What are Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Awards?

Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Awards recognise companies with the most satisfied customers overall based on consumer surveys.

How many people do we survey for our NSW electricity ratings?

Canstar surveyed 2,464 New South Wales residents with an electricity account who pay their bills about their experience with their energy retailer. Market research company PureProfile manages the survey on Canstar’s behalf.

How do we rate NSW electricity providers?

Respondents rate their satisfaction with their electricity provider from zero to 10, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and 10 is extremely satisfied. Respondents rate how satisfied they are with their providers in the following areas: Overall satisfaction with their electricity provider Value for money Customer service: e.g. email, telephone service. Bill and cost clarity: i.e. do you understand your bill? Online tools and advice: e.g. apps to monitor usage, account management. Solar tariff rate Ease of sign-up

How do we work out the winner?

The winning brand receives the highest overall rating once all the scores from each category are combined and averaged.

What other awards does Canstar give?

Canstar also gives Star Ratings to top performing financial products, and Outstanding Value Awards to providers with a range of high-performing products. Canstar’s Innovation Excellence Awards also showcase products and services that break new ground when it comes to helping customers.

Previous winners in NSW

Red Energy has been the exclusive winner of Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers award for NSW Electricity Providers for 11 consecutive years, from 2014 to 2024.

Does Canstar rate other products?

Canstar rates products and services over a range of consumer categories, in addition to financial services. Explore Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers awards here.

What is the best electricity plan in NSW?

There’s no one ‘best’ electricity plan in NSW, as different people have different energy needs. Things to consider when comparing plans include: How a plan’s annual estimated cost compares to the reference price. The usage charge per kilowatt hour (kWh) and daily supply charge. Whether those charges are variable or fixed for a specific term. If the plan includes a guaranteed or conditional bill discount. Your tariff type: do you need a single rate or time of use tariff, or do you require a controlled load? If there’s benefits for solar owners, such as a feed-in tariff.

How many electricity providers operate in NSW?

There are over 20 energy retailers offering residential electricity plans in NSW.

Do electricity providers offer the same prices across NSW?

No. Your energy bill will be different based on your location, as distribution costs vary between networks. This means, the price of an Origin plan on the Ausgrid network will be different from the price of that same plan on the Endeavour network. NSW is serviced by three electricity distributors: Ausgrid: Network covers inner, northern and eastern Sydney. Endeavour Energy: Network covers southern and western Sydney. Essential Energy: Network covers country and regional NSW.

Best Electricity Provider in NSW 2024

Compare the electricity providers rated best by customers like you in Canstar's 2024 Most Satisfied Customers Awards for Electricity in New South Wales.

Written by

Katrina HasdellEnergy Writer

Edited by

Tara DonnellyUtilities Editor

25 Feb, 2025

Fact Checked

Rated brand

Overall Satisfaction

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

Most Satisfied Customers

In 2024, Red Energy has again topped Canstar’s customer satisfaction ratings for electricity providers in NSW – an award the retailer has now claimed for 11 years running. Red Energy achieved a five-star rating across all major categories, including overall satisfaction, value for money, and customer service.

About Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers NSW Electricity Providers Awards

Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Awards shine a light on electricity providers with the happiest customers in NSW. We ask customers to rate their satisfaction with their current electricity provider, by overall satisfaction as well as important criteria like customer service, how clear their bill and prices are, online tools and advice, ease of sign-up and value for money.

Numbers crunched by Canstar’s researchers:

2,464 customers surveyed
23 providers assessed
Six providers shortlisted
One award winner

Read our methodology

The best electricity providers in NSW

The brands rated are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

1. Red Energy

For the eleventh consecutive year, Red Energy has won Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers award for electricity providers in New South Wales. Red Energy has been the best-rated provider in NSW each year since the award’s inception in 2014.

Owned by renewable energy generation company Snowy Hydro, Red Energy operates across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. Its NSW plans include a range of specialised offers, such as EV plans and Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards.

Red Energy Plans

Here are Red Energy's plans on our database for NSW.

Provider	Plan name	Est. annual cost (inc. all discounts)	Est. annual cost (ex. conditional discounts)	Reference price comparison (Basic Plan Information)
Red Energy	Living Energy Saver	$1,614	$1,614	18% less
Red Energy	Qantas Red Saver	$1,614	$1,614	18% less
Red Energy	Red BCNA Saver	$1,614	$1,614	18% less

Results updated 01-10-2025 for Red Energy energy plans on Canstar's database. The results in the table above are sorted by Estimated annual cost including all discounts (Low-High) then Estimated annual cost excluding conditional discount (Low-High). Results for residential customers in Sydney 2000, Australia in the Ausgrid network, where general usage is 3,900 kWh / year on a Single Rate tariff. Lowest annual cost displayed, your bill will differ based on actual usage. Based on general usage, the AER Reference Price is $1,965 / year. *All prices listed are inclusive of GST except where indicated.

2. Alinta Energy

A major gas and electricity retailer in NSW, VIC, SA, QLD and Western Australia, Alinta Energy focuses on offering competitive rates, making it one of the leading challengers to the big three (AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia). Alinta Energy was rated second in Canstar's 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award for electricity providers in New South Wales.

Alinta Energy Plans

Here are Alinta Energy plans on our database for NSW.

Provider	Plan name	Est. annual cost (inc. all discounts)	Est. annual cost (ex. conditional discounts)	Reference price comparison (Basic Plan Information)
Alinta Energy	HomeSaver Max	$1,769	$1,769	10% less
Alinta Energy	SolarBalance Go	$1,965	$1,965	Equal to
Alinta Energy	Standing Offer	$1,965	$1,965	Equal to

Results updated 01-10-2025 for Alinta Energy energy plans on Canstar's database. The results in the table above are sorted by Estimated annual cost including all discounts (Low-High) then Estimated annual cost excluding conditional discount (Low-High). Results for residential customers in Sydney 2000, Australia in the Ausgrid network, where general usage is 3,900 kWh / year on a Single Rate tariff. Lowest annual cost displayed, your bill will differ based on actual usage. Based on general usage, the AER Reference Price is $1,965 / year. *All prices listed are inclusive of GST except where indicated.

3. AGL

AGL offers a small selection of market contracts in NSW, including solar-specific and seniors plans, with variable rates and a range of value-add incentives (e.g. Netflix subscriptions and rewards programs). AGL came third in the 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award for electricity providers in New South Wales.

AGL Plans

Here are AGL plans on our database for NSW.

Provider	Plan name	Est. annual cost (inc. all discounts)	Est. annual cost (ex. conditional discounts)	Reference price comparison (Basic Plan Information)
AGL	Residential Seniors Saver - New To AGL	$1,651	$1,651	16% less
AGL	Residential Smart Saver	$1,769	$1,769	10% less
AGL	Residential Netflix Plan - New To AGL	$1,791	$1,791	9% less

Results updated 01-10-2025 for AGL energy plans on Canstar's database. The results in the table above are sorted by Estimated annual cost including all discounts (Low-High) then Estimated annual cost excluding conditional discount (Low-High). Results for residential customers in Sydney 2000, Australia in the Ausgrid network, where general usage is 3,900 kWh / year on a Single Rate tariff. Lowest annual cost displayed, your bill will differ based on actual usage. Based on general usage, the AER Reference Price is $1,965 / year. *All prices listed are inclusive of GST except where indicated.

4. Origin Energy

Origin offers a variety of variable rate plans, most of which come with a 12-month benefit period, no exit fees or lock-in contracts. Origin Energy placed fourth in New South Wales's 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award for electricity providers.

Origin Energy Plans

Here are Origin Energy plans on our database for NSW.

Provider	Plan name	Est. annual cost (inc. all discounts)	Est. annual cost (ex. conditional discounts)	Reference price comparison (Basic Plan Information)
Origin Energy	Origin Go Variable	$1,651	$1,651	16% less
Origin Energy	Origin Everyday Rewards Variable	$1,729	$1,729	12% less
Origin Energy	Origin Go Solar Variable	$1,808	$1,808	8% less

Results updated 01-10-2025 for Origin Energy energy plans on Canstar's database. The results in the table above are sorted by Estimated annual cost including all discounts (Low-High) then Estimated annual cost excluding conditional discount (Low-High). Results for residential customers in Sydney 2000, Australia in the Ausgrid network, where general usage is 3,900 kWh / year on a Single Rate tariff. Lowest annual cost displayed, your bill will differ based on actual usage. Based on general usage, the AER Reference Price is $1,965 / year. *All prices listed are inclusive of GST except where indicated.

5. EnergyAustralia

EnergyAustralia provides customers in NSW with a range of market offers, with conditional discounts and credits often available. EnergyAustralia was rated fifth in Canstar's 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award in NSW for electricity providers.

EnergyAustralia Plans

Here are EnergyAustralia plans on our database for NSW.

Provider	Plan name	Est. annual cost (inc. all discounts)	Est. annual cost (ex. conditional discounts)	Reference price comparison (Basic Plan Information)
Energy Australia	Flexi Plan	$1,612	$1,612	18% less
Energy Australia	Rate Fix	$1,789	$1,789	9% less
Energy Australia	Solar Max	$1,965	$1,965	Equal to

Results updated 01-10-2025 for Energy Australia energy plans on Canstar's database. The results in the table above are sorted by Estimated annual cost including all discounts (Low-High) then Estimated annual cost excluding conditional discount (Low-High). Results for residential customers in Sydney 2000, Australia in the Ausgrid network, where general usage is 3,900 kWh / year on a Single Rate tariff. Lowest annual cost displayed, your bill will differ based on actual usage. Based on general usage, the AER Reference Price is $1,965 / year. *All prices listed are inclusive of GST except where indicated.

6. Dodo Power and Gas

Dodo is best known as a phone and internet provider, but also sells electricity and gas across eastern states. Dodo was rated sixth in Canstar's 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award in NSW for electricity providers.

Dodo Power and Gas Plans

Here are Dodo Power and Gas plans on our database for NSW.

Provider	Plan name	Est. annual cost (inc. all discounts)	Est. annual cost (ex. conditional discounts)	Reference price comparison (Basic Plan Information)
Dodo Power and Gas	Residential Market	$1,902	$1,902	3% less
Dodo Power and Gas	Residential Standing (Default Market Offer)	$1,939	$1,939	1% less

Results updated 01-10-2025 for Dodo Power and Gas energy plans on Canstar's database. The results in the table above are sorted by Estimated annual cost including all discounts (Low-High) then Estimated annual cost excluding conditional discount (Low-High). Results for residential customers in Sydney 2000, Australia in the Ausgrid network, where general usage is 3,900 kWh / year on a Single Rate tariff. Lowest annual cost displayed, your bill will differ based on actual usage. Based on general usage, the AER Reference Price is $1,965 / year. *All prices listed are inclusive of GST except where indicated.

FAQs about Canstar's awards

FAQs about NSW electricity providers

Meet our energy experts

Katrina Hasdell, Energy Writer

Katrina Hasdell is an Energy Writer at Canstar, where she covers Australia’s retail energy market. Having written more than 100 energy-related articles for Canstar, Katrina is dedicated to providing consumers with easy-to-read information on their energy options so they can get better deals on electricity, solar power and more. She previously wrote content for Australia’s leading home services company, Pulse Home Services, while completing her BA in professional writing and publishing at Curtin University. You can follow Katrina on LinkedIn.

Tara Donnelly, Utilities Editor

Tara Donnelly is Canstar's Utilities Editor, leading the team that focuses on energy, telecommunications and consumer technology. She has spent more than a decade covering these topics in Australia, the US and Canada, and has authored over 500 articles for the Canstar Group. Her expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC , The Australian Financial Review, 4BC Radio and The Sydney Morning Herald. Tara has been nominated for multiple awards for her technology reporting, including Canstar’s highly commended recognition for Best Consumer Technology Coverage in 2024. She has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canberra and is passionate about simplifying complex subjects so consumers aren’t just informed, they’re connected and confident. You can follow Tara on LinkedIn.