Step 1 — Pull out your last few bills
Before comparing, you need two pieces of information to get accurate quotes:
- Annual electricity usage in kWh. This is the single most important input for comparison tools. Use the figure from your most recent 12 months of bills, or the "estimated annual usage" figure that many bills now show. A typical Australian household uses roughly 4,000–7,000 kWh per year, but usage varies widely by state, household size, and whether you have electric heating or a pool.
- Your NMI (National Meter Identifier) for electricity or MIRN for gas. These 10–11 digit reference numbers are on your bill and identify your supply point — you'll need them when signing up with a new retailer.
Also note your current tariff structure: flat rate (same price per kWh all day), time-of-use (rates vary by time of day), or controlled load (off-peak rate for hot water systems). Switching tariff types at the same time as switching retailer can amplify savings if your usage pattern suits it.
Step 2 — Use the government comparison tool for your state
Two government-backed tools cover Australia's competitive retail electricity and gas markets:
NSW, QLD, SA, Tasmania, and ACT — Energy Made Easy Run by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), Energy Made Easy shows every available plan from every licensed retailer in your area. It's independent, ad-free, and updated regularly. Enter your postcode, current usage, and tariff type to see a side-by-side cost comparison.
Victoria — Victorian Energy Compare Victoria's energy market is regulated separately by the Essential Services Commission (ESC). Victorian Energy Compare is the state government's independent tool, covering every plan from every Victorian retailer. It works the same way as Energy Made Easy — enter your usage and postcode to compare.
Both tools are genuinely independent and show every retailer's offers, unlike private comparison sites which may only list partners.
Step 3 — Understand the reference price (DMO and VDO)
The Default Market Offer (DMO) — set annually by the AER — is the reference price for electricity in NSW, QLD, SA, and the ACT. It serves two purposes:
- A price cap: a retailer's standing offer cannot exceed the DMO.
- A benchmark: market offers are displayed on comparison tools as a percentage above or below the DMO, making it easy to see at a glance how good any plan is.
For the 2026–27 year, the AER has set DMO prices that represent a fall of 7.2%–10.7% for residential customers in NSW, reflecting lower wholesale energy costs. Plans significantly below the DMO — shown as a negative percentage on Energy Made Easy — represent genuine savings on the default rate.
In Victoria, the equivalent is the Victorian Default Offer (VDO), set by the ESC and updated every 1 July. The VDO is the maximum price a retailer can charge customers who haven't engaged in the market.
Best-offer obligations: Under Australian Consumer Law and AER rules, retailers must notify customers when a better plan is available from them. This is a useful prompt, but comparison tools show the whole market, not just one retailer's options.
Step 4 — Switch to the new retailer
When you've found a plan that beats your current deal:
- Apply on the new retailer's website or call them directly. Have your NMI/MIRN, a recent bill, and payment details ready.
- You do not need to contact your current retailer to cancel. The new retailer notifies your existing supplier on your behalf — this is handled automatically under the market rules.
- Confirm there's no lock-in contract before signing. Most Australian market offer plans are contract-free. If a plan does have a fixed term, ask about the early exit conditions.
Step 5 — What happens during and after the switch
Supply continuity: your electricity or gas supply is never interrupted when you switch. The physical infrastructure — the poles, wires, and pipes — is managed by your local distributor (not your retailer), and that doesn't change.
Switching timeline: under current market rules, switching typically completes within two business days for customers with smart meters and remotely-readable meters. Older meters may require a physical read, which can add a few days.
Take a meter reading on the day you switch. Photograph the meter display. If there's any dispute about your final bill from the old retailer, this reading is your evidence for the handover date.
Final bill: your old retailer will send a final bill covering usage up to the switch date. If you were paying by direct debit and had credit on the account, they must refund the balance.
What about WA and the NT?
Western Australia and the Northern Territory operate under different frameworks and are not covered by Energy Made Easy. In the Perth metropolitan area, Synergy is the regulated electricity retailer. In regional WA, Horizon Power is the provider. Neither market currently has retail competition for residential customers — you cannot switch to a competing retailer. The NT is similarly a regulated single-retailer market for residential customers.
See also the UK version of this guide for how switching works under Ofgem's rules, and how to get car insurance quotes for a similar comparison-shopping guide. Browse every guide here.