AGL
AGL is one of Australia’s largest energy providers. Read more about them and find out how green they are here through Savvy’s energy review.
Fact checked
AGL, which is short for Australian Gas Light Company, is one of Australia's largest integrated energy providers, serving millions of customers across the country. With a history dating back to 1837, AGL has evolved into a major player in the energy sector, offering a wide range of energy plans to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers.
AGL's portfolio includes electricity generation, natural gas production, retailing, and energy storage services, making it a comprehensive integrated energy provider. The company is also actively involved in renewable energy projects, with a growing focus on solar and wind power generation. AGL owns hydroelectric power stations in Victoria and NSW, six wind farms and two solar plants in Broken Hill and Nyngan.
Their conventional power generation comes from coal and gas-fired power stations including the recently closed Liddell Power Station, plus Bayswater Power Station, Loy Yang A Power Station, Torrens Island, Barker Inlet and Somerton power stations.
Which states or territories does AGL operate in?
Currently, AGL offers electricity, gas and other energy plans in:
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Western Australia (gas only)
What is the size of AGL in comparison to other energy retailers?
According to the Australian Energy Regulator’s latest report (Q2 2022/2023), AGL now has over 1,541,300 retail electricity customers, and they command around 22.70% of retail electricity market share, putting them second behind Origin Energy, who hold just over 26% market share. However, when it comes to gas customers, the order is reversed, with AGL having just over 811,000 gas customers and 35.5% market share, in front of Origin’s 600,600 customers and 26.3% market share.
Pros and cons of using AGL as your energy provider
- Offer a wide range of gas and electricity and solar electricity plans to choose from
- A $75 online sign-up bonus available with some plans
- They offer a seniors’ plan, giving concession card holders a bill credit of either $75 (in NSW and QLD) or $25 (in VIC and SA)
- A dedicated electric vehicle plan offers EV owners up to $120 in bonus credits per year with a 12-month benefit period
- Provide an easy-to-use app that provides useful energy-use information
- Offer a variety of billing options, including monthly billing and bill smoothing
- Offers bundled billing options including internet and mobile phone services with any energy plan
- AGL Rewards program offers savings on major retail brands including clothes, shoes, cosmetics and fast food delivery
- Very poor environmental record, being branded by Greenpeace as ‘Australia’s biggest climate polluter’
- AGL intends to continue to burn coal until 2045
- Does not offer any energy plans in the ACT or TAS, and only gas plans in WA
- Their plans are equal to the reference price in some states
- Their energy plans are not among the cheapest available in Australia
- AGl no longer offers residential solar installation, having ceased this service in 2018
How is AGL rated as a green energy provider?
According to Greenpeace’s Green Electricity Guide, AGL has a score of 1.2 /10 overall, awarding them the lowest score of all Australian energy companies. This score is due in part to the fact they are claimed to be Australia’s biggest climate polluter. *
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: 80 %
- 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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