Energy retail offers comparison report 2016-17 - Archived

31 Aug 2017

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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 2016-17 report discusses electricity and gas retail offer prices that were generally available to small customers (residential and small business) during the period 30 June 2016 to 30 June 2017 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 increased by 14 percent and 12 percent respectively over the 12 months to 30 June 2017. Average annual small business retail electricity Standing Offer and Market Offer prices increased by 18 percent and 17 percent respectively over the same period. 
  • Average annual residential gas retail Standing Offer and Market Offer prices fell by nine percent and eight percent respectively over the 12 months to 30 June 2017. Average annual small business gas retail Standing Offer and Market Offer prices fell by nine percent and six 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 one percent to nine 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 to compare all available offers.