Energy

1st Energy (EL Retail Energy) vs AGL: Which Is Cheaper for NSW Households in 2026?

SaveNest Editorial Team · 2026-11-04 · 10 min read

If you are weighing up 1st Energy (EL Retail Energy) vs AGL: which is cheaper for NSW households in 2026, the honest answer is that neither retailer is cheaper for everyone. The winner depends on your distribution network, your meter and tariff type, how much power you use, whether you have solar, and how many conditions you can meet on each plan. This guide shows you how to run the comparison for your own home, so you are not relying on a headline rate.

Rates, discounts and conditions change often. This article deliberately does not quote either retailer's current prices, so compare live offers for your postcode before you switch.

The short answer: which is cheaper in NSW?

In a deregulated market like NSW, retailers price their plans differently and change them regularly. Across the Australian market, smaller retailers often undercut the large "gentailers" such as AGL on headline rates, but not always. Large retailers also run discounted market offers, and on some plans, in some network areas, they come out ahead. The only reliable way to know is to compare the estimated annual cost of specific plans using your own usage.

These factors usually decide the winner:

Your network area. Prices differ between Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy areas, because network charges differ.
Your usage. A low-usage household is more sensitive to the daily supply charge. A high-usage household is more sensitive to the per-kWh rate.
Your tariff. Flat-rate, time-of-use and controlled-load (off-peak hot water) tariffs can rank the same two retailers in different orders.
Your discounts. A large conditional discount only helps if you reliably meet the condition.
Your solar setup. The feed-in tariff can matter as much as the usage rate.

Want a quick answer for your own bill? Get a free personalised bill check and see what you could save in 2 minutes. We compare your actual usage against current offers, including both of these retailers where they supply your area.

Who are AGL and 1st Energy?

AGL

AGL is one of Australia's largest energy retailers, often grouped with Origin and EnergyAustralia as a "big three" gentailer. It owns generation as well as retail, and has a very large customer base across the eastern states. AGL typically offers a range of market plans, including variable-rate plans, fixed-term plans and plans aimed at solar households. It also offers gas and sometimes bundled or loyalty-style benefits. The specific plans and discounts change through the year, so check what is available for your postcode.

1st Energy (EL Retail Energy)

1st Energy is a smaller retailer that competes in the east-coast markets, mainly on price. The legal entity behind a retailer's plan can differ from the brand name you see in marketing, and you may see "EL Retail Energy" on contracts and documents. Always read the retailer name and plan documents (the Energy Price Fact Sheet) before you sign. Smaller retailers like this tend to have simpler offers and fewer extras. They can be very competitive on price, but they often have less in the way of app features, bundles or loyalty perks than a large retailer. Check the current plan details yourself rather than assuming.

How to compare 1st Energy and AGL properly

A cheap-looking usage rate can hide an expensive daily charge, and a big discount can sit on top of an inflated base rate. Instead of comparing single numbers, compare these items for each plan:

Daily supply charge. It is charged every day whether or not you use power, so it matters most for low-usage homes and units.
Usage rates (c/kWh). There may be a single rate, or peak, shoulder and off-peak rates if you have a time-of-use tariff.
Controlled load rates. If you have off-peak hot water or similar, check that rate separately.
Discounts and what they apply to. Is the discount on usage only, or on the whole bill? Is it guaranteed, or conditional on paying on time or by direct debit?
Feed-in tariff. This is the credit per kWh you export, if you have solar.
Fees and credits. Look for payment processing fees, paper bill fees, late fees, exit fees and sign-up credits.
Contract type. Fixed-term plans can lock in rates for a period. Variable plans can change, with notice.

The Australian Energy Regulator's Energy Made Easy site is the official place to see regulated plan fact sheets and estimated annual costs. Use your latest bill so you enter the correct usage and tariff. For NSW-specific background, see our NSW electricity guide.

An illustrative example: discount versus lower base rate

The numbers below are made up to show the principle. They are not either retailer's actual rates.

Plan A: a pre-discount annual cost of $2,200, with a 15% discount if you pay on time. Paid on time, it costs $1,870 a year. Paid late, it costs $2,200.
Plan B: a pre-discount annual cost of $1,950, with no conditional discount. It costs $1,950 either way.

Plan A wins by $80 if you never miss the condition. If you often pay late, Plan B wins by $250. Neither retailer is "cheaper" in the abstract, and the plan structure and your habits decide the outcome. Check whether a discount applies to the whole bill or only to usage charges, because the same percentage is worth a different amount in each case.

NSW-specific things that change the answer

Your distribution network

Most NSW households are in the Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy or Essential Energy network area. The network charges are built into the rates you pay, and prices differ between areas. A plan that looks cheap in Sydney's inner suburbs may not be the cheapest in regional NSW. Always compare using your own postcode and meter details.

The Default Market Offer (DMO)

The AER sets a Default Market Offer each year, which acts as a cap on standing offers, the plans you land on if you never choose one. It resets each 1 July and varies by network area and customer type. Retailers must show how their market offers compare with this reference price. Market offers from both AGL and smaller retailers are often priced below the DMO, but that is not guaranteed for every plan. If you have never switched, you may be on a standing offer, and there may be significant savings available.

Meters and time-of-use pricing

Newer smart meters make time-of-use pricing possible. If you can move washing, dishwashing or EV charging to off-peak times, a time-of-use plan may beat a flat rate. If you cannot shift your usage, a flat-rate plan may be safer. Compare both tariff types for each retailer using your actual usage pattern. Your bill or your retailer's online portal can show you your usage by time of day.

If you have solar: feed-in tariffs and new offers

Solar households should compare the feed-in tariff as carefully as the usage rate. A retailer with a slightly higher usage rate but a stronger feed-in tariff can work out cheaper for a home that exports a lot of power. A retailer with a low usage rate but a minimal feed-in tariff can work out dearer. Feed-in tariffs vary by retailer and plan, and can change.

Also watch for retailers' time-of-day offers that give free or very cheap power in the middle of the day. Federal and state energy ministers have committed to a "Solar Sharer" style requirement in some regions from July 2026, including NSW. Check the current status and whether either retailer's version suits your household's usage pattern. These offers can suit households that can shift usage to the middle of the day, such as people who work from home or charge an EV. They are less useful if most of your usage is in the evening.

Fine print that can change the real cost

Discount expiry. Some benefits only last for the first 12 months. Retailers have to notify you before a benefit ends, but you still need to act when that notice arrives.
Pay-on-time and direct debit conditions. Missing the condition can remove the discount for that bill.
Fixed versus variable. A fixed-term plan can protect you from mid-term price rises. Check for exit fees if you leave early.
Bundles. If you also have gas, check whether each retailer supplies it in your area and whether a dual-fuel discount applies to both fuels. You can compare options on our gas deals page.
Sign-up credits. A one-off bill credit can offset a slightly higher rate in year one, but not in later years.

Service, reliability and what happens if something goes wrong

Your power will keep flowing whichever retailer you choose, because the poles and wires are run by your network, not your retailer. Retailers must hold an AER retail authorisation, and if a retailer fails, the Retailer of Last Resort scheme moves its customers to another retailer without cutting supply. Both retailers must also have hardship policies and follow the national energy customer protections. If you have a complaint you cannot resolve with the retailer, you can go to the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON).

Beyond that, service quality is a personal matter: apps, call-centre wait times and billing accuracy vary. Read recent independent feedback and check each retailer's contact options before you decide, and do not rely on a single review.

Which is likely to suit which household?

Price-focused households that pay reliably should compare both retailers' lowest-cost market offers, and give extra weight to guaranteed discounts rather than conditional ones.
Households wanting extras and an established brand may find AGL's range of plans and bundled options worth a small premium, if the numbers stack up.
Solar households should compare the net result of usage rate and feed-in tariff across both retailers.
Low-usage households (units, apartments) should pay particular attention to the daily supply charge.
Households with irregular payments should favour plans with smaller or no conditional discounts.

Our blog has more plain-English guides on switching, bill shock and getting the most from solar. The electricity deals page lists current offers you can compare.

Steps to Take

Grab your latest bill. Note your postcode, network, meter type, tariff, usage in kWh and daily supply charge. Check your solar export figures too, if you have solar.
Compare live offers. Look at AGL and 1st Energy plans for your postcode on Energy Made Easy or on our electricity deals page. Use the estimated annual cost, not the headline rate.
Read the fact sheet. Check the discount conditions, feed-in tariff, fees, contract length and exit fees before you commit.
Switch, then diarise. You generally have a cooling-off period after signing (10 business days under the national rules), so check your contract. Set a calendar reminder for before any discount or fixed term ends.
Review once a year. Prices and offers reset regularly, so re-compare each year, ideally after the July price changes.

Ready to find out which retailer is actually cheaper for your home? Do not guess. Get your free personalised bill check at /savings and see what you could save in about two minutes, with no obligation. If you want to browse offers yourself, compare the latest plans on our electricity deals page, and act before your next bill arrives.