Why make a choice

Since 2002, all Victorian electricity and gas customers have been able to choose their energy retailer and type of contract or energy plan. There are now many energy retailers in Victoria offering a range of energy plans including options like green energy, dual fuel deals and other offers and incentives. 

If you shop around you might find a plan that benefits you and suits your needs more than the contract you are currently on.  For further information see how to choose a retailer.

There are two types of energy contract:

1. Standing contract

This is a basic contract you will be on if you have not entered into any new type of contract since the introduction of competition in 2002, or if you have moved premises and you have not negotiated a market contract. You may be on a standing contract now with AGL, Origin or TRUenergy.
 

From 1 January 2009, all retailers must offer this standing contract to you if they have responsibility for the house that you move into and you have not been offered a market contract by another retailer.
 

If you want to view these contracts, use the blue Make Your Choice box on the top right hand corner of this page.
 

2. Market contract

This is a contract negotiated between you and a retailer and may offer you a better price (or some other benefit) than the standing contract. Market contracts may have a fixed term (generally between one and three years), or could be on-going. You must give your explicit informed consent to the price and other terms of a market contract and you have a cooling off-period of between 5 business – 10 calendar days.

You may want to also consider the reports published by the Commission on the performance of the retail energy businesses.

If you decide to change retailers you will still have the same distributor (the company that owns the pipes and wires that deliver your energy). It will not affect the reliability or the quality of your energy supply.