or at the Post Office).
Good to know
- Finding the best plan for your home is easy with the Victorian Government’s free, independent Victorian Energy Compare website
- Your energy stays connected when you change companies. Your new company will handle the transfer
- You’ll only ever pay one company at a time – you won’t be double charged
End of contract
If you don’t do anything at the end of your contract, you’ll automatically be moved to either:
- the Victorian Default Offer – the government’s fair price for electricity, or
- your company’s best offer for gas.
You can also visit Victorian Energy Compare anytime to check if there’s a cheaper energy plan for your home.
If you need help with any part of your energy journey, the Energy Assistance is here for you.
📞 Call the Energy Assistance Program: 1800 531 741
Or learn more about the Energy Assistance Program
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