Tick off the documents, comparisons, contract terms and cooling-off steps before and after you switch electricity or gas plans.
0 / 15 completed
Use this checklist when you change electricity or gas plans, whether you switch retailer or move to a different plan with your current one.
How to use it. Work through the groups in order. Ticks are saved in your browser only. The most important steps are comparing with your own usage rather than a typical household, checking whether a discount depends on conditions, and keeping the contract documents so you can check the first bill.
Cooling-off. For a new market retail contract, households generally have a 10 business day cooling-off period, which starts when you receive the contract terms (under the National Energy Retail Rules in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, and Victoria's Energy Retail Code of Practice). You can cancel within that time without an exit fee. Door-to-door and phone sales have extra rules under Australian Consumer Law.
Worked example (illustrative). You accept an offer on a Monday and receive the contract on Wednesday. Count 10 business days from Wednesday, skipping weekends and public holidays; that is roughly two calendar weeks.
Limits. Some steps do not apply to every household, such as concessions or a gas account. See the switching guide for detail.
Worked Examples and Comparison Checklists
A practical method for comparing energy plans with Energy Made Easy or Victorian Energy Compare using your NMI and real usage, plus what to check before you switch.
Bill Mistakes, Complaints and Official Help
A map of common electricity and gas bill problems and the right place to take each — your retailer, the energy ombudsman in your state, the regulator, concessions and free financial counselling.
Bill Mistakes, Complaints and Official Help
Step-by-step guide to escalating an electricity or gas complaint to your state energy ombudsman — what to prepare, how the process works, outcomes and timeframes to expect.
Bill Mistakes, Complaints and Official Help
How to set up electricity and gas when you move in Australia — choosing a plan before move-in, connection and reconnection fees, move-in readings, standing offers and closing the old account.
Worked Examples and Comparison Checklists
How switching electricity or gas retailers works in Australia — what to prepare, explicit informed consent, the 10-business-day cooling-off period, door-to-door sales rules and the first bill.
