Compare Utilities & Save On Bills
Successfully switch providers and discover potential savings
How it Works
Compare electricity, gas and broadband rates from Australia’s leading providers in just a few clicks to find out if you could save on your bills.
Our fully automated and secure comparison platform helps find the quality deals for you from our available panel, and even gives you the option to sign up on the spot. Now that’s Handy!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compare my electricity bills?
1. Start by selecting the type of energy you need.
2. Provide some details so we can show you the relevant plans based on your needs, whether it’s for residential or business use, solar solutions, and more.
3. If you are moving into a new property, let us know, and we will make sure that your power is on when you move in.
4. If you are not moving in, please select if your bill is available for proper comparison. We always advise comparing when you have your bills available as it provides a tailored result.
5. After providing your details, click on Compare Now, and you will see a list of all the available electricity plans from our panel of energy providers.
Select the electricity or gas plan that meets your needs and sign up online – it’s that simple!
How do I understand different charges on my electricity plan?
You will often see either usage charges or supply charges on your energy bill. Usage charges are the amount you will pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity or per megajoule (MJ) for gas. Supply charges, on the other hand, are the fees charged by the retailer to have your service connected. You will pay these supply charges as long as your energy is connected to your home or business.
If you go away on holiday for a few weeks, your usage may be lower during that time, but your supply charge will remain the same.
When I switch energy providers, will I lose power as they change over?
In short, no, you won’t. Typically, the same energy distributor serves your entire area, so when you switch providers, your new retailer will seamlessly take over your account without interrupting your power supply.
Do electricity rates change during the day?
It depends on your meter type. If you have a time-of-use meter, then yes, your rates will vary during the day. On the other hand, if you are on a single-rate tariff, electricity rates won’t change.
What are energy rebates and concessions?
Energy rebates and concessions serve a simple purpose: they put money back in your pocket to assist in covering your energy expenses. These financial benefits can be applied as bill credits or discounts within the application process. They are typically available to concession card holders, low-income households, and individuals with specific medical conditions.
What is a solar Feed in Tariff (FIT)?
Solar feed-in tariffs give you money back for any ‘extra’ electricity you generate and export to the national power grid – this is also known as the ‘buy back rate’.
If your solar system is grid-connected, you are eligible to receive this feed-in tariff, which will be reflected as credits or discounts on your electricity bill.
When it comes to selecting a feed-in tariff, you have the choice between a single-rate feed-in tariff and a time-varying feed-in tariff. A time-varying feed-in tariff offers different rates depending on the time of day the electricity is exported to the grid. It typically provides higher rates during periods of peak energy demand (e.g., at night) and lower rates during daylight hours. It’s important to consider your entire electricity bill and all the charges, as a higher feed-in tariff may correlate with higher usage and supply charges.
What is a demand tariff?
A demand tariff (also known as a capacity charge) is a pricing structure based on the maximum demand your home has on the electricity network, usually set during specific time periods.
This type of charging empowers you to have more control over your bills, so you can reduce your electricity demand during the busiest times.
Get in touch with your retailer to find out when their peak demand window is and how they work out your demand charge, as this varies from one retailer to another.
What causes my bill to be more expensive?
There are plenty of reasons why your energy bill might be higher than usual.
Here are some of the most common reasons:
Visitors or extra housemates:
Having regular guests or extra housemates means more people using energy in your home, leading to increased consumption.
Seasonal changes:
The difference in seasons tends to mean the difference in your energy bills.
Transitioning from spring to summer often means using the air conditioner or fan more frequently to cope with the heat.
In contrast, winter tends to involve more heating, increased lighting usage, and reliance on appliances like the clothes dryer and electric blanket.
While these elements will mostly be factored into your routine every year, there are plenty of ways to reduce your usage and lower your bills – whether it’s keeping your air conditioner down to around 25°C and on a low to medium fan, or swapping your electric blanket for a hot water bottle.
Idle appliances:
Leaving appliances on standby can consume electricity even when they’re not in use.
According to EnergyAustralia, standby electricity can account for up to 10% of your electricity bill. This can add up significantly over a year, so be sure to switch off appliances at the wall when they’re not in use.
How to compare broadband plans?
There are 3 main elements you need to consider when comparing broadband plans – price, plan size, and speed.
How much are you willing to pay? Price is a significant factor for most Australians, and it’s wise not to pay more than necessary. The price of your plan will depend on several questions.
What speed do you need? This really depends on the size of your household and what you’re planning to use your internet for. According to NBN Co, nearly 70% of households are signed up to an NBN 50 or faster plan.
What are you using the internet for? Are you using it primarily for social media browsing and occasional Netflix streaming, or are you a heavy gamer or remote worker dealing with massive databases? Your usage pattern and the number of individuals sharing the Wi-Fi in your household will determine the plan size you need. For instance, a family of five with three members streaming high-definition videos, one sending and receiving large files, and the other engaged in gaming, will require a plan with more Gigabytes per month compared to a household where only two out of five family members are streaming content. The number of devices connected and the nature of online activities will help you determine how important the speed of your connection is – the higher the Mbps, the faster the internet you will have.
Lastly, consider the type of contract you prefer. Retailers offer various options, ranging from month-to-month arrangements to 12-month and 24-36-month contracts. It’s worth noting that the same plan may vary in price depending on the chosen contract period.
What is the difference between ADSL to NBN?
NBN is a network of high-speed fibre optic cables owned by the government. Most Australians will have access to a home NBN Plan. It’s made up of a broad mix of different technologies, and your actual NBN connection type will vary depending on where you live. This is why your address matters so much when it comes to buying an NBN plan.
ADSL uses copper telephone lines to send data signals. ADSL isn’t capable of transferring data as quickly as the NBN, and it will largely disappear from Australian homes in the near future as the NBN replaces it.
What do I need to know about modems?
When considering whether you require a modem as part of your plan, look for plans and retailers that offer modems as part of their service. Ask yourself if you truly need a modem with your plan. If not, you can save money by getting a Bring Your Own (BYO) modem from a local electronics store or even using one you already have at home.
It is also worth checking if your BYO modem is compatible with your service. ADSL and NBN may have different technical requirements for the modem.
What do I need to consider when moving?
The primary question is how quickly you need to establish your internet connection. For most people, NBN is the fastest type of internet to be connected. However, initiating a new connection can take a couple of weeks, considering the necessary cables and connections.
Additionally, consider if you’re introducing any new household appliances or devices. Have you acquired a new smart TV for streaming free-to-air content? This could lead to an uptick in your internet usage. Alternatively, if you’re establishing a smart home with components like a wireless sound system or a Google Home speaker synced with various devices. Each of these devices requires an internet connection and will contribute to increased usage. As a result, your current (or previous) plan may no longer cater to your needs.
What is Mbps, and why is it important?
Mbps refers to the speed of your internet – the higher the Mbps, the faster your internet connection. Mbps stands for ‘megabits per second,’ and it measures your internet’s bandwidth. But what exactly does that mean?
Bandwidth is the rate at which data can be both downloaded and uploaded through your connection. This doesn’t solely refer to downloading files onto your device. In fact, it includes all your online activities, as everything you do online involves downloading information onto your computer or mobile device, whether it’s streaming YouTube videos, watching Netflix without interruptions, or loading images on social media. This becomes particularly crucial in activities like online gaming, where a smooth internet connection can make the difference between winning and losing.
How to choose the right plan size?
To determine the appropriate plan size, considering factors like household size, budget, and the information previously outlined, the key is to understand the basic tasks and their data requirements:
- General web browsing and social media typically consume no more than 2.5MB of data per minute.
- Streaming Netflix requires a minimum of 700MB per hour, while HD Netflix increases this to 3GB per hour.
- Downloading movies can use between 1.5GB and 16GB, depending on the length and quality of the definition.
- Watching YouTube for five minutes typically consumes around 20MB of data, with variation based on video quality.
- Game downloads can range from several megabytes to as much as 100GB.
According to CanstarBlue, the average Australian spends approximately 48 hours online each month. Considering this, along with the number of people using the internet and the specific tasks being performed, will provide a clearer understanding of the broadband plan size that best suits your requirements.