If you haven’t compared electricity or gas plans in South Australia, you could be paying more than you need to for energy.
Here are just a few reasons to compare gas and electricity retailers (also known as energy providers) in SA:
Save time while you look for a better energy deal. Easily compare SA electricity and gas plans from different retailers in one place. Learn more.
Our call centre is staffed by energy specialists, ready to help you find a competitive plan that may suit your needs and budget. You can also apply online!
Whether you need advice about SA electricity or gas prices, or you prefer to do your own research, our service can be helpful.
Our service is 100% free to use. If you find a SA energy plan on our website you like, we can help you sign up for it. Learn more.
There are a number of electricity providers in SA to choose from that offer great plans. You could save money by comparing quotes and weighing up your options.
Learn moreNatural gas can help you save money when cooking and heating. We can help you find several gas providers in SA and help you switch or set up a plan with them.
Learn moreEnergy-conscious SA households can closely monitor their energy usage with smart meters. Smart meters can also give you greater access to different tariffs, such as time of use tariffs.
Learn moreOver a third of homes in SA are equipped with rooftop solar.1 Find out how adding solar batteries gives households more say in how and when they use their solar power.
Learn moreYour state’s energy market enjoys full retail competition, which means energy providers must work harder to keep their customers. For you, it’s a great opportunity to find better energy deals.
Learn moreThe South Australian Government has programs available to help disadvantaged households pay their power bills. We’ll direct you to those options.
Learn moreSouth Australia generates electricity using renewable and non-renewable sources. The National Energy Market sells this generated power to electricity providers, who then sell it to you as the customer.2
With solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, SA residents can take advantage of provider feed-in tariffs. Feed-in tariffs allow you to sell unused solar power you’ve generated back to the grid, which appears as a credit on your energy bill.
SA’s energy market has been deregulated since 2012,3 meaning you can compare and choose electricity and gas plans from different retailers. To see some options available, you can get a quote with our free energy comparison service.
In South Australia, you’ll be charged for electricity through supply charges and usage charges. Supply charges go towards maintaining the network and transporting energy to homes and businesses. Usage charges are what you pay, for the energy you use.
Check out our guide for reading your energy bill to understand what you’ll be charged. Or see the cheapest electricity prices in SA.
South Australians are charged some of the highest electricity rates in the country.4 Numerous factors can affect the cost of electricity in South Australia, including:
The tariff you’re on determines how much you pay for your electricity. You have a single rate tariff (i.e. rates that stay the same regardless of when you use electricity). Meanwhile, others could save on their energy bill with a tariff that charges different rates depending on the time of day you use electricity.
As a customer in South Australia, the following electricity tariffs may be available to you:
Demand tariffs (where you’re charged extra during periods of high demand) may also be available, but are less common for residential customers.
In South Australia, SA Power Networks is the main electricity distributor, while Australian Gas Networks (AGN) is the primary gas distributor.
Distributors are responsible for transmitting gas and electricity to your home by maintaining pipes, meters, powerlines and poles. They don’t set the prices you pay; they charge providers for the electricity or gas service. Then, providers determine the supply and usage charges that apply to you as a customer.
You can see which energy providers retail both gas and electricity by reviewing the list below.
Compare the Market does not compare energy products from all providers on this list as we do not compare all brands in the market or all products offered by all brands. Information about the partners we currently compare is available here.
Electricity
* The information provided above is based in the postcode of 5000 and is accurate as of 1 February 2023 Data sourced from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
If you’re looking for gas companies in Adelaide, we’ve created a list below. They provide both electricity and gas, but not all may provide both types of energy in every suburb.
It’s important to note that electricity and gas are billed separately, meaning billing may end up on different days.
Electricity and gas
* The information provided above is based in the postcode of 5000 and is accurate as of 27 February 2023. Data sourced from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). Whether you’re in Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Victor Harbour or another town in between, we can help you find an electricity plan with our online energy comparison service. Simply enter a few details about your household usage, and you can receive quotes in minutes from our available providers all on one page.
The amount you pay for electricity rates in SA will depend on your provider and your plan, which means you could be paying more than your neighbour for the same electricity usage. Below is a list of energy deals that show some of the cheapest electricity in cities around the state, sorted by annual cost.
Customers in Adelaide pay a fixed supply rate to their provider, along with usage charges for every kWh of electricity they consume. This means the more electricity customers in Adelaide consume, the higher their energy bills will be.
Compare the Market does not compare energy products from all retailers on this list as we do not compare all brands in the market or all products offered by all brands. Information about the partners we currently compare is available here.
| Provider/Retailer | Plan Name | Annual Cost (inc. discounts) | Annual Cost (excl. discounts) | Discount Benefit Period | Contract Term | Tariff |
| GloBird Energy | GLOSAVE Residential (Flat Rate)-SAPN | $1,470 | $1,520 | None | None | Single rate |
| OVO Energy | The One Plan | $1,470 | $1,590 | None | None | Single rate |
| Alinta Energy | HomeDeal (Single Rate) | $1,500 | $1,500 | None | None | Single rate |
| Powershop | Powershop 100% Carbon Neutral | $1,500 | $1,500 | None | None | Time of use |
| Lumo Energy | Lumo Basic | $1,510 | $1,510 | None | None | Time of use |
| CovaU Energy | Freedom Online Residential Single | $1,540 | $1,590 | None | None | Single rate |
| Red Energy | Living Energy Saver | $1,540 | $1,540 | None | None | Time of use |
| Diamond Energy | Everyday Renewable Saver | $1,550 | $1,580 | None | None | Single rate |
| Origin Energy | Origin Go Variable | $1,560 | $1,560 | 12 months | Ongoing | Single rate |
| Energy Locals | IO Energy- Sustainable Home Plan | $1,570 | $1,570 | None | None | Single rate |
| ReAmped Energy | ReAmped Standard | Anytime | $1,580 | $1,580 | None | None | Single rate |
| Tango Energy | Standing Offer | $1,590 | $1,590 | None | None | Single rate |
| EnergyAustralia | Basic Home | $1,590 | $1,590 | None | None | Single rate |
| Dodo Power and Gas | Residential Standing (Default Market Offer) | $1,590 | $1,590 | None | None | Single rate |
| AGL | Residential Standing Offer – No Exit Fee | $1,590 | $1,590 | None | None | Single rate |
| 1st Energy | Standing Offer – Single Rate | $1,590 | $1,590 | None | None | Single rate |
| Momentum Energy | Standing Offer_RSR | $1,600 | $1,600 | None | None | Single rate |
| Simply Energy | SA Simply Standing Offer | $1,600 | $1,600 | None | None | Single rate |
| The People’s Grid | Friends of Oxamii Anytime | $1,600 | $1,600 | None | None | Single rate |
| ZEN Energy | ZEN Energy Standing Offer | $1,600 | $1,600 | None | None | Single rate |
| Sumo | Sumo Standing Offer | $1,600 | $1,600 | None | None | Single rate |
| Kogan Energy | Kogan Energy Basic | $1,610 | $1,610 | None | None | Single rate |
* The prices and information provided above are based on a house with two to three adults with no air conditioning, no controlled load or pool and in the postcode of 5000 and are accurate as of 1 February 2023. Data sourced from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). Plans and prices are subject to change and may have conditions or eligibility requirements.
Yes, there are electricity concessions in South Australia available for both electricity and gas. To be eligible, you must:
Read more about energy concessions that may be available to eligible SA residents.
The best solar feed-in tariff available in South Australia will depend entirely on which electricity provider you’re with. According to the Essential Services Commission of South Australia, providers determine how much they credit to solar customers for the electricity they feed to the grid.
However, the state government stipulates the minimum a customer is set to receive – providers just confirm whether they offer the minimum or will offer more for energy your solar panels generate. Read your plan information document to understand which solar feed-in tariff you’re on.
Always compare your options to ensure you’re on a plan you’re happy with.
You are free to switch electricity and gas providers in South Australia; this means you could pay less for energy if you opt for a different provider or take advantage of other deals.
Always check the following if you’re planning on finding a new provider:
There are numerous reasons why your electricity or gas bill in South Australia could be high, so it’s best to contact your provider directly to talk about this. Most commonly, bills are higher when people use more electricity or gas than they expected.5
Other factors that can contribute to a higher bill include:
Because everyone uses different amounts of electricity at different times and there are various providers across South Australia, there won’t be an average electricity bill that applies to everyone across the state. According to the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) Annual Retail Markets Report: 2021-22, the median annual bill cost for the retail standing offer was between $1,984 and $2,071, and the average market offer was between $1,620 and $2,541.4
However, the Default Market Offer (DMO), which is a reference price to compare how much you can be charged for electricity and based on the average energy usage and supply charges, can help us understand what you might be charged.
According to the AER, the DMO in 2022-23 for people on the SA Power Network’s residential distribution network with annual electricity usage of 4,600 kWh is $1,840 a year.6 For those in distribution areas also on a controlled load of 1,800 kWh (electricity supplied to certain appliances such as hot water systems that operate in off-peak times), the DMO is $2,272 annually.
1 Government of South Australia: South Australian Government Financing Authority. Renewable Energy. Accessed September 2022.
2 South Australian Government. SA’s electricity supply and market. Accessed September 2022.
3 Essential Services Commission of South Australia. Energy Pricing. Accessed September 2022.
4 Australian Energy Regulator. Annual Retail Market Report 2021-22. Published November 2022. Accessed March 2023.
5 Essential Services Commission of South Australia. Energy Retail Price Offers Comparison Report 2021-22. Published August 2022. Accessed September 2022.
6 Australian Energy Regulator. Default market offer prices 2022-23. Published May 2022. Accessed September 2022.
As the Head of Energy at Compare the Market, Meredith is aware that most South Australians can compare and choose their gas and electricity plans from different providers. This is why Meredith believes education is key in helping customers make the most informed decisions when it comes to energy.
Meredith has six years within the energy industry, following 15 years of experience in financial services and is currently studying a Master of Business Administration. Meredith is a dedicated customer advocate who is passionate about empowering Australians to find the right products to suit their needs by removing the confusion from comparing.
