Compare electricity providers in NSW: how to find your cheapest plan
There is no single cheapest electricity provider in NSW, whether you live in Sydney or regional NSW: prices depend on your network zone, your tariff and how much power you use, and retailers reprice often. The yardstick is the Default Market Offer (DMO) for your zone, which for 2026-27 is $1,899 a year in Ausgrid, $2,328 in Endeavour Energy and $2,604 in Essential Energy, each for that zone's standard usage. Rank plans by how far below it they are, then check the best few on Energy Made Easy, the government comparator that lists every plan.
NSW has a competitive market: 43 retailers had residential electricity customers here at 31 March 2026, according to the Australian Energy Regulator. This page covers the zones and their DMOs, the free-midday Solar Sharer plan, gas, the rebates NSW households can claim and how solar exports are valued.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team · Last reviewed
General information only. We don't compare every provider or plan in the market, and we may earn a commission if you sign up through our links.
How to find the cheapest electricity plan in NSW
- 1Find your network zoneYour bill names your distributor: Ausgrid (eastern, northern and inner Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter), Endeavour Energy (Greater Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Illawarra and South Coast) or Essential Energy (regional and rural NSW). Each zone has its own DMO.
- 2Rank plans by how far below the DMO they areEvery advertised plan must show how it compares with the DMO for your zone. The further below, the cheaper the plan is for a household with the zone's standard usage. The checker below works the percentage out for any single-rate plan.
- 3Check the shortlist on Energy Made EasyEnter your postcode and usage, or upload your smart meter data, to see every generally available plan ranked on your own usage. That is the honest answer to who is cheapest for you right now.
- 4Read the Basic Plan Information DocumentCheck the usage rates, daily supply charge, conditional discounts, when any benefit period ends and whether there is an exit fee.
- 5Switch, then make sure your rebates follow youThe new retailer arranges the transfer and you have 10 business days to withdraw. Give it your concession card details so the NSW energy rebates below keep coming.
Check a plan against the reference price
Enter a single-rate plan's usage rate and daily supply charge from its fact sheet. You get its yearly cost at your zone's standard usage and where it sits against the 2026-27 reference price.
The 2026-27 Default Market Offer for Ausgrid is $1,899 a year at 3,900 kWh, made up of a supply charge of 166.23 c a day and a usage rate of 33.14 c/kWh. Enter a plan's two rates to compare it.
Yearly cost = usage rate × kWh + supply charge × 365 days, the same sum the regulators use. For single-rate plans without controlled load. For time-of-use, demand, block-rate or controlled load plans, use the percentage on the plan's fact sheet or the government comparator. The standing offer row uses the regulated flat-rate tariff for your zone, the most a retailer can charge on a standing offer. Figures include GST. Sources: AER, Default market offer prices 2026-27 final determination.
Which network zone are you in?
Your distributor owns the poles, wires and meter in your street and is set by where you live. It does not change when you switch retailer, but it decides which DMO applies to you and which peak and off-peak times your time-of-use plan uses. The distributor's name is on your bill.
Living near a border, or comparing for family interstate? Our energy hub explains how to compare electricity plans across Australia, including the reference prices in Victoria, Queensland and SA.
| Distributor | Area | Residential flat-rate DMO | Usage assumed | Change on 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | Eastern, northern and inner Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter | $1,899 | 3,900 kWh | −3.4% |
| Endeavour Energy | Greater Western Sydney, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Illawarra, South Coast | $2,328 | 4,900 kWh | −3.4% |
| Essential Energy | Regional and rural NSW | $2,604 | 4,600 kWh | −5.0% |
What the Default Market Offer means for you
The DMO does two jobs. It caps what a retailer can charge you on a standing offer, the default plan you are on if you have never chosen one or your contract has lapsed. And it is the reference point retailers must use when they advertise other plans. About 7% of NSW households were still on a standing offer when the AER set the 2026-27 prices.
From 2026-27 the AER also sets a time-of-use DMO for homes with smart meters ($1,893 in Ausgrid, $2,320 in Endeavour and $2,530 in Essential for the same usage) and, for the first time, caps each tariff component rather than only the annual total. So you can hold your bill up against the most a standing offer may charge in your zone, using the per-kWh table below.
NSW electricity prices per kWh, 2026-27
On a flat-rate standing offer in 2026-27, NSW electricity costs at most 33.14 c/kWh in the Ausgrid zone, 33.73 c/kWh in Endeavour Energy and 35.01 c/kWh in Essential Energy, plus a daily supply charge, according to the AER's DMO determination. Those caps, and the yearly price they add up to, are the yardstick every NSW plan is measured against.
| Distributor | Usage rate | Daily supply charge | Yearly price at standard usage | Standard usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | 33.14 c/kWh | 166.23 c | $1,899 | 3,900 kWh |
| Endeavour Energy | 33.73 c/kWh | 185.14 c | $2,328 | 4,900 kWh |
| Essential Energy | 35.01 c/kWh | 272.22 c | $2,604 | 4,600 kWh |
What market plans charge
Market plans are usually cheaper than the cap. On 10 October 2026, the lowest-priced single-rate plans from AGL, Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia and Alinta Energy were between 6% and 12% below the DMO across the three NSW zones, at standard usage. Each retailer's profile lists its plan, rates and yearly cost zone by zone, for example AGL's rates in NSW and EnergyAustralia's, and AGL vs Origin vs EnergyAustralia puts the three side by side.
The Solar Sharer Offer: free power from 11am to 2pm
Since 1 July 2026, retailers with more than 1,000 customers in the DMO areas must offer an opt-in Solar Sharer plan, with free electricity from 11am to 2pm every day in NSW, up to 24 kWh. You need a smart meter but not solar panels, and renters can take it up, though homes in embedded networks cannot. The AER sets the daily supply charge and the usage rates outside the free window, shown below. It suits households that can move washing, dishwashing, pool pumps, hot water or EV charging into the middle of the day; if you cannot, a flat or standard time-of-use plan may still be cheaper.
| Distributor | Daily supply charge | Peak | Other times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | 176.41 c | 63.72 c/kWh, 3pm to 9pm (November to March and June to August) | 27.56 c/kWh |
| Endeavour Energy | 185.14 c | 48.75 c/kWh, 4pm to 8pm on working weekdays | 37.53 c/kWh; 14.19 c/kWh from 10am to 11am |
| Essential Energy | 272.22 c | 45.57 c/kWh, 7am to 10am and 3pm to 10pm | 27.60 c/kWh |
Gas in NSW
NSW households can choose their gas retailer as well. At 31 March 2026, 14 retailers had residential gas customers in NSW, according to the AER: AGL, EnergyAustralia, Origin Energy, Red Energy, Alinta Energy, ENGIE, GloBird Energy, Dodo, ActewAGL, Powershop, Sumo Power, EL Retail Energy, CovaU and Discover Energy.
The pipes belong to a distributor you cannot choose. Jemena Gas Networks covers Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Wollongong and parts of country NSW. Smaller networks serve Tamworth (APA Group), Albury and Wagga Wagga (Australian Gas Networks), and some customers around Queanbeyan, Bungendore and Nowra (Evoenergy).
There is no DMO for gas, so a gas plan has no reference price percentage. Compare gas plans on Energy Made Easy using your yearly usage in megajoules (MJ) from your bills, including a winter bill, because heating drives most gas use. A dual fuel deal can carry a discount, so price it against the best electricity plan and the best gas plan bought separately. Eligible concession card holders can claim the NSW Gas Rebate, worth up to $110 a financial year for retail customers, and it also covers bottled LPG.
NSW energy rebates for 2026-27
NSW pays its energy rebates as a credit on your bill. If you buy from a retailer, you apply by contacting your retailer with your concession card details; embedded network customers apply to the NSW Government online. Some rebates cannot be combined.
| Rebate | Amount each financial year | Who can claim |
|---|---|---|
| Low Income Household Rebate | Up to $285 (retail customers); $313.50 in an embedded network | Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card holders named on the account |
| Seniors Energy Rebate | $200 | Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders; not combined with the Low Income Household Rebate |
| Family Energy Rebate | Up to $180 (retail customers) | Households that received Family Tax Benefit in the previous financial year; $20 if you also get the Low Income Household Rebate |
| Medical Energy Rebate | Up to $285 (retail customers) | Concession card holders, or someone living with them, who cannot self-regulate body temperature because of a qualifying medical condition |
| NSW Gas Rebate | Up to $110 (retail customers) | Eligible concession card holders with a natural gas account or bottled LPG |
Solar feed-in tariffs in NSW
NSW does not set a minimum feed-in tariff. Retailers choose their own rates, and IPART publishes a non-binding benchmark of what solar exports are worth. For 2026-27 the all-day benchmark is 3.4 to 6.5 c/kWh, down from 4.8 to 7.3 c/kWh the year before.
IPART's time-of-day benchmarks show why timing now matters: exports in the middle of the day are worth around 3 to 4 c/kWh, but exports in the evening peak are worth 17 to 19 c/kWh in the Ausgrid and Endeavour zones and 27 to 33 c/kWh in the Essential Energy zone. Collecting that evening value takes a battery and a plan with a time-varying feed-in tariff. Our solar feed-in tariff guide sets out the benchmarks by network.
Battery, solar and upgrade support in NSW
The NSW battery installation discount for households ended when the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program began on 1 July 2025, and the two cannot be combined. NSW instead pays an upfront incentive for connecting a battery to a virtual power plant, which can be claimed on top of the federal discount. Our solar and battery rebates guide explains both.
The NSW Government's Home Energy Saver program offers zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 for upgrades such as rooftop solar and home batteries to owners and landlords with a household income of up to $210,000. A discount of up to $4,000 for households earning up to $80,000 a year or holding an eligible concession card, including renters, had not opened for applications as at 2 October 2026.
Switching energy provider in NSW: cooling-off and exit fees
Switching is free in most cases. The new retailer arranges the transfer, your power stays on, and you have 10 business days to cancel a new market contract without penalty. A standing offer never has an exit fee; a market plan can charge one only if it has a fixed term, or a discount or other benefit with a fixed end date, and you leave before that date, and the fee can only cover the retailer's reasonable costs. Since 1 July 2026, retailers also cannot charge fees other than network charges to customers in hardship or payment difficulty. Our energy hub explains how switching and exit fees work in every state.
Your rights and where to complain in NSW
NSW is under the National Energy Retail Law, enforced by the Australian Energy Regulator. Since 1 July 2026 national rules mean a retailer can raise your prices no more than once a year, must offer at least one free way to pay, and cannot charge you more than the standing offer when a plan's benefits end. Retailers also cannot charge fees, other than network charges, to customers in hardship or payment difficulty. If you cannot resolve a problem with your retailer, the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) handles complaints for free.
General information only. We don't compare every provider or plan in the market, and we may earn a commission if you sign up through our links.
What to watch for
- Check your zone before comparing a plan's percentage against the DMO. The same plan can sit at a different percentage in Ausgrid, Endeavour and Essential.
- A Solar Sharer plan only pays off if you can move real load into 11am to 2pm. Evening rates are typically higher than on a flat plan.
- Rebates do not always follow you when you switch. Give your new retailer your concession card details.
- A high feed-in tariff is worth less than it looks if the plan's usage rates and supply charge are higher. Compare the whole plan.
Common questions
Who is the cheapest electricity provider in NSW?
No retailer is cheapest for everyone. Prices vary by network zone, tariff type and usage, and retailers change plans often. Rank plans by how far below the DMO for your zone they are, then check the best few against your own usage on Energy Made Easy, which lists every generally available plan.
Who is the cheapest gas supplier in NSW?
It depends on your usage and the offers available when you compare. There is no reference price for gas, so compare the gas plans for your postcode on Energy Made Easy using a year of bills, including winter. At 31 March 2026, 14 retailers had residential gas customers in NSW.
What is the Default Market Offer in NSW for 2026-27?
For a residential customer on a flat rate without controlled load it is $1,899 a year in the Ausgrid zone (3,900 kWh), $2,328 in Endeavour Energy (4,900 kWh) and $2,604 in Essential Energy (4,600 kWh), including GST. These are between 3.4% and 5.0% lower than in 2025-26.
Do pensioners get $250 for electricity in NSW?
Not as a one-off $250 payment. Pensioner Concession Card holders named on the electricity account can claim the Low Income Household Rebate, worth up to $285 a financial year for retail customers ($313.50 in an embedded network), credited on the bill. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders can claim the $200 Seniors Energy Rebate instead.
Is there a $4,000 white goods voucher in NSW?
There is no white goods voucher. The NSW Government's Home Energy Saver program plans a discount of up to $4,000 on energy-saving upgrades such as rooftop solar and batteries for households earning up to $80,000 or holding an eligible concession card, but applications had not opened as at 2 October 2026. Its zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 are open.
Is there a $500 energy rebate in NSW?
Not as a single payment. The largest standing NSW energy rebates in 2026-27 are the Low Income Household Rebate and Medical Energy Rebate, each up to $285 a year. The federal Energy Bill Relief Fund, which paid households $150 in the second half of 2025, ended on 31 December 2025.
Which is cheaper, AGL or Origin, in NSW?
It depends on the plans each is selling when you compare and on your usage and zone. Both are among the largest retailers in NSW. Compare each one's best plan for your postcode, alongside smaller retailers, rather than the brands.
Can I get a feed-in tariff in NSW?
Yes, from your retailer, but there is no legislated minimum. IPART's 2026-27 benchmark for all-day exports is 3.4 to 6.5 c/kWh. Some plans pay more in the evening peak, which suits households with a battery.
Who is the cheapest electricity provider in Sydney?
No retailer is cheapest for every Sydney home. Eastern, northern and inner Sydney are in the Ausgrid zone, where the 2026-27 DMO is $1,899 a year at 3,900 kWh, and Greater Western Sydney is in Endeavour Energy's zone ($2,328 at 4,900 kWh). Rank plans by how far below your zone's DMO they are, then check the best few on Energy Made Easy with your own usage. On 10 October 2026 the lowest-priced single-rate plans from AGL, Origin, EnergyAustralia and Alinta in the Ausgrid zone were 10% to 12% below the DMO.
What is the best way to save on electricity?
For most NSW households, three steps save the most. Check your plan against your zone's DMO and move to a cheaper plan that suits your usage; claim every rebate you are eligible for, such as the Low Income Household Rebate; and if you are on the Solar Sharer Offer or a time-of-use plan, move flexible use such as washing, dishwashing and hot water into the 11am to 2pm window.
Can I change my mind after switching energy supplier?
Yes, within the cooling-off period. You have 10 business days from receiving the contract to cancel a new market contract without penalty. After that, a standing offer or a plan without a fixed term can be left at any time without an exit fee.
Compare every NSW plan
Energy Made Easy, run by the Australian Energy Regulator, lists every generally available electricity and gas plan for your NSW postcode. Retailers must publish their plans to it.
Further reading
Retailers selling in New South Wales
The retailers we have profiled that sell to households in New South Wales, with their customer numbers from the regulator. We do not rank them; open a profile for ownership, plan types, complaints and regulator actions.
| Retailer | Owner | Electricity customers | Gas customers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Energy | ASX-listed, Australian | 975,923 | 313,650 |
| AGL | ASX-listed, Australian | 813,569 | 576,809 |
| EnergyAustralia | CLP Group (Hong Kong) | 741,391 | 336,298 |
| Red Energy | Snowy Hydro (Australian Government) | 500,019 | 159,111 |
| Alinta Energy | Sembcorp Industries (Singapore) | 68,934 | 41,056 |
| GloBird Energy | Melbourne-based, privately held | 33,092 | 24,583 |
| Momentum Energy | Hydro Tasmania (Tasmanian Government) | 26,483 | None |