This 1st Energy review covers the Melbourne-based electricity retailer’s residential plans in New South Wales, south-east Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania as at November 2026. Its 1st Emerald single-rate plans list prices 19% to 23% below the regulator’s Default Market Offer, but its solar feed-in rate is only 1c per kWh outside Tasmania. 1st Energy holds 4.5 stars from 1,155 ProductReview.com.au reviews and 4.1 stars from 1,974 Google reviews, both read 14 November 2026. This is independent desk research; 1st Energy was not contacted and did not pay.
Key facts
- As at 14 November 2026, 1st Energy’s 1st Emerald single-rate plan on the Ausgrid network lists a daily supply charge of 120.8c and a usage rate of 24.0c per kWh excluding GST, with a 4% guaranteed discount, which works out to about A$1,454 a year at the regulator’s 3,900 kWh benchmark.
- The Australian Energy Regulator’s 2026-27 Default Market Offer for Ausgrid is A$1,899 a year, so 1st Emerald is about 23% cheaper on that benchmark.
- 1st Energy’s feed-in tariff on its NSW, Queensland and South Australian plans is 1c per kWh for the first 5 kWh exported each day and 0.1c per kWh after that, according to Energy Made Easy data read 14 November 2026.
- 1st Energy’s Victorian plans list a solar feed-in rate of 0.5c per kWh, and its Tasmanian plans list 9.276c per kWh, which is the regulated minimum.
- 1st Energy has no contract term or exit fee on the plans we read, but prices can change with at least 5 business days’ notice.
- In December 2020 the ACCC accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from 1st Energy Pty Ltd over misleading telemarketing to Tasmanian customers in 2019.
How 1st Energy works
1st Energy Pty Ltd is a conventional electricity retailer: you pay a daily supply charge plus a usage rate, and the plans we read are ongoing contracts with a 10-day cooling-off period and no fixed term. The ACCC says the company began operating in 2014 and started supplying Tasmanian customers in February 2019. Google Maps lists its office at Level 12, 459 Little Collins Street, Melbourne (checked November 2026). We did not confirm its ABN or parent company, and its own website blocked our automated access, so every rate below comes from the regulator’s data.
We read the Australian Energy Regulator’s public Consumer Data Right product data, the same data Energy Made Easy shows, on 14 November 2026. It listed 141 residential market plans from 1st Energy across four plan families: 1st Emerald (the cheapest), 1st Quartz, 1st Home and RACT Members Only (Tasmania). Rates in that data exclude GST, so we multiplied by 1.1. A check supports this: 1st Energy’s Tasmanian Tariff 31 rate of 25.4c becomes 27.94c, within 0.02c of Aurora Energy’s 27.9538c standing offer. Victorian plans are not shown on Energy Made Easy and the data does not flag their GST basis; see the Victoria section.
It sells in NSW (Ausgrid, Endeavour and Essential Energy networks), south-east Queensland (Energex), South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. It does not sell in Western Australia, the ACT or the Northern Territory.
1st Energy rates against the Default Market Offer
1st Emerald single-rate plans were 19% to 23% below the Default Market Offer (DMO) in all five NSW, Queensland and South Australian networks. The DMO is the regulator’s price cap for standing offers; see our Default Market Offer guide.
- 1st Emerald single rate
- Default Market Offer flat rate
Source: Solar Cobber calculation from AER Energy Made Easy product data read 14 November 2026; AER Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination. Annual bill = (supply x 365 + usage rate x kWh) x 1.1, less the 4% discount where the plan lists one (NSW only).
View the data as a table
| 1st Emerald single rate | Default Market Offer flat rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid (3,900 kWh) | A$1,454 | A$1,899 |
| Energex (4,600 kWh) | A$1,588 | A$1,988 |
| Endeavour (4,900 kWh) | A$1,787 | A$2,328 |
| SA Power Networks (4,000 kWh) | A$1,887 | A$2,334 |
| Essential Energy (4,600 kWh) | A$2,021 | A$2,604 |
The gap was largest in NSW (about 23%) and smallest in South Australia (about 19%). The table gives the three plan families side by side; “Quartz” and “Home” are 1st Energy’s own plan names.
| Network | 1st Emerald | 1st Quartz | 1st Home | Default Market Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | A$1,454 | A$1,515 | A$1,803 | A$1,899 |
| Endeavour | A$1,787 | A$1,861 | A$2,210 | A$2,328 |
| Energex | A$1,588 | A$1,947 | not listed | A$1,988 |
| Essential Energy | A$2,021 | A$2,105 | A$2,472 | A$2,604 |
| SA Power Networks | A$1,887 | A$2,212 | not listed | A$2,334 |
All bills are annual, single rate, GST inclusive, at the DMO usage assumption for each network, from Energy Made Easy data read 14 November 2026. The spread inside 1st Energy matters: in Energex a customer on 1st Quartz pays about A$359 more than one on 1st Emerald, and in Ausgrid a 1st Home customer pays about A$349 more. The data lists plans open to new customers, so an existing customer on an older plan may be paying one of the higher rates.
Solar Cobber calculation for Ausgrid, 1st Emerald: supply 1.208 x 365 = A$440.9, usage 0.24 x 3,900 = A$936.0, total A$1,376.9 before GST. Multiply by 1.1 for A$1,514.6, then by 0.96 for the 4% discount: A$1,454.
Time-of-use rates
1st Emerald Time of Use was cheaper than the DMO in all three Energex bands. It Time of Use uses the same windows as the regulator’s tariff: peak 4pm to 9pm, off-peak 11am to 4pm and shoulder 9pm to 11am.
- 1st Emerald Time of Use
- Default Market Offer
View the data as a table
| 1st Emerald Time of Use | Default Market Offer | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak | 38.17c | 47.79c |
| Shoulder | 20.13c | 25.30c |
| Off-peak | 5.50c | 6.98c |
The 5.5c midday off-peak rate suits households who run a pool pump, hot water or an EV between 11am and 4pm. Our peak and off-peak times guide explains how the windows differ by network.
1st Energy for solar owners: the feed-in tariff
The 1st Energy feed-in tariff is well below the 3c to 8c on the rival plans we read: 1c per kWh for the first 5 kWh exported each day and 0.1c per kWh above that on its NSW, Queensland and South Australian plans. Victorian plans list 0.5c. Tasmania is the exception at 9.276c, the regulated minimum.
View the data as a table
| Feed-in rate | |
|---|---|
| Tasmania regulated minimum (1st Energy) | 9.28c |
| Alinta SolarBalance, first 8 kWh a day | 8.00c |
| NSW IPART benchmark, high end | 6.50c |
| Regional Queensland QCA rate | 6.01c |
| NSW IPART benchmark, low end | 3.40c |
| Alinta SolarBalance, after 8 kWh a day | 3.00c |
| 1st Energy NSW, Qld, SA, first 5 kWh a day | 1.00c |
| 1st Energy Victoria | 0.50c |
The IPART range (3.4c to 6.5c for 2026-27) is a guide only, and Victoria has had no minimum since 1 July 2025 (see our feed-in tariff tracker). Even so, 1st Energy sits below the bottom of every benchmark we found. The state guides cover rival offers: NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
Plans in Queensland and South Australia also list a 44c government-paid line for legacy Solar Bonus Scheme customers; that does not apply to new systems.
What it costs: a worked example for a solar home
For a solar household, 1st Energy’s low usage price nearly cancels out its low feed-in rate in NSW and Queensland (within A$14 and A$47 of Alinta) and wins in South Australia. The household is an assumption, not a typical home: 2,500 kWh imported and 10 kWh exported every day (3,650 kWh a year), the same model as our cheapest electricity provider guide.
- 1st Energy
- Alinta Energy
- Origin Energy
Source: Solar Cobber calculation from AER Energy Made Easy product data read 14 November 2026; rival figures from our cheapest electricity provider guide. Bill = (supply x 365 + usage x 2,500) x 1.1, less guaranteed discounts, minus feed-in income on 10 kWh a day.
View the data as a table
| 1st Energy | Alinta Energy | Origin Energy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | A$1,079 | A$1,065 | A$1,180 |
| Energex | A$1,099 | A$1,052 | A$1,145 |
| SA Power Networks | A$1,359 | A$1,641 | A$1,457 |
Working for Ausgrid, 1st Emerald: supply and usage come to A$1,099.2 after the discount. Feed-in income is 5 kWh at 1c plus 5 kWh at 0.1c, or 5.5c a day (A$20.1 a year). Bill: A$1,079.
Solar Cobber calculation: Alinta’s SolarBalance plan has a dearer usage rate than 1st Emerald (A$1,320 against A$1,099 before feed-in) but pays A$255.5 a year in feed-in income on the same exports. The two plans cross over at about 8.7 kWh exported a day, or roughly 3,150 kWh a year: below that, 1st Emerald is cheaper in Ausgrid; above it, Alinta wins. A larger system with fewer daytime loads favours a better feed-in rate. If 1st Energy paid the 3.4c to 6.5c IPART range on 3,650 kWh, the credit would be A$124 to A$237 a year rather than A$20.
1st Energy in Victoria and Tasmania
In Victoria, every 1st Energy anytime plan we read was below the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) for its zone, whether or not the API rates include GST. The Essential Services Commission’s 2026-27 VDO for 4,000 kWh is A$1,481 to A$1,748 depending on the zone. Treating the data as GST exclusive, 1st Emerald anytime comes to A$1,123 (CitiPower) to A$1,359 (AusNet), and 1st Home to A$1,406 to A$1,659. Check Victorian Energy Compare for the exact figure at your address.
In Tasmania, 1st Energy’s rates are almost identical to Aurora Energy’s standing offer. Its 1st Quartz Tariff 31 plan lists 27.94c per kWh and 167.6c a day including GST, against Aurora’s 27.9538c and 167.6815c, and Tariff 93 time of use is within about 0.1c of Aurora’s peak and off-peak rates. The difference is a conditional rebate of A$100 over 12 months (two A$50 credits), or A$150 for RACT members. The feed-in rate matches the regulated 9.276c. Read our Tasmanian rebate guide and the Tasmania installer directory if you are adding solar.
1st Energy for battery owners
We found no battery plan, virtual power plant (VPP) offer or battery-specific feed-in rate on any 1st Energy plan in the regulator’s data. A VPP is a group of home batteries a retailer controls to sell power back to the grid in peaks. Its 1c feed-in rate means a battery owner would gain little from exporting. Battery homes usually look at Amber Electric, GloBird or a retailer on our VPP guide.
What customers praise
Customers mostly praise the sign-up and price. ProductReview.com.au lists 1st Energy at 4.5 stars from 1,155 reviews with 84% positive and 16% negative, checked 14 November 2026, including 4.3 for customer service and 4.2 for rates and fees. Google Maps shows 4.1 stars from 1,974 reviews on the same date. Recurring praise on ProductReview is a quick, painless switch and cheaper rates than larger retailers. We could not read Trustpilot, which blocked our access.
Common 1st Energy complaints
The most common complaints are slow phone and email support and billing problems after sign-up. On the ProductReview listing page, the platform’s own summary names long phone waits, unreliable callbacks and unanswered billing queries. Individual reviews we read described a promotional credit not applied to a first bill, a customer moved to a dearer plan after a transfer from another retailer, and a delay of up to 10 business days after the cooling-off period before supply switched. These are patterns in a small sample of public reviews on one platform, not findings we have tested.
In December 2020 the ACCC accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from 1st Energy Pty Ltd. It said third-party sales staff cold-calling Aurora customers in Tasmania between 18 February and 23 August 2019 made statements likely to be false or misleading, including implying they represented Aurora or independent comparators. 1st Energy undertook to help affected customers exit without charge and to update its compliance and complaints handling. We found no other regulator action against 1st Energy as at November 2026, though we could not open the AER register.
Risks to understand before switching
The main risks are a low feed-in rate, plan variation and fees. Prices can rise on 5 business days’ notice, so recheck rates each year. Connection fees on the plans we read were A$123.56 (Ausgrid), A$132.07 (Endeavour) and A$22.96 (Energex) including GST, generally for move-ins, with A$7.50 for a dishonoured direct debit. A plan with a 4% guaranteed discount is cheaper than the same rates without one, so confirm the discount appears on your bill.
1st Energy vs alternatives
1st Energy is a price leader for low-export homes, and a weak choice for large exporters. The table compares solar-home bills from our model in the three networks both retailers cover.
| Retailer | Ausgrid | Energex | SA Power Networks | Feed-in rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Energy | A$1,079 | A$1,099 | A$1,359 | 1c first 5 kWh a day | South Australia, low exporters |
| Alinta Energy | A$1,065 | A$1,052 | A$1,641 | 8c first 8 kWh a day (Ausgrid), then 3c | Moderate exporters in NSW and Queensland |
| Origin Energy | A$1,180 | A$1,145 | A$1,457 | not compared | Households wanting a large retailer |
Who 1st Energy suits, and who should avoid it
1st Energy suits households that use most of their power at home and want a low rate, particularly in South Australia and Tasmania. It also suits homes without solar. It is a poor fit for large exporters, battery owners chasing VPP income or people who want phone support at short notice. Compare your own usage on Energy Made Easy before you decide.
How to compare and switch
Enter your postcode and usage on Energy Made Easy, add your export if you have solar, and compare the annual cost rather than the headline rate. Victorians use Victorian Energy Compare. The video below shows how the Energy Made Easy comparison tool works.
Solar installers can help size a system to your usage; see our installer directory.
FAQ
Is 1st Energy a good electricity retailer?
1st Energy is a good retailer on price and a mixed one on service. Its 1st Emerald plans were 19% to 23% below the Default Market Offer in November 2026, and ProductReview.com.au shows 4.5 stars from 1,155 reviews, but complaints focus on slow support.
What is the 1st Energy solar feed-in tariff?
The 1st Energy feed-in tariff is 1c per kWh for the first 5 kWh exported a day in NSW, Queensland and South Australia, then 0.1c. In Victoria it is 0.5c, and in Tasmania 9.276c.
Who owns 1st Energy?
We could not confirm who owns 1st Energy. The ACCC identifies it as 1st Energy Pty Ltd, which began operating in 2014, and Google Maps lists a Melbourne head office.
Is 1st Energy cheaper than the Default Market Offer?
Yes, its 1st Emerald plan was cheaper than the Default Market Offer in every NSW, Queensland and South Australian network we checked, by about 19% to 23%. Other 1st Energy plans were only 2% to 20% cheaper.
Does 1st Energy have exit fees?
The plans we read were ongoing contracts with no fixed term and no exit fee listed. Connection and disconnection fees apply to move-ins and move-outs, and a 10-day cooling-off period applies.
Is 1st Energy available in Western Australia?
No, 1st Energy does not sell in Western Australia, the ACT or the Northern Territory. It sells in NSW, south-east Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
What are the most common 1st Energy complaints?
The most common complaints are slow phone and email support, billing errors and delays after sign-up. These come from public reviews on ProductReview.com.au, not from ombudsman data.
Does 1st Energy have a battery or VPP plan?
We found no battery or VPP plan from 1st Energy in the regulator’s data as at 14 November 2026. Battery owners generally look at other retailers.
Sources
- Australian Energy Regulator, Energy Made Easy product data (1st Energy plans, read 14 November 2026)
- AER Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination
- Essential Services Commission, Victorian Default Offer
- Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator, feed-in tariffs
- IPART solar feed-in benchmark
- ACCC, 1st Energy admits it likely misled Tasmanian consumers (21 December 2020)
- ProductReview.com.au, 1st Energy (read 14 November 2026)
About this review
This review is independent desk research by the Solar Cobber editorial team, checked in November 2026. Solar Cobber is a free directory that may earn referral or advertising fees from installers, and commercial relationships never affect our content. This is general information, not financial advice. Rates change often; confirm them on Energy Made Easy before you switch. Send corrections through our contact page.
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