Origin Energy Review: Plans, Pricing, and Alternatives

Origin Energy is one of Australia's three largest electricity and gas retailers, alongside AGL and EnergyAustralia. The company serves over 4.7 million customer accounts across the National Electricity Market (NEM), covering NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the ACT.

Origin offers multiple electricity and gas plans across residential and small business segments. Plan names, pricing, and discounts change throughout the year. This review covers what Origin charges as of mid-2026, what each plan includes, and where Origin sits against competitors on price and service.

Origin structures its residential electricity offering around three plan tiers. Each plan targets a different customer type: budget-conscious households, solar owners, and those willing to pay a premium for extras like carbon offsets.

The Origin Basic plan is a no-frills variable rate offer. It tracks close to the Australian Energy Regulator's Default Market Offer (DMO) in NSW, South Australia, and southeast Queensland, and the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) in Victoria. Origin Basic carries no conditional discounts, meaning your rate does not depend on paying on time or by direct debit. What you see is what you pay.

The Origin Max plan offers a lower usage rate in exchange for a benefit period (12 months from sign-up). The discount comes off the reference price and varies by state. In NSW, the discount sits around 10-16% below the DMO. In Victoria, it sits around 8-14% below the VDO. These percentages shift with each quarterly update from Origin.

The Origin Solar Boost plan targets households with rooftop solar. It offers a higher feed-in tariff than Origin's standard rate, paired with a usage rate that sits between Basic and Max. The trade-off: higher feed-in credit in exchange for a higher usage rate. Solar households exporting significant kilowatt-hours benefit. Low-export households do not.

Origin also offers time-of-use tariffs in areas where smart meters are installed (standard in Victoria, rolling out in NSW and QLD). Time-of-use pricing charges different rates depending on when you use electricity. Peak rates apply from 2pm to 8pm on weekdays (the most expensive period). Off-peak rates apply overnight and on weekends. Shoulder rates fill the gaps. If you can shift energy-heavy tasks (dishwasher, washing machine, pool pump, EV charging) to off-peak hours, a time-of-use tariff can cut your bill by 15-25% compared to a flat rate. Our guide on controlled load electricity explains how dedicated circuits get cheaper tariffs for hot water and pool pumps.

Electricity bills in Australia have two components: a daily supply charge (a fixed fee for being connected to the grid) and a usage charge (per kilowatt-hour consumed). Both vary by state, distribution network, and tariff type. See our breakdown of electricity rates by state for a broader comparison.

Origin publishes its rates in the Energy Made Easy and Victorian Energy Compare government comparison tools. Here is what a typical household pays on Origin Max in each state, based on the government's benchmark annual consumption figures.

South Australia remains the most expensive state for electricity. A household on Origin Max in SA pays 10-20% more per year than the same household in Victoria. The difference comes from higher network charges (the cost of maintaining poles, wires, and substations), not from Origin's retail margin.

Gas plans follow a similar structure: daily supply charge plus a per-megajoule usage rate. Origin's gas pricing sits in the middle of the market. A typical Melbourne household using gas for heating, hot water, and cooking pays $1,000-$1,400 per year on Origin's gas plan. Sydney households pay $800-$1,100 because milder winters reduce heating demand.

Origin bills monthly or quarterly depending on your plan and meter reading schedule. Monthly billing gives you smaller, more predictable payments. Quarterly billing means fewer bills but larger amounts due every three months. You can request a change to monthly billing through the Origin app or by calling 13 24 61. Origin also offers bill smoothing (called Predictable Plan), which averages your annual usage and charges the same amount every month. This removes seasonal spikes from your winter gas or summer air-conditioning bills.

Concession holders receive government rebates applied to their energy bills. In NSW, the Low Income Household Rebate provides up to $285 per year off electricity bills. Victoria's Annual Electricity Concession gives eligible households up to $294 per year. Origin applies these rebates to your account if you register your concession card details through the app or by phone. Make sure your concession details are up to date, because Origin cannot apply a rebate it does not know about.

Origin's standard feed-in tariff pays between 3c and 7c per kilowatt-hour for electricity exported to the grid. The rate varies by state and plan. This sits within the range offered by most retailers, neither generous nor bottom-of-market.

The Solar Boost plan lifts the feed-in tariff to 8-12c/kWh. For a 6.6kW system exporting 15kWh per day, the difference between 5c and 10c feed-in adds up to $273 per year. Whether Solar Boost saves you money depends on comparing that extra feed-in credit against the slightly higher usage rate on the plan. Run the numbers for your specific situation using the government's Energy Made Easy calculator.

Origin supports virtual power plant (VPP) programs for households with battery storage. If you own a Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, or compatible battery, you can enrol in Origin's VPP program. Origin dispatches stored energy from your battery during peak demand periods and credits your account. Typical VPP credits range from $300 to $900 per year depending on battery size and dispatch frequency.

Origin acquired the solar and battery installation business from its partnership with LG Energy. Through Origin, you can purchase a rooftop solar system (6.6kW from around $5,500 after STCs) and a home battery (Tesla Powerwall 3 from around $13,000 installed). Origin offers payment plans for these purchases, spreading the cost over 24 to 60 months. The interest rate on Origin's payment plans sits around 6-9%, which makes them comparable to a personal loan. Compare Origin's finance terms against a low-rate personal loan from your bank before signing up.

Origin, AGL, and EnergyAustralia together serve about 70% of Australian electricity customers. All three offer similar plan structures (basic, discount, and solar tiers) and compete on marginal price differences. The gaps between them are smaller than most customers expect.

Smaller retailers often beat the big three on price. Companies like Alinta Energy, Red Energy, Momentum Energy, and Powershop publish rates 5-15% below the DMO. They achieve this through lower overhead costs and thinner margins. The trade-off: smaller retailers have fewer physical service centres and may have longer call wait times. We also review Southern Phone for households looking at bundled telecom services.

The Australian Energy Regulator found in its 2025 Annual Retail Markets Report that customers who switched retailers in the previous 12 months saved an average of $260 per year on electricity. Customers who stayed on the same plan for more than two years paid $180-$350 per year more than the cheapest available offer in their area.

Switching energy retailers in Australia takes 1 to 3 business days and involves no interruption to your supply. The new retailer handles the transfer. Your power does not stop during the switch because the physical infrastructure (poles, wires, meters) stays the same regardless of which retailer you pay. No technician visits your property. You receive a final bill from the old retailer and a welcome pack from the new one. The process is free. No retailer charges an exit fee on residential plans, and the government prohibits them under the National Energy Retail Rules.

Origin's customer service record is mixed. The company received 2,876 complaints through the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) in the 2024-25 financial year. Billing disputes made up 62% of complaints. Transfer and connection issues accounted for 21%.

Origin's app gives you real-time usage tracking, bill predictions, and the ability to manage payment methods. The app rates 4.1 stars on iOS and 3.8 stars on Android. Common complaints in app reviews mention delayed usage data and difficulty reaching a human agent through in-app chat.

If you have a billing dispute, contact Origin's complaints team on 1800 626 734 before going to the ombudsman. Origin must acknowledge your complaint within two business days and resolve it within 20 business days. If the outcome does not satisfy you, escalate to your state's energy ombudsman. EWON (NSW), EWOV (VIC), and EWOQ (QLD) all handle complaints at no cost to the customer.

Origin sits in the middle of the pack on pricing. It is not the cheapest retailer in any state, but it is not the most expensive either. The company's strength lies in its range of plans, its solar and VPP options, and its app-based account management.

If you have rooftop solar and a battery, Origin's Solar Boost and VPP programs offer a competitive combination. If you are a straightforward consumer with no solar, smaller retailers like Alinta or Momentum will save you $150-$300 per year over Origin's equivalent plans.

The single most valuable action you can take: compare. Use the government's Energy Made Easy tool (for NSW, QLD, SA, ACT) or Victorian Energy Compare (for VIC) to see every available offer for your address. Enter your NMI (National Metering Identifier, found on your bill) for personalised results based on your actual usage. The comparison takes five minutes and shows you how much you can save by switching.