Who's who in Australian electricity
There are a lot of companies and organisations involved in getting electricity to your home. Here is who they all are, what they do, and which one you actually have a choice about.
The question that comes up at bill time
“My bill says it is from Origin, but someone from Ausgrid came to fix the power line. Who actually supplies my electricity?” The short answer: multiple organisations are involved, and they each handle a different part of the process. Your retailer sends you the bill, but they do not own the wires, generate the power, or run the market. Let us break it down.
The key players
Here are the six types of organisations involved in getting electricity from a power station to your wall socket. They are listed in the order electricity flows — from generation to your bill.
Generators
What they do: Generate electricity from coal, gas, hydro, wind, solar, or batteries. They bid to sell electricity into the NEM every five minutes.
Examples: AGL, Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia, Snowy Hydro, Neoen, Goldwind. Many of the big retailers also own generators (“gentailers”).
Can you choose? No — the market dispatches whoever bids cheapest.
AEMO
What they do: The Australian Energy Market Operator runs the NEM. Every five minutes, AEMO matches generator bids to current demand, dispatches the cheapest available generation, and sets the spot price. They also forecast demand, manage grid reliability, and coordinate during emergencies.
Think of them as: The air traffic controller of the electricity grid.
Can you choose? No — there is only one AEMO.
Transmission Networks
What they do: Own and maintain the high-voltage power lines that carry electricity over long distances — from power stations to major load centres. These are the tall steel towers you see crossing the countryside.
Examples: TransGrid (NSW), AusNet Services (VIC), Powerlink (QLD), ElectraNet (SA), TasNetworks (TAS).
Can you choose? No — fixed by your state.
Distributors
What they do: Own and maintain the local poles, wires, transformers, and substations that deliver electricity to your street and your home. They also own your meter (in most states) and are responsible for connecting new properties, reading meters, and restoring power after outages.
Examples: Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy (NSW); CitiPower, Powercor, United Energy, Jemena, AusNet (VIC); Energex, Ergon (QLD); SA Power Networks (SA); TasNetworks (TAS).
Can you choose? No — fixed by your address.
Retailers
The one you can chooseWhat they do: Buy electricity from the wholesale market, package it up with network charges and environmental costs, and sell it to you as a retail plan with a set tariff structure. They send your bill, handle your account, and are your main point of contact for energy questions.
Examples: AGL, Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia, Alinta Energy, Red Energy, Lumo Energy, Momentum Energy, Amber Electric, Powershop, and many more.
This is the only part of the supply chain where you have a real choice. You can switch retailers at any time without any physical changes to your connection.
Regulators
Australian Energy Regulator (AER)
Sets the rules on how much distributors and transmission companies can charge for network services. Also sets the Default Market Offer — a price cap that ensures no retailer can charge above a certain amount for a standard plan. Handles consumer protections and complaints.
State regulators and ombudsmen
Each state has its own energy ombudsman (EWON in NSW, EWOV in VIC, EWOQ in QLD, etc.) who handles disputes between customers and retailers. Some states have additional regulators — for example, Victoria’s Essential Services Commission sets the Victorian Default Offer independently of the AER.
Can you choose? No — but they exist to protect you.
The key takeaway
You can only choose your retailer
Of all the organisations involved in your electricity supply, the retailer is the only one you can choose. Your generator, transmission company, distributor, and meter provider are all determined by where you live and the market rules. This is why comparing retail plans matters — but also why it can only save you so much, since the retailer controls only about 10–15% of the total bill.
What about 'gentailers'?
You may have noticed that AGL, Origin, and EnergyAustralia appear as both generators and retailers. That is because they are gentailers — vertically integrated companies that both generate electricity and sell it to households.
This matters because it means these companies earn money at two points in the supply chain: when they sell wholesale power into the NEM, and when they sell retail plans to customers. Smaller retailers (like Amber Electric or Powershop) only operate at the retail level and buy all their wholesale electricity from the market.
Neither model is inherently better or worse for you as a customer. What matters is the final price and terms of the plan you are on — which is why tools like the government’s Energy Made Easy comparison site exist.
Why this matters
Knowing who does what helps you in practical ways:
- Power outage? That is your distributor’s responsibility, not your retailer’s. Call the distributor’s fault line (usually on a sticker near your meter).
- Want a cheaper rate? Compare retailers — they are the only part you can switch. Use Energy Made Easy (energymadeeasy.gov.au) for an independent comparison.
- Unhappy with your bill? Start with your retailer. If you cannot resolve it, escalate to your state energy ombudsman — that is exactly what they are there for.
- Getting solar installed? Your distributor approves the grid connection, your retailer sets your feed-in tariff, and your installer handles the hardware. Three different parties.
What to explore next
You now have the foundation — what electricity is, how it is measured, how it gets to your home, and who the key players are. From here, you can explore the topics that matter most to you:
Read your bill
Now that you know the supply chain, see how each component shows up on your actual bill.
Understand tariffs
Flat rate, time-of-use, demand — learn which tariff structure suits your household.
Solar and batteries
How rooftop solar fits into the supply chain you have just learned about.
The NEM explained
Dive deeper into the wholesale market, spot prices, and how the duck curve affects your costs.
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