Electricity is a powerful form of energy that runs most devices in your home and office. According to a recent report, Australia’s electricity consumption reached 6,196 petajoules in 2018-19, a 0.6% increase compared to the previous year.
South Australia and Electricity Consumption
South Australia is the southern central part of Australia. It is the fifth-largest state by population and the fourth-largest by territory. South Australia has a total land area of 983,482 square kilometres. It ranks fifth in the electricity consumption list of Australian states.
The residents of South Australia have the freedom to choose their electricity retailer through websites like https://www.econnex.com.au/electricity-providers-sa/. However, before you decide to change your service provider, you should know how electricity tariffs work in South Australia.
Tariffs Explained
The electricity bill provided by the service providers contains details of your energy consumption for the billed period. For example, suppose your house has a solar PV system installed.
In that case, the electricity bill will also have a separate column that mentions how much electricity kWh (kilowatt-hour) was exported to the primary electrical grid.
South Australia has a well-developed rooftop solar PV industry. Around one in three houses in South Australia have solar panels. Now let’s look at some essential components of your electricity bill.
Average Use Per Day– The column mentions the amount of electricity your home used per day. It is mentioned in kWh.
Usage Graphs – This section compares your electricity consumption patterns over the past few months. It allows you to compare electricity consumption for billing periods and seasons.
Why You Need A Solar Battery for WinterBilling Period – It mentions the billing period. The date when the actual meter reading was taken is mentioned.
Tariffs– the tariff is the most significant component in the electricity bill. It contains two parts: Peak tariffs and Non-peak tariffs.
- The peak period is when the electricity network has high usage, such as weekends and holidays.
- The off-peak period refers to the time when the electricity network has low usage, like midnight.
The electricity bill might also have a separate rate known as shoulder rate. The shoulder rate refers to the usage rate between peak and controlled times. It is generally lower than peak period rates.
How to Choose The Best Electricity Retailer in South Australia?
As per recent estimates, the population of South Australia is around 1.731 million. Adelaide is the largest urban centre in South Australia in terms of population. Its population is around 1,165,632.
There are more than 20 electricity retailers in South Australia. This choice means that, as a consumer, you have multiple options and can negotiate prices with the retailers to make sure you get the best deal possible.
Here are a few steps to follow to select the best energy retailer.
Find the Energy Retailers Providing Services in Your Region
The age-old way is to ask your friends, colleagues, and neighbours about the energy retailers they use. Alternatively, you can head to the energymadeeasy.gov.au website to find the retailers serving your city or region.
You can visit the energy retailer website and compare the energy plans offered by the retailer. Keep the following information ready when speaking to a retailer.
- Your postcode
- Current energy plan.
- Typical usage rates.
- Mention whether you have solar power.
When you enter the required details, the website search function will scan all competitive energy plans in the database and show the plans best suited for your home or business.
You get detailed information about the energy plans, including peak rates, off-peak rates, and other charges for shifting to a new electricity retailer. Then, all you need to do is choose the best plan, and the energy retailer will do the rest.
To sum up, electricity costs are significant expenses for every home and business. However, since the Australian energy market is competitive, you will always find good deals from energy suppliers that help you save a significant amount of money on your electricity bills.
