Calculating Estimated Price

One Click Switch is different than some other comparison sites. We actually use your historical usage data to calculate an estimated cost over the same number of days.

At a high level, the estimated cost for plans follows this basic formula:

[Usage Data] * [Plan Rates] - [Solar] - [Discounts/Credits] = Estimated Cost

• Usage is applied to the rates of the plans
• Supply charge (over the period of data available)
• General and peak/off-peak/shoulder usage according to the plan and the usage data available
• Controlled load usage according to the plan and the usage data available
• This gives us estimated cost from usage
• We then apply solar usage and deduct from the total
• We then deduct any applicable discounts or credits
• This gives us the estimated cost for each plan

The estimate is based on the usage history provided over the same period and assumes that your usage is consistent and unchanged over the same number of days - it may not take into account seasonal changes which can vary your usage or any future price changes by your retailer.

Usage Data

You can provide your usage data for more accurate calculations in 2 ways:

1. Connecting to your provider

Usage consumption is accessed from your provider and gives the most personalised estimated cost, based on your historical usage patterns.

We access up to 12 months of electricity usage directly from your provider using CDR. You need to have been with your current provider at your address for a minimum of 3 months.

2. From a recent bill

Usage consumption is based on the bill details retrieved (or entered) from your bill. Because it is based on a limited time period, it can miss higher or lower usage in different seasons.

Plan Rates

The rates for each plan on our platform come from the government website, Energy Made Easy, which electricity providers are obligated to provide their plans to.

The rates for your current plan (where available) come directly from your provider when we connect via CDR, or from the bill details entered.

Solar

Solar generation feed-in credits are calculated based on available solar export in your usage data (from your provider or from your bill) and the solar feed-in tariff in the plan rates.

Discounts / Credits

The estimated price we show may include certain discounts or credits identified from the available plan data. However, not all discounts and credits are included in the estimate. To explain how these are treated in the comparison, we classify them into three categories:

Our Estimates DO include

1. Guaranteed Discounts (Unconditional)

A guaranteed discount is automatically applied to a customer’s bill regardless of their behaviour. You customer is not required to take any additional action to receive it; as it forms part of the core pricing of the plan.

• How it works: The discount is deducted from your usage charges, supply charges or both each billing cycle.
• Example: A sign-up discount that applies automatically to all customers who join the "Easy Saver" plan.

Our Estimates DO NOT include

2. Conditional Discounts

A conditional discount only applies where the customer meets specified requirements or behaviours. If the condition is not met (for example, payment is made late), the discount will not apply for that billing period, and the bill will be higher.

• How it works: These discounts typically relate to behaviours such as "paying-on-time" or "setting up direct debit".
• Examples:
• Pay-on-Time: A 5% discount if bill is paid by the due date.
• Direct Debit: A $10 credit per bill if automatic payments are set up.
• Bundling: A discount that applies only where the customer has both Electricity and Gas with the same provider.

3. Restricted Offers

Restricted offers are plans that are not "generally available" to the public and are only available to customers who meet specific eligibility criteria.

• How it works: Customers must satisfy the relevant eligibility requirements to access the offer. If they do not meet the criteria, they may be moved to a generally available plan.
• Examples:
  • • Employee/Partner Offers: Rates or discounts available only to employees of a particular company or members of a partner organization (e.g., "Company X Employee Benefit Plan").

Estimated Cost

Taking all of those calculations into account, we’ll end up with an estimated cost for your current plan (where available) and an estimated cost for the plans on our platform, based on the available electricity usage data from your current provider or from the bill details entered, applied to the rates of each plan.

The estimates are inclusive of GST, and by default include guaranteed discounts and one-off credits. The estimates include solar generation feed in credits (if specified), and excludes conditional discounts, green energy, rebates or other credits, outstanding balances or partial payments made.

Estimates are rounded to the nearest $10 to keep things simple. They’re a guide only - your actual bills may be higher or lower depending on how much energy you use in the future, when you use it, and any changes your provider makes to prices.

Compared to your Current Plan

We also show the estimated savings or increase for the usage period (inc. GST), compared to your current plan.

The price difference is based on the estimated cost of your current plan, compared to the estimated cost of each plan shown. There are situations where we are not able to retrieve information about your current plan. In those cases, the plan estimates are still personalised to your historical usage patterns but we won’t be able to show the difference compared to your current plan.

The Quick Select Calculation

If you choose to use the Quick Select method, the usage consumption data is based on household size and suburb averages and is not personalised to your situation. You will choose a usage tier to give some personalisation based on your household size.

The usage period for the quick estimate is based on one year of average usage.

The rest of the calculations are performed in the same way however solar credits are NOT included, and we will never have information about your current plan (or available savings) using the quick method.