Red Energy sells four broadly different plan types, and picking the wrong one costs more than picking the wrong retailer. Our Complete Guide covers the reviews and the Qantas Points side.
Understanding Red Energy's Offerings
Red Energy is owned by Snowy Hydro Limited and supplies New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.
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Fixed Rate Plans: Rates locked for 12 or 24 months. You get budget certainty and you give up any benefit if wholesale prices fall. Suits anyone who would rather know the number than chase the lowest one.
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Variable Rate Plans: Rates move with the market. Cheaper when wholesale prices are low, more expensive when they are not. Worth it if you will actually watch the market and switch when it turns.
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Green Energy Plans: A share or all of your supply matched with accredited renewable generation. Costs more per kilowatt-hour.
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Bundled Plans: Electricity with gas or other services. Price the bundle against two standalone plans before assuming it is cheaper, because it often is not.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Plan
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Your Energy Consumption: Get your annual usage in kilowatt-hours off your bills. Every comparison that follows depends on this number, and an estimate will mislead you.
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Your Location: Plans and prices vary by state and distribution network. Check what is actually available at your address rather than what the website shows by default.
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Tariff Type: Single rate, time-of-use, or controlled load for things like electric hot water. Time-of-use only pays if you can genuinely move consumption into off-peak windows. If you cannot, it costs you.
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Discounts and Incentives: Pay-on-time and direct debit discounts are common. Work out what they are worth per year in dollars before letting them influence the decision.
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Contract Length and Exit Fees: Find the exit fee before you sign. It determines what a better offer next year is actually worth to you.
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Green Credentials: Check the accredited renewable percentage rather than the marketing language around it.
Comparing Red Energy Plans: A Practical Approach
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Gather Your Bills: Four quarters, so you have a full year including summer and winter.
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Visit the Red Energy Website: Check what is offered at your specific address.
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Use Comparison Tools: The AER's Energy Made Easy website compares every retailer available in your region using your own usage. It is a government service with no commission attached, which is more than can be said for most comparison sites.
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Calculate Estimated Costs: Annual cost, using your real usage against each plan's rates, including the supply charge and any discount.
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Read the Fine Print: Contract length, exit fees, and what happens to the rate when any introductory period ends.
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Consider Customer Service: Red Energy scores well on service awards and less well on billing accuracy in customer reviews. Weigh both.
Don't Be Afraid to Negotiate
Retailers hold retention offers they do not advertise. Ring, say you are comparing and considering leaving, and ask what they can do. It costs a phone call and often produces a better rate than the public plan.
Conclusion
Pull your annual usage figure, run it through Energy Made Easy, and compare total annual cost rather than headline rates. Then ring Red Energy and ask them to beat the best number you found.
Do it again in twelve months. Rates move, and the plan that won this year rarely wins the next. Our Complete Guide has the plan-level detail.
