Energy retail offers comparison report 2015-16 - Archived

31 Aug 2016

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Under the Electricity Act 1996 and Gas Act 1997, the Essential Services Commission provides to the South Australian Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy an annual Energy Retail Offers Comparison Report.

The 2015-16 Report discusses electricity and gas retail offer prices that were generally available to small customers (residential and small business) if they were to seek a new offer in the market.

The key observations of the Report are that:

  • Average annual residential electricity retail Standing Offer and Market Offer prices fell by five percent and one percent respectively over the twelve months to 30 June 2016. Average annual small business retail electricity Standing Offer and Market Offer prices fell by five percent and three percent respectively over the same period.
  • Average annual residential gas retail Standing Offer and Market Offer prices increased by two percent and three percent respectively over the twelve months to 30 June 2016. Average annual small business gas retail Standing Offer and Market Offer prices increased by seven percent and five percent respectively over the same period.
  • There was a wide range of discounts between electricity retail Standing Offers and Market Offers. For residential customers, the discount between a retailer’s Standing Offer and average Market Offer ranged from two percent to 22 percent. For residential gas customers, the discount between a retailer’s Standing Offer and their average Market Offer ranged from six percent to ten percent.
  • There was potential for small customers to reduce their annual energy bills by moving from Standing Offers to Market Offers or, if already on a Market Offer, by considering alternative Market Offers. Customers can use the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) Energy Made Easy website (www.energymadeeasy.gov.au) to compare all available offers.