Comparing electricity plans is mostly a matter of knowing which terms to look at and which tool to use. This guide explains the vocabulary used by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), the Queensland Government and the Queensland Competition Authority, then walks through a comparison step by step. It quotes no plan prices, because retailers change them, and it does not recommend any retailer.
Which tool, and which regulator, applies to you
In South East Queensland, retailers generally offer similar tariffs but may name them differently. The AER runs Energy Made Easy, a free online comparator where customers can search and compare offers. Retailers must display all of their generally available plans there.
Regional Queensland works differently. Tariffs there are regulated and set by the Queensland Competition Authority, which also offers a bill comparator tool that estimates a yearly bill from the latest prices it determined. The authority says it has not set electricity prices in south east Queensland since 1 July 2016.
Standing offers and market offers
Energy Made Easy describes two plan types. Under a market retail plan, prices are set by the retailer and can change at any time, even just after you sign up. A Queensland customer must be told at least 10 business days before a price change. A “fixed term” only means the plan runs for a set period; it does not mean the price is fixed.
The other type is a standard retail plan, also called a standing offer. Its prices are often government-set, are generally higher than market plans, and cannot change more than once every six months. You cannot get the discounts that come with market plans. You might be on one if your market plan has expired. Because it is easy to be on a standing offer without realising, the AER says to check with your retailer which type you hold.
What the reference price (Default Market Offer) is
The Default Market Offer, or DMO, is set by the AER. It is the maximum price retailers can charge residential and small business customers on a standing offer, and it applies in South East Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. The annual price is locked in each 1 July for twelve months.
The DMO also works as a yardstick. Retailers must show how their plans compare with it in all advertising, and the Queensland Government describes it as a reference point for comparing market offers that does not directly apply to them. The Queensland Government page says: “This bill cap is known as the default market offer (DMO) and applies only to standing offer contracts”. The AER page says: “The DMO is not a cap on customer bills”, adding that a bill depends on how much electricity a customer uses and how their retailer has set its rates.
The AER also notes the DMO may not be the cheapest plan available and encourages shopping around. If the standing offer price turns out to be cheaper than your current plan, you can ask your retailer to move you to the standing offer, and the retailer must do so. At 9 November 2026, the Queensland Government page (last updated 30 April 2026) says about 10 per cent of residential customers in South East Queensland are on standing offers.
A step-by-step comparison on Energy Made Easy
Start with your bill. Energy Made Easy does not show your current plan or rates, so find your rates on page 2 of your bill. Check whether the bill rate includes GST, because Energy Made Easy rates do while a bill rate may not.
The search needs only a suburb or postcode, not your full address. You can supply your usage through your meter identifier (NMI), by typing it in, or with Quick compare. Adding real usage matters, because the tool says it cannot tell you how much you will save by switching, and estimates drawn from one bill or less than 12 months are hard to rely on.
Results are ordered with the cheapest estimate first. The default view shows the estimated cost excluding discounts. Switch to the including-discounts view and it counts the maximum discount you could earn if you meet requirements such as paying on time or direct debit. Plans with conditional requirements are hidden unless you choose to view them, so look at those only if you can meet the conditions.
Reading the fine print
Understand the structure before the price. A flat rate tariff charges one price per unit whenever it is used, plus a daily supply charge. A time-of-use tariff has higher usage charges in the peak period and lower ones the rest of the time, again plus a daily supply charge. Time-of-use plans typically need a smart meter. Daily supply charges are quoted in cents per day and usage in cents per kilowatt-hour, so compare like with like.
Discounts need the most care. Check whether a discount applies to the total bill or only part of it, and remember that a plan with no discounts can still have a lower overall tariff rate. A pay-on-time discount only helps if you can always pay before the due date. Some plans carry a benefit period, after which you pay full price again or lose the extra, according to the Energy Made Easy discounts and fees page, which was last updated on 25 October 2023. Look for an exit fee, charged when you leave a plan early, and note that the same 2023 page describes a “No exit fees” filter under the Fees section of the Energy Made Easy refine panel, so check that the label is still there.
Finally, if you have a smart meter, the AER describes the Solar Sharer Offer as an opt-in standing offer for residential customers in DMO regions. At 9 November 2026 it lists the free period in South East Queensland as 11 am to 2 pm. Whether that suits you depends on whether you can shift usage into those hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standing offer?
Energy Made Easy calls it a standard retail plan, sometimes called a standing offer, with prices that are often government-set and generally higher than market plans.
Does Energy Made Easy show my current plan?
No. It does not show your current plan or rates, so use page 2 of your bill to find them.
Is the Default Market Offer a limit on my bill?
The Queensland Government page calls it a bill cap that applies only to standing offer contracts. The AER says it is the maximum price on a standing offer but not a cap on customer bills, which depend on usage and retailer rates.
Does the Queensland Competition Authority set prices in Brisbane?
It says it has not set electricity prices in south east Queensland since 1 July 2016.
