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How to switch your energy retailer

Can I switch my home to a new electricity or gas supplier?

If you are resident in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland or the ACT you are now able to choose who supplies electricity and gas to your home.

Can I switch my business to a new electricity or gas supplier?

Yes you can! If you are running a small to medium business that consumes up to 160 megawatt hours of electricity (approx $25,000) or 10 gigajoules of gas (approx $90,000) per year then you can choose your electricity supplier much the same as you do for your home. If your business energy consumption is higher than this you can choose your energy retailer and you may in fact be eligible for further discounts. Energy broking specialists can help you find a good deal for your business or you can contact energy retailers directly and speak through your specific circumstances.

What happens when I switch?

If you choose to switch to a new electricity or gas supplier on ShopAround.com.au with one of our preferred suppliers we advise the new supplier that they’ll now be responsible for the supply of your energy. The new supplier will then organise the transfer of your account to their system. Depending on the supplier, this process is finalised immediately or the next time your meter is read and can take up to 3 months depending on where you are in your current billing cycle. Once this process is complete, you will receive your electricity or gas bills from your new supplier instead of your previous supplier.

Which electricity and gas suppliers participate in the ShopAround service?

We are proud to list the products of Actew AGL, Red Energy, Click Energy and Dodo Power & Gas and we also show you the regulated rate applicable to your area. We do not list all suppliers. We have commercial arrangements with our four preferred suppliers and receive a fee if you choose to switch to them via Shoparound's switching service. As we don't list all suppliers we cannot guarantee the best or cheapest electricty or gas price. You can find more details of suppliers who currently participate in our service here.

The regulator in each state has a comparison service available that lists all suppliers. You can find more information about this on our Regulators page.

When will I receive my first bill from my new supplier?

If you switch electricity or gas suppliers with ShopAround you will receive your first bill from your new supplier about 3 months after your meter has been read and your supply transferred over. Some suppliers will read your meter as soon as your switch request is received in which case you will receive a new bill sooner.

Will I receive any bills from my old supplier?

You will receive a final bill from your old supplier after your meter has been read.

What if I change my mind - is there a cooling off period?

After you’ve completed your switch on ShopAround.com.au, you are entitled to cooling off period of 10 business days. If you change your mind in this time, just contact us at customerservice@ShopAround.com.au and we’ll arrange your contract to be cancelled without any cost to you.

(If you are in Victoria and your switch includes arranging connection services you are only entitled to a 5 day cooling off period.)

What if I change my mind after the cooling off period?

If you change your mind about switching after the cooling off period, what happens depends on the specific terms and conditions of the electricity or gas plan you are on. For example, some plans that are not fixed term require you to give a certain amount of notice in writing to your supplier and you can terminate the contract without incurring any costs. Other contracts can only be terminated if you pay a fee to the supplier. You must check the terms and conditions of your current electricity or gas plan carefully before deciding to terminate and it would be advisable to speak to your energy retailer before taking any action.

Do I have to advise my current supplier that I’m switching?

If you are on the standard regulated contract (you haven’t changed supplier or negotiated a new contract with your existing supplier since deregulation was introduced) you do not have to advise your current supplier that you are switching.

If you are currently on a negotiated market contract, you should check the terms and conditions of your contract carefully to see if there are any termination fees applicable, or if you have to advise your old supplier in writing that you are terminating the contract.

What information do I need to provide to switch?

To check out any deals available from ShopAround's preferred suppliers, you only have to enter your postcode and some basic details about your estimated electricity or gas usage. It will help to have your most recent electricity or gas bill on hand.

If you decide to switch to one of our preferred suppliers after checking out the terms and conditions, we then ask you to enter your personal and/or business details and your new contract is completed online.

Will I receive any details after I switch?

After you switch online with ShopAround, you’ll receive an email immediately confirming the details of your switch. The Terms & Conditions of your new Energy Plan will be attached to the email.

Your new energy supplier may also contact you, setting out the complete details of your new Energy Plan and the full terms and conditions of the contract.

Do you do credit checks or require a security deposit?

Some of the participating ShopAround suppliers require a credit check and we will advise you of this in the application process. If a credit check is required, your contract is only offered subject to the credit check being completed successfully.

Some suppliers require a security deposit. Many suppliers remove the requirement for a security deposit if you agree to pay your account by direct debit. We will advise you of these details throughout the application process for specific products.

What if I’m moving home or into a new business premises?

If you are using the ShopAround service to arrange electricity or gas connection with one of our preferred suppliers for a home you are moving into or a new business site, please be sure to enter these details when asked. Switching normally takes a few weeks at least, but we can arrange for move-in connections so long as you give us at least 2 days business notice.

Full retail competition for energy

What is full retail competition or FRC?

FRC, or Full Retail Competition, means deregulation of the energy market. Prior to deregulation, you weren’t able to choose your electricity and gas supplier and all prices were regulated by the government. Now that many new suppliers have been allowed to enter the market and if you live in NSW, Victoria, ACT, South Australia or Queensland you can now choose your electricity and gas supplier.

Does FRC make any difference to me?

You now have the power to choose! You can shop around and find an energy supplier that best meets your needs.

Do I have to switch if the energy market is deregulated in my state?

If you live in NSW, ACT, Victoria, South Australia or Queensland you have three choices:

  1. do nothing and your current supplier will continue to supply your energy needs under your existing arrangements
  2. enter a new negotiated market contract with your existing supplier
  3. shop around the market to find a new energy supplier who meets your energy needs.

Moving home?

Moving home

Why not use ShopAround’s great service to organise your new power & gas supply before you move home!

*Disclaimer: ShopAround.com.au compares your electricity and gas rates with the rates of our electricity and gas partner retailers. We do not compare rates from all the electricity and gas suppliers and cannot guarantee the cheapest price. Discounts shown from our participating suppliers vary between consumers depending on distribution areas, residing state, residential/commercial meter type, and their current retail discount.
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