Energy Locals
Energy Locals is a well-known energy provider in Australia supplying both households and business premises. Find out more about them and how green they are here through Savvy’s energy review.
Fact checked
Energy Locals is a 100% Australian energy retailer which does things a little differently. Instead of charging a daily supply charge, Energy Locals has a fixed membership fee. Electricity is then supplied at close to wholesale market rates, which they claim means lower energy costs for their customers.
The company is majority owned by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, a renewable energy investment fund active in Australia, the UK and the US. All their plans are 100% carbon neutral, and they take a very proactive stance on climate change. Their sister business is Cape Byron Power, which generates electricity from sugarcane and wood waste. However, they also buy power from the national electricity market.
They provide green energy solutions to individuals, small businesses, and larger commercial enterprises, and have partnered with Tesla to provide a Virtual Power Plant network for people who have solar power and a battery system installed.
Disclaimer: Please note that Savvy does not represent Energy Locals for their retail energy products. All listed information is correct as of August 2023 but subject to change.
Which states or territories does Energy Locals operate in?
Currently, Energy Locals offers electricity plans in:
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- South-east Queensland
- South Australia
- ACT
- Tasmania
What is the size of Energy Locals in comparison to other energy retailers?
According to the Australian Energy Regulator’s latest report (Q2 2022/2023), Energy Locals now has over 47,500 retail electricity customers, making them the 12th largest retail energy company in Australia.
Pros and cons of using Energy Locals as your energy provider
- 100% Aussie company
- 100% carbon-neutral plans offered at no extra cost
- Option to add on GreenPower support for an additional cost
- Option to join a Tesla Virtual Power Plant
- Access to instant online usage data
- $100 sign-up bonus for Victorian customers
- $50 off your bill through a ‘refer a friend’ offer
- Currently they only offer electricity plans, no gas plans
- No locked-in prices or contracts
- No plans available in the NT or WA
- No longer taking on new customers in SA
- Set monthly membership fee
- Prices set by wholesale electricity market rates
What is the unique Tesla Energy Plan offered by Energy Locals?
This unique electricity plan is designed for those who own a Tesla Powerwall 2, a solar electricity battery storage system connected to rooftop solar panels. It is a collaboration between Energy Locals and the Powerwall manufacturer, Tesla. Those who sign up for this plan are connected to a Virtual Power Plant, an independent local network of people with solar panels and Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries.
Excess energy generated by members’ solar panels is fed back into the local network to be used by other grid members, reducing the cost of buying electricity from the main electricity grid. Tesla manages the import and export of the solar-generated power, potentially providing customers with the lowest possible energy rates.
How is Energy Locals rated as a green energy provider?
According to Greenpeace’s Green Electricity Guide, Energy Locals has a very high score of 8.09/10, ranking them No.3 Green Energy Retailer in Australia.*
Their scores for specific criteria are:
- Providing clean, renewable energy: 40%
- Ending coal use by 2030: 80%
- Halting fossil fuel expansion: 100%
- Support for new renewable energy 86%
- Pollution & environmental harm: 80%
- Transparency in marketing: 80%
*Information from Greenpeace’s Green Electricity Guide is current as of August 2023, but subject to change.
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