An Australian household uses around 18KW energy per day. Relying on the national gas and electricity grid carries with it an inherent risk. It is possible to receive interrupted supplies or unreasonable bills.
It is also hard to tell which companies are responsible for your bill’s accuracy or whether they will continue providing you with services. The best way to solve these problems above is by obtaining individual energy tariffs.
When shopping for electricity compare tariffs and fees associated with different energy plans.
What is An Energy Tariff?
Individual energy tariffs are designed for customers who cannot rely on the national gas and electricity grid.
They allow you to purchase all your electricity and natural gas from a supplier of your choice and only then sell it to you at higher rates (based on supply contracts that vary depending on contract terms).
What is the Benefit of Individual Energy Tariffs?
The advantage of individual energy tariffs is that you can choose from a range of suppliers and thus find one that meets all your requirements. In addition, you can switch suppliers easily anytime you want without incurring extra charges.
How to Get an Individual Energy Tariff?
To get an individual energy tariff, you’ll have to choose a supplier and get in touch with them. They will ask for some basic information about your property, such as meter readings, the number of people living in your house, etc., after which they will send a team to install the new meters, pipelines, etc.
What are Energy Fees?
Energy fees are costs that your energy supplier imposes on you for supplying, delivering, and selling natural gas or electricity.
These fees may change from one supplier to another, but most of them remain almost unchanged over time.
What is a Standing Charge?
A standing charge is a fee charged by suppliers for keeping your connection active at all times. In other words, this means that you’ll have to pay your supplier a small fee for having a contract with them.
What is the Difference Between Standing Energy Charges and Energy Fees?
Standing charges are not included in the energy fees; they remain the same regardless of how much electricity or gas you consume every month.
On the other hand, energy fees are closely related to your electricity or gas consumption; they are charged for the actual amount of energy.
How to Know Which Energy Supplier in Australia is Best?
Answering this question would be challenging since scores of factors can affect your choice between suppliers (e.g., whether they offer special discounts, etc.).
Therefore, when you shop for electricity, compare various suppliers’ tariffs, fees, and services.
Notes on Individual Energy Tariffs
Your property must have a smart meter installed for you to receive an individual tariff. Otherwise, your options are limited to grid tariffs. If you do not choose a supplier within six weeks of installation, the National Transmission Network Service Provider will assign your property to a supplier they choose.
Under certain conditions, suppliers can perform load management without your consent. In other words, you may experience power cuts from time to time. You must receive a letter notifying you of a change in supplier at least three months before the actual change happens.
When the contract ends, you’ll have to contact your supplier and start a new one. You cannot keep purchasing energy from the same source unless you wish to. If your usage is over 3,000 kWh per year (or around 5,100 kWh for gas), it’s highly recommended that you get an individual energy tariff.
Wrapping Up
Electricity produced by solar panels is only available for individual energy tariffs. If you require further information on individual energy supplies, please visit your local energy provider.
