ActewAGL

Actewagl is the main energy retailer for the ACT, but also some parts of NSW. Read more about them and find out how green they are here through Savvy’s energy review.  

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, updated on August 14th, 2023       

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Actewagl is a 50/50 partnership between the Actew Corporation, owned by the Australian Capital Territory Government, and AGL, Australia’s largest electricity generator. The Actew Corporation has now changed its name to Icon Water.  

This joint venture was formed in 2000, and has two divisions, distribution and retailing. On the distribution side, ActewAGL is partnered with Jemena, which supplies the corporation with gas. This partnership subsequently changed its name to Evoenergy, and is now responsible for the operation and maintenance of the electricity and gas network in the ACT. Electricity is supplied by NSW Electricity Networks, which forms part of Australia’s national electricity grid. 

The company supplies a range of gas and electricity plans to residents in the ACT, but also parts of NSW. It is involved in a variety of innovative renewable energy projects, and as a corporation is certified carbon neutral. It also sells and installs solar panels and battery storage in the ACT through its partner Solarhub.  

Actewagl logo

Which states or territories does ActewAGL supply power to?

 Currently the company offers gas and electricity plans in: 

  • ACT (Canberra)
  • Parts of New South Wales (including Queanbeyan, Shoalhaven and other areas in south-east NSW)

How big a retailer is ActewAGL compared to other energy retailers?

According to the Australian Energy Regulator’s latest report (Q2 2022/2023), ActewAGL now has over 172,600 retail electricity customers, making them the 8th largest retail electricity company in Australia. They control 2.5% of retail market share overall. However, in the ACT they have over 73.2% of the electricity market share, making them the dominant electricity supplier in that state.  

As for gas customers, they have around 112,500 customers, representing 4.9% of the market share overall. Again, in the ACT, their gas market share is up to 74.6%, so they are again the largest supplier of gas contracts.  

What are some of the pros and cons of using  ActewAGL as your energy provider?

  • Accredited GreenPower energy supplier 
  • Option to pay for up to 200% carbon offset – at a price
  • Offers a range of plans including solar electricity
  • Comparatively generous solar feed-in tariff
  • Discounts available for bundling gas and electricity 
  • Poor environmental record, as the company is half-owned by AGL  
  • Some plans are on par with the reference price, meaning they do not offer the best value 
  • Daily supply charges are not among the cheapest
  • No phone app to monitor electricity usage 
  • GreenChoice Plan options can be very expensive

How is Actewagl rated as a green energy provider?

According to Greenpeace’s Green Electricity Guide, ActewAGL has a score of 1.29/10 overall. This is due to the fact they are 50% owned by AGL, which Greenpeace describes as Australia's biggest climate polluter. They say that while AGL owns and invests in renewable assets, currently 83% of AGL’s generation comes from burning coal.* 

Their scores for these specific criteria are: 

  • Providing clean, renewable energy: 0%
  • Ending coal use by 2030: 0%
  • Halting fossil fuel expansion: 0%
  • Support for new renewable energy: 86%
  • Pollution & environmental harm: 0%
  • Transparency in marketing:  0% 

*Information from Greenpeace’s Green Electricity Guide is current as of August 2023, but subject to change 

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Frequently asked questions about ActewAGL

What is the difference between AGL and ActewAGL?

ActewAGL Retail is a 50/50 partnership between Actew Corporation Limited (now known as Icon Water), owned by the ACT government, and AGL, the Australian Gas Light Company, one of Australia’s largest energy suppliers.  

What is ActewAGL’s GreenChoice option?

ActewAGL's GreenChoice is a program that allows customers to contribute to the purchase of renewable electricity from government-accredited sources, such as wind, biomass, hydro, and solar. This renewable energy is guaranteed to be added to the electricity grid, replacing electricity generated from fossil fuels. The program is independently assessed by the Australian Government's National GreenPower Accreditation Program. 

Customers can choose to pay a fixed amount each day or a variable amount based on a percentage of their electricity use.  The cost varies depending on the chosen plan and whether it's a fixed-use or percentage-based option. This initiative supports renewable energy generation.  

Can you join a VPP through ActewAGL?

Yes, ActewAGL offers the ActewAGL Battery Saver plan which allows customers with eligible solar and battery systems to participate in a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program. This plan provides benefits such as a feed-in tariff for the first 10kWh per day, a discount on the electricity reference price, and energy advice from the local team. Eligibility criteria apply, and the plan is subject to specific terms and conditions. The VPP technology allows excess energy to flow from homes to the grid during peak times. Customers should review the plan details to understand the pricing, benefits, and requirements. 

Does ActewAGL offer a good solar energy feed-in tariff?

Yes, ActewAGL offers a reasonable solar feed-in tariff as part of its Solar Saver program. The feed-in tariff rate is set at 10c/kWh for the first 10kWh of daily solar energy exported to the grid. Any additional solar energy exported beyond the initial 10kWh receives a feed-in tariff rate of 6c/kWh.  

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Disclaimer:

Savvy is partnered with Econnex Comparison (CIMET Sales Pty Ltd, ABN 72 620 395 726) to provide readers with a variety of energy plans to compare. We do not compare all retailers in the market, or all plans offered by all retailers. Savvy earns a commission from Econnex each time a customer buys an energy plan via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased directly, as all purchases are conducted via Econnex.

Any advice presented above is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an energy plan. For further information on the variety of energy plans compared by Econnex, or how their business works, you can visit their website.