Are all brands, products or services eligible to be considered for the Outstanding Value Award?

Our research team includes as many providers and products as possible from our database. Our internal committee reviews this list every year to ensure we are capturing as many providers as possible.

Why do some states not have award winners?

If you’re in the Northern Territory, Tasmania, Western Australia, or outside South East Queensland in QLD, you may notice we don’t currently have awards for all energy types. Here’s why: ● Northern Territory: While there are multiple providers, pricing and service are heavily regulated. ● Western Australia: The market is limited, so we can’t compare plans meaningfully. ● Tasmania: All natural gas transmission is handled by a single distributor, which limits the range of plans. ● Queensland (outside SEQ): Only one provider is available in most areas. If you’re interested in learning more, see our regional guides: ● Guide to energy in NT ● Guide to energy in WA ● Guide to energy in TAS ● Guide to energy in QLD

Are Outstanding Value Award winners the cheapest energy providers in each state?

Canstar’s Outstanding Value Awards methodology considers both price and features to determine which providers offer best overall value. This means winners may not be the cheapest providers available in each state.

What other energy awards does Canstar give?

Canstar’s other energy award categories include Most Satisfied Customers, Most Trusted Energy Providers and Innovation Awards.

Canstar’s 2025 Energy Awards

Q: What are Canstar’s Outstanding Value Awards?

Canstar’s Outstanding Value Awards help connect you with providers that offer more than just a good price on their plans. When you see an Outstanding Value award winner, you know that our team of experts believe that this brand consistently offers great value.

Compare Energy Plans

Tara DonnellyUtilities Editor

Fin ValentineResearch Analyst

30 Oct, 2025

Fact Checked

Key topics

What are Canstar’s Outstanding Value Awards?
Outstanding Value - Electricity Plans
Outstanding Value - Solar Electricity Plans
Outstanding Value Awards - Gas Plans

What are Canstar’s Outstanding Value Awards?

Canstar’s Outstanding Value Awards help connect you with the right energy provider for your needs. We know the cheapest plan isn't always the best fit. Other factors, like customer service and plan features, also count. That’s why our awards dive into the detail of each plan to show you how it all adds up. So when you see an Outstanding Value Award winner, you know our team of experts believe this brand consistently offers great value.

Canstar selects Outstanding Value Energy Award winners by state because we know this is far more relevant for you. It allows us to factor in differences in regulation, providers, prices and products.

Our awards don’t mean that other plans aren’t worth considering. However, Outstanding Value Awards highlight providers that have demonstrated consistent value based on our research, so you can feel confident they’re worth a closer look.

Outstanding Value - Electricity Plans

Outstanding Value Award Winner: NSW

Powershop

Mulit-year winner: 2022, 2025

Powershop’s Power House electricity plan, which features no exit fees and no minimum contract length, saw the retailer top the NSW electricity awards. With consistently competitive pricing, credits for switching, and a comprehensive app, Powershop was a clear winner in 2025.

Outstanding Value Award Winner: VIC

Lumo Energy

Lumo Energy has beaten the competition for electricity in VIC by providing excellent value with its consistently competitive pricing. Lumo has maintained low usage and supply rates on its plans in Victoria and offers flexible payment schemes, such as interest-free instalments.

Outstanding Value Award Winner: QLD

Powershop

Multi-year winner: 2024 - 2025

This year, Powershop has taken the crown for both QLD and NSW electricity awards. The retailer has offered low prices consistently with no exit fees and no lock-in contracts, providing excellent value for customers in both states.

Outstanding Value Award Winner: SA

Engie

For the first time, Engie has joined our Outstanding Value award winners for electricity and solar in SA. The retailer frequently offers rates well below the reference price and higher solar feed-in tariffs (FiTs) on its solar plan, as well as tools to help households track their solar generation and usage.

Outstanding Value Award Winner: ACT

Origin Energy

Multi-year award winner: 2020 - 2021, 2023 - 2025.

Origin Energy has topped the charts for ACT electricity plans for the third year in a row. We found the retailer provides great value with competitive solar FiT rates and low supply charges. Origin frequently offers generous sign-up incentives for new customers and well-priced usage rates.

Outstanding Value Award Winner: TAS

1st Energy

Multi-year winner: 2021, 2023 - 2025

1st Energy has prevailed as the winner for both the electricity and solar Outstanding Value Award in Tasmania for the second year in a row. The retailer’s excellent feature score was boosted by its flexible billing options, relocation services, no lock-in contracts and low daily supply charges on its electricity plans.

Which brands have previously won Canstar’s Outstanding Value Electricity Plans Awards?

NSW:

2024: Powershop
2023: GloBird Energy
2022: Powershop
2021: GloBird Energy
2020: Alinta Energy

VIC:

2024: Tango Energy
2023: CovaU
2022: Powershop
2021: GloBird Energy
2020: Alinta Energy

QLD:

2024: Powershop
2023: GloBird Energy
2022: Nectr
2021: ReAmped Energy
2020: Alinta Energy

SA:

2024: Pacific Blue
2023: Ovo
2022: Sumo
2021: GloBird Energy
2020: Origin Energy

ACT:

2024: Origin Energy
2023: Origin Energy
2022: Red Energy
2021: Origin Energy
2020: Origin Energy

TAS:

2024: 1st Energy
2023: Energy Locals
2022: 1st Energy
2021: Energy Locals

How we determine the Electricity Plans Outstanding Value Award winners

Numbers crunched:

Providers assessed: 25
Consumer profiles considered: 72
Products assessed: 1,789
Award-winning providers: 6

How value is calculated

Our experienced research team weighs up both price and features to determine which providers truly offer customers outstanding value.

We release our Outstanding Value Awards every year to electricity providers that have consistently delivered great value for each distribution network in a state or territory.

We look for electricity providers in our database that perform best across a range of criteria, including:

● Offering the best value plans across both single-rate tariffs and controlled-load tariff plan types.

● Performance across three different levels of activity use.

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