South Australia drew the short straw in the July 2026 price reset. While NSW and Queensland default prices fell, SA was the only region where residential default prices went up — a 1.4% increase for flat-rate households. SA already carries some of the highest electricity prices in the country, so if there's one state where comparing plans right now genuinely matters, it's this one.
What changed in SA on 1 July 2026
- Flat-rate default prices rose 1.4% — the only increase in the country.
- The one bright spot: time-of-use default prices fell slightly (about 1.1%) for smart-meter households.
- The new Solar Sharer Offer launched in SA: retailers must offer smart-meter households a plan with three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day. In the most solar-saturated grid in the world, midday power in SA is often nearly worthless wholesale — this plan style passes that on to you.
Why SA households overpay more than most
The default offer is a price cap, not a competitive price — and in SA the gap between the default and sharp market offers is typically among the widest in the country. An increase in the cap doesn't mean every plan got dearer; it means the safety net got more expensive while retailers keep competing below it. Translation: if you haven't compared in the last 12 months, the July increase is your cue.
How to find the cheapest plan in SA (10 minutes)
1. Check your bill against the default
Your bill must show how your plan compares to the DMO reference price. Above it? Urgent. At it? You're paying the capped maximum, not a market price.
2. Compare market offers with your actual usage
Have a recent bill ready (usage in kWh, daily supply charge) and compare plans for your postcode:
3. SA-specific things to weigh up
- Consider time-of-use seriously. SA's enormous solar supply makes midday power cheap and evening power expensive. If you can shift usage to the middle of the day, TOU and Solar Sharer plans reward SA households more than anywhere else.
- Solar owners: feed-in tariffs in SA are modest because midday exports are worth little — prioritise low usage rates and self-consumption over chasing a high FiT.
- Benefit periods and conditional discounts: the usual traps. Compare base rates, and re-compare every July.
SA concessions
South Australia offers an energy bill concession for eligible low-income households, plus the medical heating and cooling concession. Check eligibility at the SA government concessions page. Concessions apply regardless of which plan you're on — claim them and switch; the savings stack.
Frequently asked questions
Is switching free and safe in SA?
Yes — free, about 10 minutes online, no disconnection or technician visit, and a 10-business-day cooling-off period.
Default prices went up — should I wait for them to come down?
No. The default is just the cap; the competitive market sits below it year-round. Waiting only means more months at an uncompetitive rate.
Do comparison sites show every SA plan?
No service compares every retailer. Ours covers 15+ participating retailers; the government's free Energy Made Easy lists every offer in SA, without the guided switching.
Last updated: July 2026. Prices change — confirm details with the retailer before signing up.