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Gas And Electricity Victoria
Post on June 13th, 2015
In Victoria, there are five different electricity distributors that provide power to 2.1 million homes and 300,000 businesses throughout the state. These electricity networks include:
All of the above networks were created when the SEC became a privatised corporation. Each individual electricity distributor is responsible for operating and maintaining electricity networks throughout different regions of VIC.
However, the Essential Services Commission is responsible for regulating the retail energy industry in Victoria. The ESC maintains all licensing agreements for electricity distributors regarding the sale of electricity and gas throughout VIC. The organization will further ensure that all licensees meet strict guidelines regarding market agreements, service standards, and general conduct.
The reason for this stringent regulation is because of retail competition throughout Victoria. All home and business customers have the opportunity to choose any energy retailer that best meets their needs and offers more affordable prices.
As of January 2009, retail prices for gas and electricity were no longer regulated. Instead, market regulation conducted by the ESC is for the purpose of performance, regulation compliance, and managing customer complaints.
If you are looking for cheaper rates on gas and electricity in Victoria, you’ll be happy to know that you have the opportunity to compare apples to apples to find a more affordable electricity and gas retailer today.
When you use our free, quick, and convenient electricity comparison service, you could save up to 20% on your annual power bills. This could add up to hundreds of dollars per year in extra savings!
For more information on important electricity and gas savings, and where to find the best prices, please fill in the form below or call 1300 763 849 for an electricity price comparison at no obligation to you.
Find cheaper rates on gas and alectricity in VIC
The price that you pay for power in Victoria will depend upon:
- Where you live
- How much power you use
- The type of meter you have
- The electricity retailer you choose
Clearly, one of the best ways to save on lower gas and electricity rates in Victoria is by comparing suppliers to reduce your annual power costs by up to 20%.
Since electricity and gas rates can vary based on a number of different factors, it can be a headache to compare energy suppliers on your own to find better rates for your service. When you use our simple, accurate electricity comparison service, we’ll do all the hard work for you and make it easy for you to save hundreds of dollars each year on annual energy.
How to compare electricity providers
Having a deregulated energy market in Victoria means you can and should take advantage of the competition that’s on offer. There are currently over 20 energy retailers operating within Victoria:
- AGL
- Alinta Energy
- Blue Energy
- Click Energy
- Commander Power and Gas
- Diamond Energy
- Dodo Power and Gas
- EnergyAustralia
- ERM Business Power
- GloBird Energy
- Lumo Energy
- Momentum Energy
- Origin Energy
- Pacific Hydro
- People Energy
- Powershop
- QEnergy
- Red Energy
- Simply Energy
- Sumo Power
With so many different retail options out there, it might seem a bit overwhelming. The key to making a choice that’s right for you is to treat it like anything else, and think about it calmly and logically. Find a paper and pen, grab your last couple of energy bills, and start writing a list.
Here’s how we recommend you compare retailers.
Work out what’s important to you, and don’t think about companies just yet. What matters, when it comes to how a business operates? Whether you’re after better rates, a company that’s locally-owned and operated, or one that’s trying to go as green as they can, you’ll be able to find a supplier that suits you.
Once you’ve determined what matters to you, take a look at your energy usage.
Has it changed in the past few bills? What does the trend look like? Knowing your usage is important when settling on the type of plan you want.
When it’s time to look at energy suppliers and start sifting through plans, there are a few notes to keep in mind when you’re shopping around:
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- Know the type of plan you’re getting – There are two general types of energy plans available, fixed rate plans and variable plans. A fixed rate guarantees you’re locked in to one usage rate for the duration of your contract, so you’ll always have the same usage fee.A variable rate plan is changes rates based on wholesale energy prices—so if this price goes up, so does your rate, and therefore your bill. But if it goes down, then you’ll be paying less for your energy.
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- Read the fine print – It might be a tedious job, but carefully reading the terms and conditions of any plan you’re looking at seriously is more than sensible. Make a note of what each one says about rates, tariffs, and any fees. Know what you’re going to be getting yourself into before you sign up, to make sure there’s no surprise fees coming your way in the future.
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- Can they match rates? – With so much competition on the market, energy suppliers want to get you on board as a new customer, so you’ll find that a lot of them will be willing to match, or even beat, the rates offered by other suppliers. It works in your favour to ask if they can do this, as it gives you the opportunity to get a better rate, and go with a supplier that you trust.
- Are there any discounts available? – You’ll also find that a lot of suppliers offer discounts too, in order to make their plans seem even more attractive. You can often get discounts on things like organising for direct debiting of your bill, or opting in for email correspondence. But be sure to know exactly what you’re getting a discount on—there’s quite a difference between a discount on your rate, as opposed to a discount on your entire bill.
So you can make the most of the competitive market, we recommend that you compare your plan every 12 to 24 months, to make sure you’re still getting the best rate and the best deal, and to take advantage of any new technologies that have come into the industry.
You want to make the most of new rates, so here is our list of practical steps you can take now to reduce your energy use, so you can save even more money on your next bill.
It’s as easy as flicking off a switch.
Nine steps to reduce your energy use and save
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- Turn your computer off when it’s not in use. Computers use a lot of energy, and can run on a 300+ watt power supply whenever they’re on. Switching them off at the wall will make a huge difference to your electricity bill.
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- Switching off other appliances like your washing machine, dryer, TV, microwave, kettle, and your phone charger, will also take a reasonable dent out of your bill. Give it a go, and see the difference it makes over the year.
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- Cool your house naturally. Over summer keep your windows, blinds, and curtains closed during the day—this has the effect of stopping a lot of the suns heat from getting in, and keeps your house cooler. In the late afternoon when the sun starts to set, you can open up your home and let in the cooler evening air, and cool your house down even more.
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- Use your fan instead of the air conditioner. Your fan uses up to 80% less energy than an air conditioner, and can save you up to $200 a year.
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- If you do use the air conditioner, set it to between 23°C to 26°C in summer, and 18°C and 20°C in winter. Each degree difference in temperature has the potential to save 10% on energy use, and can save you a surprising amount of money over the year.
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- Dry your clothes outside in the fresh air. Not only is it better for the environment, but swapping four loads of laundry a week from your dryer to outside has the potential to save up to $150 a year on your energy bill.
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- When you do use larger appliances like your dryer, washing machine, or dishwasher, run them at night, outside of peak energy use hours. The peak times normally occur around 7am—8pm, due to higher energy demand, and incur higher energy usage rates.
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- Switch out blown light bulbs for newer energy-saving bulb. Energy-saving bulbs use up to 25% less electricity than your regular bulb, which adds up to huge savings throughout the year.
- An average household of four can easily manage with just one fridge—so how many do you have running? Running a second fridge isn’t only wasteful, but it’s also a reason for your much higher energy bill. You see, older models can use up to two or three times as much energy as newer fridges, so getting rid of the second fridge can save you up to $200 a year on your bill.
See? Nine simple ways you can start saving on your energy bill today. We still recommend comparing your plan, though, so you can start seeing the long-term savings.
ElectricityWizard allows you to quickly and conveniently compare electricity providers and plans in your area. One of our trained specialists can help you find the available rates and options in your service region so that you can choose the plan that best meets your needs to save money.
Try us today! Call Electricity Wizard now on 1300 359 779 or fill out your details below to have one of our comparison specialists help you get a better deal on your energy bills starting today!
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