Electricity sale and transfer of retail customers
Electricity is supplied to households and businesses through two different but often related entities:
- a network business, which owns and operates the physical infrastructure that carries electricity from where it is generated to where it is used (the 'poles and wires'); and
- a retail business, which sells electricity to its customers.
Up until recently, the NSW Government owned and operated the network and retail parts of EnergyAustralia, Integral Energy and Country Energy. The NSW Government has now sold the retail parts of its electricity businesses - EnergyAustralia, Integral Energy and Country Energy. The sale was announced on 14 December 2010 and took effect on 1 March 2011.
The network parts of those businesses ('the poles and wires') remain in government ownership. The network business that previously connected your home or business to the electricity grid will remain unchanged and will continue to deliver the same high level of service and reliability of supply.
The network businesses have announced they will trade under new names as part of the changes. Details of the new names are below:
- EnergyAustralia network business will be known as Ausgrid
- Integral Energy network business will be known as Endeavour Energy
- Country Energy network business will be known as Essential Energy
As a result of the sale of the retail parts of EnergyAustralia, Integral Energy and Country Energy, customers will be automatically transitioned to their new retailer:
- EnergyAustralia retail customers are now part of TRUenergy's business.
- Integral Energy retail customers are now part of Origin Energy's business.
- Country Energy retail customers are now part of Origin Energy's business.
If you would like more information about rights, obligations and pricing please read the Questions & Answers.