South Australia, known for its stunning coastlines, wine regions, and vibrant festivals, offers a rich blend of urban and rural experiences. It is a great destination for those interested in culture, history, and nature.
Major Cities
Adelaide: The capital city is known for its festivals, food and wine, arts, and beautiful parklands. Adelaide combines a laid-back lifestyle with vibrant cultural activities.
Mount Gambier: Known for its volcanic and limestone features, it oasts attractions like the Blue Lake and numerous sinkholes, offering unique outdoor experiences.
Whyalla: A coastal city famous for its steelworks and shipbuilding industry, Whyalla also offers scenic waterfronts and opportunities for fishing and boating.
Port Augusta: Often referred to as the “Gateway to the Outback,” Port Augusta is a key hub for those travelling to the Flinders Ranges and the vast Australian outback.
As of June 2023, South Australia’s population was estimated to be approximately 1.8 million.
South Australia’s energy market operates under a deregulated framework for electricity and gas, allowing consumers to choose their energy retailers. Deregulation aims to foster competition among energy providers, leading to better prices, improved services, and a wider range of consumer energy plan options.
South Australia fully deregulated its electricity market in February 2013, allowing private companies to set their electricity prices and offer various plans tailored to consumer needs. This shift from a regulated market, where the government set the prices, to a deregulated one has had significant impacts:
South Australia’s gas market is also deregulated, providing consumers with similar freedoms to choose their gas retailers. The deregulation of the gas market allows for:
In South Australia, energy distributors deliver electricity and gas to homes and businesses through power lines, poles, and pipeline networks. Distributors own and maintain the infrastructure to supply energy and respond to faults and emergencies. While consumers can choose their electricity and gas retailers, the distributor is determined by the location of their property.
Consumers in South Australia need to understand that while they can choose their gas and electricity retailers, their distributor is determined by their geographic location and cannot be changed. Distributors are regulated entities that ensure the safe and reliable delivery of energy, and they do not sell energy directly to consumers. Instead, they work behind the scenes to maintain the network infrastructure and handle emergencies, outages, and repairs.
Customers should contact their retailer for issues related to billing or switching energy plans. However, the appropriate distributor should be contacted directly for problems with the energy supply, such as power outages or gas leaks.
The wholesale market is completely open. Electricity generation and retailing allow full competition. People pick their electricity provider and energy plan based on price, service, and other benefits to control their energy spending.
There is a lot of competition. Electricity sellers offer different plans and prices. Shoppers should look for the option that suits them best.
Leader in renewables: South Australia is the leader in using renewable energy, mostly wind and solar, to provide electricity.
Solar power: Many homes use solar panels, which generate renewable energy and help reduce pressure on the grid.
Gas Market in South Australia
Similar to electricity, South Australia’s gas market gives people choice. Several companies offer various gas plans with different prices and benefits.
ESCOSA controls energy market rules in South Australia. It supervises businesses, checks their performance, and protects customers from unfair treatment.
Price Watching: ESCOSA monitors electricity and gas prices closely to ensure that no company charges too much.
Licensing: ESCOSA allows businesses to sell electricity or gas only if they follow the rules.
Protecting Consumers: ESCOSA protects customers by ensuring that companies meet standards in billing, sales, and service.
Market Reports: ESCOSA often publishes reports for everyone to see. This helps customers pick the right provider.
Differences between Electricity and Gas in South Australia
South Australians compare electricity and gas plans to save money. Looking at offers helps more than just taking the first plan.
Use comparison tools like Moveinconnect. This website helps people compare and connect to offers from many electricity and gas companies on their panels.
Check for deals. Many companies give sign-up discounts or rewards for loyalty.
Think about green options. South Australia uses a lot of green energy, and many offers include solar or green energy benefits.
Your electricity price comes from the company you choose. On average, single-rate plans charge around 45 cents per kWh, and daily charges are usually 114.8 cents.
Gas, like electricity, has different prices depending on who you choose. Usage costs range between 3.19 and 6.82 cents per MJ. Daily supply costs average around 79.7 cents.
South Australia uses a lot of solar power. You receive credits when your solar panels send extra power to the grid. Rates change depending on the retailer, so it’s smart to compare. For 2023-2024, ESCOSA set a minimum feed-in rate, but many companies offer higher rates.
Electricity Tariffs in South Australia
Single-rate tariff: The exact price for power all the time.
Time-of-use tariff: Charges depend on when you use electricity, such as peak or off-peak times. A smart meter is required for this.
Controlled load tariff: Lower prices for specific appliances, such as water heaters or pool pumps, run during off-peak times.
Flat rate: The exact price is charged no matter how much gas is used.
Block rate: Charges change based on how much gas is used in different “blocks” of usage.
Rebates and Concessions in South Australia
The government helps some households pay energy bills with concessions.
Energy Concession: Low earners, pensioners, and seniors get help paying for electricity and gas.
Medical Heating and Cooling Concession: This helps households with medical needs requiring extra heating or cooling.
Cost of Living Concession: This helps with energy and other living expenses.
Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme: This assistance helps families with a sudden financial problem pay overdue electricity bills.
Wind and solar power provide most of South Australia’s renewable energy. The government continues to invest in these to meet its zero-emissions goal.
GreenPower is a program that lets people pay for renewable energy from approved providers. In return, this helps grow renewable energy sources and lowers carbon emissions from electricity use.
https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/
https://www.escosa.sa.gov.au/
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/energy-and-environment/energy-concessions
There are two types of feed-in tariffs: the retailer feed-in tariff and the distributor feed-in tariff. The retailer feed-in tariff is for anyone with an eligible solar PV system, while the distributor feed-in tariff (fixed at 44 cents per kWh) is only for systems connected before 30 September 2011.
If you qualify for the 44 cents per kilowatt-hour distributor feed-in tariff, you will continue to receive it until 30 June 2028, as long as you do not make any changes to your solar PV system.
In South Australia, the government does not mandate a minimum feed-in tariff. Instead, individual retailers determine the rates based on factors such as the wholesale electricity price and market competition.
You can check Moveinconnect’s website to compare feed-in tariffs and electricity offers. You can also ask your current retailer about the tariffs available to you.
If you decide to add battery storage to your current system, you won’t be able to receive the 44 cents per kWh distributor feed-in tariff. This is because it’s difficult to tell the difference between electricity sent to the grid from the solar PV system and from a storage device.
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To compare energy in VIC, NSW, QLD, SA, the ACT and TAS, call Move InConnect on 1300 786 045 or enter your details online.
