Save time while you look for a better electricity deal. Easily compare SA electricity and gas plans from different providers in one place. Learn more.
Our call centre is open seven days a week and is staffed by energy specialists, ready to help you find a competitive plan that may suit your needs and budget. We can also help you apply online.
Whether you need advice about South Australian electricity or gas prices, or you prefer to do your own research, our service can be helpful.
Our service is 100% free to use. Energy providers pay us a commission for every purchase, but you pay nothing to compare. Learn more.
There are many South Australian electricity brands to choose from that offer great plans. You could save money by simply comparing quotes.
Learn moreNatural gas can help you save money when it comes to cooking and heating. We’ll help you find a range of gas providers in SA and help you switch or set up a plan with a retailer.
Learn moreEnergy-conscious Aussies can keep a close eye on their energy usage with smart meters. You could go a step further and save on bills with through ‘time of use’ tariffs.
Learn moreOne in three South Australian homes has rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.1 Many of these customers could save with a solar battery.
Learn moreYour state’s energy market enjoys full retail competition, which means that brands must work harder to keep their customers. For you, it’s a great opportunity to save on bills.
Learn moreThe South Australian State Government has programs in place to help disadvantaged households pay their power bills. We’ll direct you to those options.
Learn moreAcross South Australia, electricity is generated using renewable and non-renewable sources. The National Energy Market sells this generated power to electricity providers (also referred to as retailers), who then sell it to you – the customer.2
With solar PV systems, residents in South Australia can take advantage of retailer feed-in tariffs. Feed-in tariffs allow you to sell unused solar power you’ve generated back to the grid.
South Australia’s energy market has been deregulated since 2012,3 meaning you can compare and choose electricity and gas plans from different providers. To see some options available, obtain a quote with our free energy comparison service.
In SA, you’ll be charged for electricity through supply charges and usage charges. Supply charges are charges to maintain the network and transport energy to homes and businesses. Usage charges are what you pay for the electricity and/or gas 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.
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 may benefit from having a single rate tariff (i.e. rates that are 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 distributor of electricity, while Envestra is the primary gas distributor.
Distributors charge retailers for the electricity or gas service, then retailers determine the supply and usage charges that apply to you as a customer. Distributors don’t set the prices you pay. Instead they’re in charge of transmitting gas and electricity to your homes by maintaining pipes, meters, powerlines and poles.
On the other hand, providers (also known as retailers) are the companies that bill you for your energy consumption.
You can see which energy providers retail both gas and electricity by reviewing the list below.
Compare the MarketTM 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.
* The information provided above is based in the postcode of 5000 and is accurate as of 1 March 2021. 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.
Note electricity and gas are billed separately, which means billing may end up on different days. But on the bright side, you could get the cheapest deals for both in your area!
* The information provided above is based in the postcode of 5000 and is accurate as of 1 March 2021. Data sourced from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
Whether you’re in Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Victor Harbor or another town in between, we can help you find an electricity plan with our online energy comparison service. Simply enter some details about your household usage, and you can receive quotes in minutes from available providers on one page.
Best of all, it doesn’t cost anything to compare energy plans.
Customers in Adelaide pay a fixed supply rate to their provider, along with usage charges for every kilowatt per hour of electricity they consume. This means the more electricity customers in Adelaide consume, the higher their energy bills will be.
To understand some of South Australia’s electricity prices, look at the table below. Otherwise, you can see if there are any great deals through our energy comparison service.
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 Adelaide and beyond, sorted by annual cost.
| Provider | Plan | Annual Cost (inc. discounts) | Annual Cost (excl. discounts) | Discount Benefit Period | Contract Term |
| ReAmped Energy | ReAmped Advance – Time of Use | $1,250.00 | $1,250.00 | None | None |
| GloBird Energy | GLOSAVE Residential (Flexible Rate) – SAPN | $1,260.00 | $1,360.00 | None | None |
| Energy Locals | Online Member – Time of Use | $1,350.00 | $1,350.00 | None | None |
| Kogan Energy | Kogan Energy Market Offer | $1,410.00 | $1,410.00 | None | None |
| Powerclub | Powerbank Home Flex + Smart | $1,460.00 | $1,460.00 | None | None |
| Powershop | Shopper Market Offer | $1,480.00 | $1,580.00 | None | None |
| EnergyAustralia | Total Plan Home | $1,520.00 | $1,520.00 | 1 year | Ongoing |
| CovaU | Freedom Plus – Residential SA TOU | $1,560.00 | $1,560.00 | None | None |
| Simply Energy | SA Simply Energy Saver 8% off Elec | $1,570.00 | $1,570.00 | Ongoing | Ongoing |
| Origin Energy | Origin Go | $1,590.00 | $1,590.00 | 1 year | Ongoing |
| Discover Energy | SA POWER Residential TOU Standing Offer | $1,610.00 | $1,610.00 | None | None |
| Diamond Energy | Everyday Renewable Saver | $1,620.00 | $1,800.00 | None | None |
| AGL | Residential Essentials – No Exit Fee | $1,630.00 | $1,630.00 | 1 year | Ongoing |
| Alinta Energy | No Fuss (TOU Interval) | $1,640.00 | $1,640.00 | None | None |
| Lumo Energy (SA) | Lumo Basic | $1,650.00 | $1,650.00 | None | None |
| Powerdirect | Powerdirect Residential Rate Saver – No Exit Fee | $1,670.00 | $1,670.00 | 1 year | Ongoing |
| OVO Energy | The One Plan | $1,670.00 | $1,670.00 | None | None |
| Dodo Power & Gas | Residential Standing (Default Market Offer) | $1,730.00 | $1,730.00 | None | None |
| Red Energy | Living Energy Saver | $1,770.00 | $1,770.00 | None | None |
| Future X Power | Market Offer – Smart Flat | $1,820.00 | $1,820.00 | 1 year | Ongoing |
| 1st Energy | 1st Saver Plus – Single Rate | $1,840.00 | $2,050.00 | Ongoing | Ongoing |
| Momentum Energy | Smile Power Flexi – RSR | $1,930.00 | $1,930.00 | None | None |
| Elysian Energy | Elysian Market Residential Simple Plan (SAPN) | $1,950.00 | $2,030.00 | None | None |
| Social Energy | Social Energy Basic Plan | $2,070.00 | $2,070.00 | None | None |
| People Energy | Standing Retail Contract SR | $2,110.00 | $2,110.00 | None | None |
| Mojo Power | Energy without Benefits SR | $2,110.00 | $2,110.00 | None | None |
* The prices and information provided above are based on a house with two to three adults with no solar panels or pool and in the postcode of 5000 and are accurate as of 1 March 2021. Data sourced from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). Plans and prices are subject to change.
Yes, there are electricity concessions in SA available for both electricity and gas. To be eligible, you must:
Read more about energy concessions that may be available in South Australia.
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, it’s providers who determine how much they pay to solar customers for electricity that’s fed to the grid.
However, the government stipulates the minimum a customer is set to receive – retailers just confirm whether they offer the minimum or will offer more.
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. Keep in mind that there may be fees to disconnect or reconnect.
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: Australian Energy Regulator Annual Retail Markets Report 2019-20, the median annual bill cost in September 2020 was between $1,500 and $2,000.6
However, the Default Market Offer (DMO), which is a cap on the maximum 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 Australian Energy Regulator, the DMO in 2021-22 for people on the SA Power Network’s residential distribution network with annual electricity usage of 4,000 kWh is $1,716 a year.4 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 $2,077 annually.
Your bill can vary based on how much electricity you use and the price your retailer sets.
1Government of South Australia: Renewables SA. Solar Energy in South Australia. Accessed 8 October 2020.
2Government of South Australia (2018). SA’s electricity supply and market. Accessed 8 October, 2020
3Essential Services Commission of South Australia. Energy pricing. Accessed 8 October 2020
4Australian Energy Regulator (2020). FINAL DETERMINATION Default Market Offer Prices 2020-21. Accessed 8 October, 2020
5Government of South Australia (2017). Understanding electricity and gas bills. Accessed 8 October 2020.
Australian Government Australian Energy Regulator (page 43) – ‘Annual retail markets report 2019-20’ – Accessed 03/12/2020
As the General Manager of Utilities at Compare the Market, Brett Mifsud is our resident expert in energy. Most South Australians can compare and choose their gas and electricity plans from different providers, which is why Brett believes education is key in helping customers make the most informed decisions when it comes to energy.
With more than 10 years of experience in the energy sector across energy exploration, production and sales, Brett hopes to change the energy landscape in Australia through comparison services. He holds a Master of Business Process Management from QUT and has led operational and project teams in the energy industry to deliver transformative change across sales, customer service, marketing and energy meter reading and billing. Brett also guest lectures at The University of Queensland.
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