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Amidst rising energy prices everywhere, we’re all looking for ways to cut our utility bills. One simple trick? Compare your local energy plans. Companies often sign you up for their default plans with no additional discounts or bonuses, so it can pay to shop around.
We’ll compare the different Red Energy Plans available throughout Australia to help you find the best plan for your household.
Let’s dive in so you can start saving money.
VIC
All Red Energy plans in VIC are 100% owned by Snowy Hydro, which prioritises renewable energy. All plans offer e-billing, e-communications, flexible payment options, and a 10-day cooling-off period in case you change your mind.
VIC residents are also eligible for the $250 energy rebate.
Living Energy Saver
This basic plan has no contract terms or exit fees, so you can change plans anytime. It’s available to new and existing customers and includes free standard moves. Customers with solar panels are eligible for 4.9 cents/kWh through the Feed-In-Tariff (FiT).
Qantas Red Saver
This one is designed for travellers. When you pay your first bills in full, you get 10,000 bonus Qantas travel points for electricity and 5,000 more for gas, then 2 points for every $1 after being paid on time. You also get a free Qantas Frequent Flyer membership worth AU$99.50.
They also offer no contract terms or exit fees and are available to new and existing customers with free standard moves. For customers using EcoFlow solar panels, they offer a FiT of 4.9 cents/kWh.
Red BCNA Saver
This is an excellent choice for those who like to donate to the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), offering up to $120 annually when you use their electricity and gas. Like the other plans, they have no contract terms or exit fees and are available for new and existing customers with no fees when you move.
You’re also eligible for 4.9 cents/kWh through the FiT when you sell energy from your solar panels back to the grid.
Red EV Saver
This plan is exclusive to Electric Vehicle (EV) owners with a smart meter or interval meter. Snowy Hydro will match every unit of electricity you buy by generating one unit from a renewable source. And as a bonus, they offer free electricity from 12 pm – 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
They have no contract terms or exit fees, and it’s available for new and existing customers, but you need to sign up online. For customers using solar panels, they offer a FiT of 4.9 cents/kWh.
Standing Offer
This default plan uses the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) for electricity and Red’s Standing Offer for gas. It has no bonuses or discounts, but you can change it anytime since it has no exit fees or contract terms, and they offer free standard moves. However, selling solar back to the grid through the FiT only gets you 3.3 cents/kWh.
NSW
These plans are also 100% owned by Snowy Hydro, which uses significant renewable energy. Their plans offer a 10-day cooling-off period, flexible payment options, e-billing, and e-communications. However, unlike in VIC, none of these plans provide free moves.
Living Energy Saver
This simple plan offers no contract terms or exit fees, so you can switch anytime. Its flexible payment options make paying your bills easy. For customers with solar panels, 5 cents/kWh will be credited to your bill when you are on the Feed-in-Tariff system.
Qantas Red Saver
Travel bugs can earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points when you pay your first electricity bill in full and another 5,000 bonus points for your first gas bill paid in full, with 2 points for every dollar after that when you pay on time.
You also get the free Qantas Frequent Flyer membership valued at AU$99.50. They have no contract terms or exit fees. If you have solar panels, you can sell excess electricity back to the grid at 5 cents/kWh through the FiT.
Red Taronga Flex
Do you have kids and enjoy the zoo? With this plan, you get 365 days of zoo fun for one adult and the kids with a free Flex Adult Pass. And you still don’t have to worry about contract terms or exit fees. This plan also offers a renewable matching promise: Snowy Hydro will match every unit of electricity you buy by generating one unit from a renewable source. And if you have solar panels, you can sell energy back to the grid at a decent rate of 5 cents/kWh.
Red BCNA Saver
For those who support the Breast Cancer Network Australia, this plan will donate up to $120 each year when you choose electricity and gas. They have no exit fees or contract terms and flexible payment options.
Red Solar Saver
This is the best plan for those using an EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max + 220W Solar Panel since it offers 10 cents/kWh for the first 5 kWh exported daily and 5 cents/kWh after that through the FiT. They also offer the standard no contract terms or exit fees.
SA
SA has the highest electricity rates in Australia, so it’s worth checking your plan options to save money. All plans here include e-billing and e-communications, flexible payment options, and a cooling-off period.
Living Energy Saver
This basic plan does not offer discounts or bonuses but has no contract terms or exit fees, so changing plans is easy. Solar power generators will get a decent rate on your FiT at 4.5 cents/kWh; however, their other plans also offer that rate with additional bonuses.
Qantas Red Saver
If you love to travel, you want this plan. You get the free Qantas Frequent Flyer membership worth AU$99.50, 10,000 bonus Qantas Points when you pay your first electricity bill in full, 5,000 points when you pay your first gas bill, and an extra 2 points for every dollar after that when you pay on time.
They have no contract terms or exit fees, and you still get the best solar FiT rate they offer in SA at 4.5 cents/kWh.
Red BCNA Saver
For those who want to support the Breast Cancer Network Australia, this plan donates up to $120 annually. They also have no contract terms or exit fees and flexible payment options. If you have solar panels, you can still sell excess electricity back to the grid at their best FiT rate of 4.5 cents/kWh.
Red EV Saver
This plan is exclusive to Electric Vehicle (EV) owners who sign up online and have a smart meter or interval meter. Snowy Hydro offers a renewable matching promise: It will match every unit of electricity you buy by generating one unit from a renewable energy source.
They also provide bonus free electricity from 12 pm—2 pm on Saturday and Sunday. There are no contract terms or exit fees; solar panel owners still get their best FiT rate of 4.5 cents/kWh.
Standing Offer
If you did not sign up for a different plan, you are probably on Red’s Standing Offer for electricity and gas. This basic plan offers no discounts, contract terms, or exit fees. However, their solar FiT rates are the lowest at only 3 cents/kWh.
QLD
Plans in QLD are similar to those in other regions. They offer flexible payment options, e-billing and communications, and a 10-day cooling-off period. Snowy Hydro runs all the plans and is a leader in providing renewable energy.
Living Energy Saver
This is a pretty basic plan with no discounts or bonuses but also no contract terms or exit fees. Their feed-in tariff rates are the lowest, at only 1 cent/kWh, so if you produce solar energy to sell to the grid, check out their other plans.
Living Energy Solar Saver
This is a better basic plan for customers with solar panels who can sell excess energy back to the grid at 8 cents/kWh. The plan also offers the standard no contract term or exit fees and is available to new and existing customers.
Qantas Red Saver
If you love travel, this plan is for you! You can earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points when you pay your first electricity bill in full and 5,000 bonus points when you pay your first gas bill in full, then 2 points for every dollar after that as long as you pay your bills on time. You also get the free Qantas Frequent Flyer membership worth AU$99.50. The only drawback is solar energy producers will only get 1 cent/kWh through the FiT.
Qantas Red Solar Saver
If you love to travel and have solar panels, this plan is the best of both worlds. Using your EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generator will give you 8 cents/kWh when you sell back to the grid through the FiT. However, you also get their free Qantas Frequent Flyer membership worth AU$99.50, and when you pay your first bills in full, you earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points for electricity and 5000 points for gas.
Then you get an additional 2 points for every dollar after that when you pay your bills on time.
Red BCNA Saver
For those who want to donate to a good cause, this plan donates up to $120 yearly to the Breast Cancer Network Australia when you sign up for their electricity and gas. Solar users will also love this plan since you will get fantastic rates through the feed-in tariff at 8 cents/kWh you generate. They have no exit fees or contract terms, so you can change plans anytime.
ACT
Snowy Hydro plans prioritise renewable energy for those in the ACT area and offer flexible payment options, e-billing and communications, and a standard 10-day cooling-off period.
Living Energy Saver
This basic plan offers no discounts or bonuses, contract terms, or exit fees. However, solar users will get a 5 cents/kWh discount for electricity they sell to the grid.
Qantas Red Saver
If you have the travel bug, this plan offers 2 Qantas Points for every dollar on your bills that you pay on time, with an added 10,000 bonus points when you pay your first electricity bill in full and 5,000 more when you pay your first gas bill in full, and you get the free Qantas Frequent Flyer membership worth AU$99.50.
And if you have solar panels, you can still get their best FiT rate of 5 cents for each kWh you sell back to the grid.
Red BCNA Saver
If you want to donate to the Breast Cancer Network Australia, this plan donates up to $120 annually. They also offer no contract terms or exit fees, and solar users will still benefit from their best feed-in tariff rate, at 5 cents/kWh.
Red EV Saver
If you own an Electric Vehicle (EV) and a smart meter or interval meter, this plan offers a renewable matching promise. For every unit of electricity you buy, Snowy Hydro will match it by generating one unit from a renewable source. As a bonus, you get free electricity from 12 pm – 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Solar users will still benefit from their best FiT rate of a 5-cent discount for each kWh you sell back to the grid.
Standing Offer
You probably have Red’s Standing Offer for electricity and gas if you did not sign up for a specific plan. It’s a basic plan with no exit fees or contract terms. Unlike some standing offers, this one offers decent rates for solar users who still get 5 cents/kWh through the FiT system.
Other Than Switching Plans, How Else Can I Reduce My Electricity Bill?
Reduce Consumption
The average energy prices are what they are, so the best way to reduce your bill is to reduce your consumption. Start by calculating how many kWh your home uses, adding up your appliances, and comparing it to your bill. That will help you find where you use the most power. Then, reduce your consumption by adjusting your thermostat, turning the lights off, taking shorter showers, washing clothes in cold water, and drying them on a clothesline.
Increase Your Energy Efficiency
You can also reduce consumption by increasing your energy efficiency. Switch to energy-efficient appliances, insulate your home, doors, and windows, change your furnace and air conditioner filters, and use LED lights.
Add Solar Panels to Your Home
With EcoFlow Solar Panels, you can produce power and sell excess energy back to the grid through the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) system. However, if you only have panels without a battery backup system, your power will go out if the grid goes down.
Invest in a Solar Generator
If you need power backup, EcoFlow Solar Generators come with a battery. They produce energy when the sun is shining and store it so you can still have power when the sun isn’t shining or the grid goes down. You can still benefit from selling energy back to the grid through the FiT but are not dependent on the grid.
Suppose you want to be truly independent and go off-grid. In that case, a system like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Solar Generator + 400W Solar Panel has expandable batteries, so even large energy-intensive homes could go off-grid.
Final Thoughts
Are you ready to take charge of your electrical bill? With this article, we’ve helped shed some light on the different plans and ways you can reduce your power bills, comparing various energy suppliers and schemes.
Of course, if you really want to reduce or eliminate those pesky bills, invest in an EcoFlow Solar Generator. After the solar payback period, your power will be free for about 20 years.