This EnergyAustralia review covers the retailer’s electricity plans for solar homes in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT as at November 2026. Its Solar Max plan pays 8c per kWh on the first 10 kWh exported each day (3c to 4c after that, 1.5c in Victoria), but charges the full regulator-set benchmark price and carries no discount. EnergyAustralia holds 1.6 stars from 2,328 ProductReview.com.au reviews and 1.4 stars from 521 on one Google listing. This is independent desk research; EnergyAustralia was not contacted and did not pay.
Key facts
- EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd (ABN 99 086 014 968) is an Australian private company with an ABN active since 27 April 2000 and a main business location in Victoria (postcode 3008), according to ABN Lookup checked on 14 November 2026.
- EnergyAustralia has 1.6 million customers across eastern Australia, according to the ACCC in August 2026, and is a subsidiary of Hong Kong based CLP Group, according to Wikipedia read in November 2026.
- EnergyAustralia’s Solar Max plan pays 8c per kWh (excluding GST) on the first 10 kWh of average daily solar export, then 3c in NSW, SA and the ACT, 4c in south-east Queensland and 1.5c in Victoria, according to EnergyAustralia plan data lodged with the Australian Energy Regulator and read on 14 November 2026.
- EnergyAustralia’s flat usage and supply rates on its Rate Fix, Flexi Plan, Solar Max and Home 365 plans equal the regulator’s Default Market Offer or Victorian Default Offer in every network we compared, before any discount.
- In September 2024 the Federal Court ordered EnergyAustralia to pay $14 million in penalties for misleading price communications to about 566,000 consumers, and in August 2026 the ACCC accepted an undertaking after EnergyAustralia admitted missing the 1 July 2026 Solar Sharer Offer deadline.
- ProductReview.com.au showed EnergyAustralia at 1.6 stars from 2,328 reviews on 14 November 2026, against 4.2 for Origin Energy and 4.6 for GloBird Energy on the same page.
How EnergyAustralia works
EnergyAustralia is a large conventional retailer: you pay a daily supply charge plus usage rates, then a percentage discount comes off the bill on most plans. The headline plans are Rate Fix, Flexi Plan, Solar Max and (in Victoria) Home 365, each in flat or time-of-use versions.
The key feature is that the list prices are not cheap in themselves. Using the retailer’s own lodged rates, multiplied by 1.1 because the data is GST exclusive, the usage and supply charges match the regulator’s price cap to the cent. For Ausgrid that is 33.14c per kWh and 166.23c a day, against the Default Market Offer cap of 33.1372c and 166.2289c in the AER’s 2026-27 determination. Our guide to the Default Market Offer and Victorian Default Offer explains the benchmark.
| Network (state) | Usage, c/kWh | Supply, c/day | AER or ESC benchmark | Flexi / Home 365 discount | Rate Fix discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid (NSW) | 33.14 | 166.23 | 33.1372 / 166.2289 | 12% | 6% |
| Endeavour Energy (NSW) | 33.72 | 185.13 | 33.7273 / 185.1350 | 12% | 6% |
| Essential Energy (NSW) | 35.01 | 272.22 | 35.0054 / 272.2168 | 12% | 6% |
| Energex (QLD) | 27.97 | 192.02 | 27.9744 / 192.0159 | 6% | 3% |
| SA Power Networks (SA) | 41.91 | 180.05 | 41.9103 / 180.0512 | 7% | 4% |
| CitiPower (VIC) | 25.96 | 121.14 | 25.96 / 121.14 | 10% | 7% |
| United Energy (VIC) | 27.35 | 119.12 | 27.35 / 119.12 | 10% | 7% |
| Powercor (VIC) | 28.22 | 138.05 | 28.22 / 138.05 | 10% | 7% |
The table shows EnergyAustralia’s flat single-rate residential plans without controlled load, lodged with the AER and read on 14 November 2026, converted to GST inclusive. Victorian rates are Home 365 Peak Only against the Essential Services Commission’s 2026-27 Victorian Default Offer. The discount is a “guaranteed” percentage that EnergyAustralia says applies to market energy charges, not fees or GreenPower. We assume it covers both usage and supply.
The plan data lists no fixed term (the contract “will continue until it is ended by either party”) and a $12 late payment fee. Several plans carry a one-off credit ($250 on NSW and Queensland Flexi variants, $200 on Victorian Home 365 variants). Prices may be varied with notice.
What the discount is worth
A guaranteed discount is the whole offer, so the saving depends on your state. At the AER’s assumed usage, the discount takes about $228 off an Ausgrid bill but only $119 off an Energex bill.
- Benchmark price (also EnergyAustralia list price)
- After EnergyAustralia guaranteed discount
Source: AER Default Market Offer 2026-27 and ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026-27; EnergyAustralia discounts from AER product data, read 14 November 2026. Solar Cobber calculation: benchmark annual price multiplied by (1 minus the lodged discount rate). Usage is 3,900 to 4,900 kWh by network (AER) and 4,000 kWh in Victoria (ESC).
View the data as a table
| Benchmark price (also EnergyAustralia list price) | After EnergyAustralia guaranteed discount | |
|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | A$1,899 | A$1,671 |
| Endeavour | A$2,328 | A$2,049 |
| Energex | A$1,988 | A$1,869 |
| SA Power Networks | A$2,334 | A$2,171 |
| Essential Energy | A$2,604 | A$2,292 |
| CitiPower | A$1,481 | A$1,333 |
| United Energy | A$1,529 | A$1,376 |
| Jemena | A$1,563 | A$1,407 |
| Powercor | A$1,633 | A$1,470 |
| AusNet | A$1,748 | A$1,573 |
The discount is described as guaranteed, not conditional on paying on time. Compare the result with other retailers using our cheapest electricity provider guide before you sign.
EnergyAustralia for solar owners
EnergyAustralia’s Solar Max plan is its solar plan: no discount, but a high feed-in tariff on the first 10 kWh of average daily export. The data says the daily export is averaged across the billing period, and eligibility is for residential solar customers “not receiving any Government feed-in-tariff”.
Standard EnergyAustralia plans pay a flat 3c per kWh in NSW, SA and the ACT, 4c on Energex and 1.5c in Victoria, as lodged and excluding GST. Victoria has had no regulated minimum since 1 July 2025, so retailers set their own rate. Energex and SA Power Networks customers also see lodged government feed-in rates (44c for legacy schemes) that apply only to systems already on those schemes.
Source: Retailer plan data lodged with the AER, read 14 November 2026. Excludes Origin Solar Partner Plus (12c for 8 kWh, requires buying a system from an Origin installer) and battery plans. Red Energy also has time-varying rates.
View the data as a table
| Feed-in rate | |
|---|---|
| EA Solar Max (10 kWh a day) | 8.0c |
| AGL Solar Savers (8 kWh a day) | 8.0c |
| Origin standard plans | 3.0c |
| EA standard plans | 3.0c |
| Red Energy base rate | 2.5c |
EnergyAustralia and AGL tie at 8c for solar-only homes in Ausgrid, but EnergyAustralia’s cap is 10 kWh against AGL’s 8 kWh. For comparison, see our solar feed-in tariff tracker and the state guides for NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
What it costs: a worked example
For a typical solar home, Solar Max and the discounted Flexi Plan cost nearly the same. The better plan depends on how much you export.
Assumptions: Ausgrid (Sydney) single-rate plans, 2,500 kWh a year bought from the grid, annual supply charge for 365 days, and the discount applied to usage and supply. Usage 33.14c x 2,500 = $828.4; supply 166.23c x 365 = $606.7; bill before credits $1,435.2. Feed-in credits use 8c up to 3,650 kWh (10 kWh x 365) and 3c after.
| Plan (Ausgrid) | Bill before credits | Feed-in credit at 4,000 kWh export | Net annual bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Max (no discount) | $1,435 | $302 (3,650 kWh at 8c, 350 kWh at 3c) | $1,133 |
| Flexi Plan (12% discount) | $1,263 | $120 (all at 3c) | $1,143 |
| Rate Fix (6% discount) | $1,349 | $120 | $1,229 |
- Solar Max
- Flexi Plan
- Rate Fix
Source: Solar Cobber calculation from EnergyAustralia plan data lodged with the AER, read 14 November 2026. Net bill is usage plus supply, less discount, less feed-in credit. GST on feed-in credits is ignored.
View the data as a table
| Solar Max | Flexi Plan | Rate Fix | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 kWh | A$1,355 | A$1,233 | A$1,319 |
| 2,000 kWh | A$1,275 | A$1,203 | A$1,289 |
| 3,000 kWh | A$1,195 | A$1,173 | A$1,259 |
| 4,000 kWh | A$1,133 | A$1,143 | A$1,229 |
| 5,000 kWh | A$1,103 | A$1,113 | A$1,199 |
| 6,000 kWh | A$1,073 | A$1,083 | A$1,169 |
Solar Cobber calculation: the Flexi Plan wins until yearly exports reach about 3,444 kWh, because the 12% discount ($172) equals the extra 5c per kWh earned on 3,444 kWh. Above that, Solar Max wins by up to about $10 at 6,000 kWh in this example. Neither is cheap next to a retailer with a lower base rate, so treat this as a comparison within EnergyAustralia.
EnergyAustralia for battery owners
EnergyAustralia has no battery-specific plan in its AER plan data. It runs a battery program called BatteryEase, and plan data mentions a PowerResponse program that pays rebates for taking part in events.
We could not open EnergyAustralia’s own BatteryEase or PowerResponse pages (they blocked automated reads), so we make no claim about current terms. Our virtual power plant guide lists BatteryEase at $15 a month in bill credits, a 200 kWh a year cap and a 10 per cent reserve, as reported by SolarQuotes and WATTever; a virtual power plant (VPP) is a group of home batteries one operator can control together. The plan data confirms only that PowerResponse rebates “may change over time”. Check eligible battery brands and the reserve on EnergyAustralia’s site.
On a time-of-use plan a battery can earn from cheap windows. Energex’s Solar Max 7-day time-of-use plan lodges 6.35c off-peak, 23.00c shoulder and 43.44c peak excluding GST (6.98c, 25.30c and 47.78c including GST), matching the regulator’s caps. Our peak and off-peak guide explains the windows. For wholesale-linked or evening-export plans, see Amber Electric and GloBird Energy. We have reviewed the Tesla Powerwall 3 and Sungrow SBR battery.
Solar Sharer Offer: EnergyAustralia’s delay
EnergyAustralia was late with the free-power plan. The ACCC said on 3 August 2026 that the retailer admitted failing to make a Solar Sharer Offer available from 1 July 2026, made one available on 3 August 2026 and gave a court-enforceable undertaking.
The undertaking requires EnergyAustralia to keep offering the plan, report to the ACCC and AER, train staff and publish a notice. The Solar Sharer Offer is a regulated plan with free electricity for three hours a day (11am to 2pm in NSW and south-east Queensland, 12pm to 3pm in SA), with up to 24 kWh free. Its annual price equals the time-of-use Default Market Offer price. Our Solar Sharer Offer guide has the detail. We did not find the plan in EnergyAustralia’s AER plan list, so confirm its rates on the retailer’s site.
Regulator action
EnergyAustralia has one major court penalty and one recent undertaking, both from the ACCC.
| Date | Action | Outcome | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 September 2024 | Federal Court, ACCC proceedings over price letters sent 20 June to 12 September 2022 to about 566,000 consumers and 27 online offers | $14 million in penalties and a compliance program review, after EnergyAustralia admitted the breaches | ACCC |
| 3 August 2026 | ACCC undertaking over the late Solar Sharer Offer | Admission of breach of the Electricity Retail Code, plan offered from 3 August 2026 | ACCC |
We found no other ACCC or AER enforcement item against EnergyAustralia on the ACCC pages we read, but we did not search every register.
What customers praise
ProductReview.com.au’s summary of its 2,328 reviews (14 November 2026) lists quick account setup, patient advisers and easy online plan comparison as positives.
Common EnergyAustralia complaints
The complaints are about service and bills. The same ProductReview.com.au summary lists long waits and transfers, unexpected bill rises when discounts end, and moves to dearer plans at the end of a contract. It also notes some billing disputes need escalating to an energy ombudsman. Customer service scored 1.6 and rates and fees 1.7.
Source: ProductReview.com.au, EnergyAustralia listing page, read 14 November 2026.
View the data as a table
| Rating | |
|---|---|
| Energy Locals | 4.8 stars |
| GloBird Energy | 4.6 stars |
| CovaU | 4.6 stars |
| 1st Energy | 4.5 stars |
| Origin Energy | 4.2 stars |
| EnergyAustralia | 1.6 stars |
EnergyAustralia scores lowest in this set. Ratings reflect people who chose to write a review, so treat them as complaint patterns. Google shows 1.4 stars from 521 reviews on one Sydney listing (14 November 2026). Trustpilot blocked our read, so we report no figure.
Risks to understand before switching
- Discount is the offer. List prices equal the regulator benchmark, so a plan with a smaller discount or a lower base rate elsewhere can beat it.
- Solar Max has no discount and excludes customers on a government feed-in scheme.
- Caps are averaged over the billing period, so a big summer export can fall under the 8c rate in winter.
- Prices can change with notice, and a discount can end when a plan is replaced.
- Battery and VPP terms were not confirmed from EnergyAustralia’s pages.
EnergyAustralia vs alternatives
| Retailer | Solar-only feed-in (Ausgrid) | ProductReview rating | Best for | Our review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EnergyAustralia | 8c for first 10 kWh a day (Solar Max), else 3c | 1.6 | Solar homes that export a lot | This page |
| AGL | 8c for first 8 kWh a day (Solar Savers), else 3c | Not checked | Solar plus AGL’s battery offers | AGL review |
| Origin Energy | 3c standard | 4.2 | Origin solar and battery buyers | Origin review |
| Red Energy | 2.5c base rate | Not checked | Qantas points customers | Red Energy review |
Who EnergyAustralia suits, and who should look elsewhere
It suits solar homes that export more than about 3,450 kWh a year (about 9.4 kWh a day) and want a large retailer with no contract term. It is a weak choice for anyone who wants a retailer with high review scores, or a battery owner chasing evening export rates.
Pair a good plan with the right system: browse installers in our directory and check the Clean Energy Council approved retailer list yourself.
FAQ
Is EnergyAustralia a good electricity retailer for solar?
EnergyAustralia is average for solar on price and poor on public ratings. Solar Max pays 8c per kWh on the first 10 kWh exported a day, but has no discount and list prices equal the regulator benchmark, and ProductReview.com.au rates the retailer 1.6 stars from 2,328 reviews.
What is EnergyAustralia’s solar feed-in tariff?
EnergyAustralia’s standard feed-in tariff is 3c per kWh in NSW, SA and the ACT, 4c in south-east Queensland and 1.5c in Victoria, excluding GST. Solar Max pays 8c on the first 10 kWh of average daily export. Rates were read from AER plan data on 14 November 2026.
Does EnergyAustralia have a battery plan or VPP?
EnergyAustralia runs BatteryEase and a PowerResponse program, but no plan in its AER data is built for batteries. We could not open its own program pages, so check terms on its website.
Is EnergyAustralia cheaper than the Default Market Offer?
Only after its discount. Its list usage and supply rates equal the Default Market Offer in NSW, Queensland and SA and the Victorian Default Offer in Victoria, and the 3% to 12% guaranteed discount is the saving.
Has EnergyAustralia been fined?
Yes. In September 2024 the Federal Court ordered EnergyAustralia to pay $14 million in penalties for misleading price communications and breaching the Electricity Retail Code. In August 2026 it gave the ACCC an undertaking over a late Solar Sharer Offer.
Who owns EnergyAustralia?
EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of Hong Kong based CLP Group, according to Wikipedia. The ACCC says it has 1.6 million customers across eastern Australia.
Does EnergyAustralia offer the Solar Sharer Offer?
EnergyAustralia made a Solar Sharer Offer available on 3 August 2026, according to the ACCC. We could not find it in the AER plan list, so confirm its rates with the retailer.
How to check a plan before you switch
Watch the compare-plans video below, then check your network on Energy Made Easy (Victoria uses Victorian Energy Compare).
Sources
- Australian Energy Regulator, Energy Made Easy product data (Consumer Data Right), EnergyAustralia, Origin, AGL and Red Energy plans, read 14 November 2026
- AER, Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination
- Essential Services Commission, Victorian Default Offer
- ACCC, EnergyAustralia to pay $14m, 26 September 2024
- ACCC, EnergyAustralia admits breaching the Electricity Retail Code, 3 August 2026
- ABN Lookup, EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd
- ProductReview.com.au, EnergyAustralia
- Wikipedia, EnergyAustralia
- Rates in the AER data exclude GST (Consumer Data Standards definition); we multiplied by 1.1.
About this review
This review was written by the Solar Cobber editorial team from independent desk research 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. Report a correction via /contact.
Filed under Savings
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