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Utilities · Updated 21 September 2026
Default Market Offer checklist: how to check your standing-offer price
A short NSW, SA and SEQ safety-net check — then Energy Made Easy or the AER. No ranked plans. No sales call.
Do this today
Step 1
Bill, postcode, distributor
Pull your last electricity bill. Note usage, postcode and distributor name.
Step 2
Compare on Energy Made Easy
Enter those figures on the government comparator. Victorian homes use Victorian Energy Compare instead.
Step 3
Standing offer vs your plan
If the Default Market Offer looks better than your current deal, ask your retailer about moving.
What the Default Market Offer is
The Default Market Offer (DMO) is a regulated safety-net price for standing-offer electricity in New South Wales, South East Queensland and South Australia. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) sets it from 1 July each year. It is a comparison reference for ads and a cap on the standing-offer price — not a personal bill promise.
Victoria uses a separate framework: the Victorian Default Offer and Victorian Energy Compare. If you live in Victoria, skip the DMO dollar examples on this page.
Who this checklist is for
- Households already on a standing offer who want a yearly safety-net check.
- People comparing a market offer to the regulated reference price.
- Anyone who only remembers a “discount %” and needs the official tools instead.
How to use AER reference amounts without misreading them
Published annual reference amounts are calculated at a benchmark usage level. Your usage, meter type and concessions will differ. Treat the figures as regulator comparison points, then run your own bill through Energy Made Easy.
Verify before you rely on dollars
Site snapshot for 2026–27 (from 1 July 2026), as previously summarised on our power and gas hub: example flat-rate residential reference amounts at published benchmark usage — Ausgrid NSW A$1,899; Energex SEQ A$1,988; SAPN SA A$2,334. The hub also notes the AER cut most DMO standing-offer prices for 2026–27. Confirm the live determination on the AER Default Market Offer page before you act — do not treat these as your guaranteed annual bill.
DMO vs Victoria
DMO regions: NSW, South East Queensland, South Australia. Victoria: Victorian Default Offer + Victorian Energy Compare only. For the broader standing vs market overview, see the power and gas hub. For a pre-comparator bill walkthrough, use bill check.
Before you act
- Tariffs and DMO determinations change — verify live AER figures and comparator results.
- Switching retailer usually does not cost a fee, but check your contract for benefits you might lose. Cooling-off rules apply to many market contracts.
- SavySaver is not an energy retailer or an accredited comparator. We do not switch you or take a commission on power or gas.
Official next steps
- AER — Default Market Offer
- Energy Made Easy (Australian Government)
- Victorian Energy Compare (Victoria only)
- Back to power and gas · Solar Sharer: should you opt in?
Questions
What is the Default Market Offer?
The DMO is a regulated safety-net price for standing-offer electricity in NSW, South East Queensland and South Australia, set by the AER from 1 July each year. Check the current determination on the AER site.
Does the DMO apply in Victoria?
No. Victoria uses the Victorian Default Offer and Victorian Energy Compare.
If the DMO looks cheaper than my plan, what do I do?
Compare on Energy Made Easy with your bill details, then ask your retailer about moving. We do not invent process guarantees — your retailer confirms what they can offer.
Are the A$1,899-style figures what I will pay?
No. They are benchmark-usage reference points. Your usage differs. Confirm current figures on the AER before relying on them.
Do I pay a fee to switch retailer?
Switching electricity or gas retailer in Australia does not usually cost a fee, but check your contract for any benefit you lose. Cooling-off rules apply to many market contracts.