Independent Australian energy journalism · Est. comparison-era voice, rebuilt for long-form
Compare rates, not slogans
How Australian electricity plans are priced, what the Default Market Offer actually means, and how to choose between single-rate, time-of-use and demand tariffs.
Home EV charging is a tariff problem before it is a hardware problem. Time-of-use, demand charges, three-phase supply and daytime solar change the bill more than the brand on the wallbox — and this is not a product review.
The Default Market Offer is the annual price cap on standing offers in New South Wales, south-east Queensland and South Australia. It is also the reference price retailers use in advertising, which is not the same thing as your household bill.
A demand tariff charges you for a short spike in power as well as for the kilowatt hours you use across the month. One hot afternoon with the air-conditioner and the oven on can set a capacity charge that follows you until the next billing cycle.
Accredited GreenPower is a percentage of your usage matched with renewable generation certificates. Carbon-neutral marketing is often a different product: offsets that do not change the electricity in your switchboard.
Comparing electricity plans is less about hunting a lowest advertised rate and more about matching a tariff to how your household actually uses power. This guide walks through the bill details, comparison sites and tariff types that decide whether a switch is worth it.
A single-rate tariff charges the same usage price all day. A time-of-use tariff splits the clock into peak, shoulder and off-peak, which can cut a bill or raise it depending on when you actually use power.
The Victorian Default Offer is the state's regulated electricity price, set by the Essential Services Commission rather than the Australian Energy Regulator. It caps standing offers and serves as the comparison reference on Victorian Energy Compare.
An electricity bill is a stack of wholesale energy, network charges, environmental scheme costs and a retail margin. Those layers move on different clocks, which is why a July price letter can arrive even when your usage has not changed.
Use a recent bill, your postcode and meter type, then compare estimated annual cost on Energy Made Easy (or Victorian Energy Compare in Victoria) against your current plan. Look at usage rates, daily supply charges and conditions, not only the headline discount.
No. The DMO is a price cap on standing offers and a comparison price for advertising in NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia. Competitive market offers are often cheaper if you shop around.