Quick Answer
Australia has 141 authorised electricity retailers (87 with active retail plans), but just four companies (AGL, Origin, EnergyAustralia, Alinta) control ~78% of the market. Two of these are foreign-owned (Hong Kong). The "Big Three" coal owners (AGL, Origin, EnergyAustralia) collectively own 15.5 GW of coal generation. Use the interactive map below to explore ownership by country and find alternatives.
Market Overview
Australia's electricity retail market looks competitive on paper - there are 141 authorised retailers (though only 87 have active plans you can sign up for). But dig deeper and you'll find a highly concentrated market dominated by a handful of vertically integrated companies.
The three largest retailers - AGL, Origin, and EnergyAustralia - are all "gentailers": they both generate and retail electricity. This vertical integration gives them significant market power and allows them to profit from both wholesale and retail markets.
Interactive Ownership Map
Click on any company to expand details about their ownership structure, generation assets, and retail brands. Use the filters to focus on specific categories.
Click a bubble to explore ownership structure
Foreign Ownership Explained
About 32.5% of Australian electricity retail is controlled by foreign-owned companies. Here's who owns what:
| Retailer | Ultimate Owner | Country | Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| EnergyAustralia | CLP Holdings Limited | Hong Kong | ~21% |
| Alinta Energy | Chow Tai Fook → Sembcorp | Hong Kong → Singapore | ~7% |
| Shell Energy / Powershop | Shell plc | Netherlands / UK | ~3% |
| ENGIE | ENGIE SA (French Govt partial) | France | ~2% |
| OVO Energy | AGL Energy (was OVO Group) | Now Australian (ASX) | ~1.5% (AGL acquired Apr 2024) |
Why Does Ownership Matter?
Foreign ownership isn't inherently good or bad. However, profits flow to overseas shareholders, and strategic decisions are made in foreign boardrooms. If supporting Australian-owned businesses matters to you, it's worth knowing who actually owns your retailer.
Who Owns the Coal Plants?
Three retailers own coal-fired power stations. When you pay your electricity bill to these companies, part of your money supports coal generation - even if you're on a "green" plan.
| Retailer | Coal Plants | Capacity | Scheduled Closure |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGL Energy | Bayswater (NSW), Loy Yang A (VIC) | 4,850 MW | 2033-2035 |
| Origin Energy | Eraring (NSW) | 2,880 MW | April 2029 |
| EnergyAustralia | Mt Piper (NSW), Yallourn (VIC) | 2,880 MW | 2028-2040 |
For a deeper dive into this topic, including why "green plans" from these retailers still fund coal, see our Energy Retailer Coal Plants Guide.
Australian-Owned Alternatives
If you want to support Australian-owned energy retailers, here are your options:
Government-Owned (100% Australian)
- Red Energy / Lumo Energy - Owned by Snowy Hydro (Australian Government). Backed by 4,100 MW of hydro generation.
- Momentum Energy / Aurora Energy - Owned by Hydro Tasmania (Tasmanian Government). Australia's largest renewable generator.
- Ergon Energy - Queensland Government. Regional Queensland's main retailer.
ASX-Listed (Australian Shareholders)
- AGL / Origin - Large vertically integrated retailers. Australian shareholders, but significant institutional/foreign investment.
- Telstra Energy - New entrant from Australia's largest telco. 100% carbon neutral.
Private Australian (No Generation Assets)
- Amber Electric - Wholesale pass-through model. Pioneering battery/EV automation.
- GloBird Energy - Melbourne-based budget retailer.
- Diamond Energy - B-Corp certified. 100% renewable focus.
- ReAmped Energy - Low-cost online retailer.
Supply Chain Context
These "no coal" retailers are retail-only businesses that buy electricity from the wholesale market, which includes coal and gas generation. The electricity they sell still contains fossil fuel power - they just don't own generation assets or profit from them. Your payments support their retail margins only, not coal or gas profits.
Find the Right Retailer for Your Battery
Our calculator factors in retailer ownership, generation mix, and VPP options alongside savings - so you can make a choice that aligns with your values.
Get Free Suburb ReportFrequently Asked Questions
Who owns Australia's energy retailers?
Australia's energy retail market is dominated by four major players: AGL (ASX-listed, Australian), Origin Energy (ASX-listed, Australian), EnergyAustralia (owned by CLP Group, Hong Kong), and Alinta Energy (owned by Chow Tai Fook, Hong Kong, being acquired by Sembcorp Singapore). Together, these four companies control about 78% of the residential electricity market. The remaining 22% is split between government-owned retailers (Snowy Hydro, Hydro Tasmania, Queensland Government) and independent retailers.
Which energy retailers are foreign-owned in Australia?
Several major Australian energy retailers are foreign-owned: EnergyAustralia is owned by CLP Group (Hong Kong), Alinta Energy is owned by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (Hong Kong, being sold to Singapore's Sembcorp), Shell Energy and Powershop are owned by Shell plc (Netherlands/UK), and ENGIE is owned by ENGIE SA (France). Note: OVO Energy was acquired by AGL in April 2024 and is now Australian-owned. Combined, foreign-owned retailers control about 33% of the Australian electricity market.
Which energy retailers own coal power plants?
Three major retailers own coal-fired power plants: AGL Energy owns Bayswater (2,640 MW) and Loy Yang A (2,210 MW), totalling 4,850 MW of coal. Origin Energy owns Eraring (2,880 MW), Australia's largest coal plant. EnergyAustralia owns Mt Piper (1,400 MW) and Yallourn (1,480 MW), totalling 2,880 MW. Together, these retailers own approximately 10.6 GW of coal generation capacity.
Are there any 100% Australian-owned energy retailers?
Yes, several retailers are 100% Australian-owned. Government-owned options include Red Energy and Lumo Energy (Snowy Hydro/Australian Government), Aurora Energy and Momentum Energy (Hydro Tasmania/Tasmanian Government), and Ergon Energy (Queensland Government). Australian private/ASX-listed options include AGL, Origin, Telstra Energy, Amber Electric, GloBird Energy, Diamond Energy, ReAmped Energy, and others.
Which energy retailer has no coal or gas generation?
Many Australian retailers have no fossil fuel generation assets: Amber Electric (wholesale pass-through), GloBird Energy, Telstra Energy, Diamond Energy (B-Corp certified), ReAmped Energy, Nectr, CovaU, OVO Energy, Shell Energy, and Powershop. Government-owned Momentum Energy and Aurora Energy are backed entirely by renewable hydro generation from Hydro Tasmania. Important caveat: These are retail-only businesses that buy electricity from the wholesale market, which includes coal and gas generation. They still sell electricity that comes from fossil fuels - they just don't own or profit from generation assets, so your payments only support retail margins, not coal or gas profits.