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Where does your energy retailer stand on coal?
You have the power to choose.
Coal powers climate change, so the last thing we need is more coal-fired power stations. Right?
Well, that depends on your energy retailer. Some have committed to not buying energy from newly built coal-fired power stations. Unfortunately, most haven't. For our sakes, they all need to.
You can make a difference.
Use the consumer guide below to see how your energy retailer rates, and send an email asking them to help Australia transition away from coal.
If you don't like their response, it's easy to take your business elsewhere.
| Company | Committed to not buying electricity from new coal power stations | Owns no coal power stations1 | Committed to not building new coal power stations 2 | |
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ActewAGL
[NSW, ACT] » More info
ActewAGL claim to support renewable energy sources, but they haven't made any commitments to move away from coal.
ActewAGL can commit to renewables by publicly promising to not buy electricity from any new coal power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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AGL Energy
[QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, SA] » More info
AGL is one of Australia's largest energy retailers. They have stated their preference to invest in renewables and even own renewable energy generation assets – which is great.
On the less positive side, they also have gas assets and a 33% share in a single coal-fired power station. However, they claim to be willing to sell up and get out of coal. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Aurora Energy
[TAS] » More info
Aurora Energy needs to join the small but growing number of retailers who have put their foot down to help ensure that no new coal-fired power stations are built in Australia. They are not there yet.
Email Aurora and ask them to commit to not buying electricity from new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Australian Power and Gas Company
[QLD, NSW, VIC, SA] » More info
Australian Power and Gas claims to be a modern Australian energy company. Well, there is nothing modern about clinging to coal-fired power stations – they are energy dinosaurs whose time has come. Give coal the flick.
Send them an email asking them when they intend on catching up with more progressive companies and commit to not buying electricity from new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Commercial Green 3
[VIC ] » More info
Commercial Green does not yet sell to households, but they intend to. That's why they made it into our rating guide. They are clearly giving coal the boot, so top marks to them.
[x]
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Rates well |
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Country Energy
[QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA] » More info
Country Energy's environment policy states that they will "use best practice options to reduce and prevent pollution". If that is true, why won't they commit to not sourcing electricity from new coal-fired power stations?
Email Country Energy and ask them to be serious about preventing pollution and commit to not buying electricity from any new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Energy Australia
[QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, SA] » More info
Energy Australia publicly says they want to give their customers choices about how to meet the greenhouse challenge. Privately, they have an addiction to coal.
Energy Australia has already chosen to continue to sell coal-powered electricity and to buy more from any new coal power station. Tell Energy Australia they need to rule out new coal power for themselves and their customers. Ask them to commit to not buying electricity from any new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Ergon Energy
[QLD] » More info
Ergon Energy is a Queensland Government-owned utility, so it is easy to understand why they won't show coal the door. The Queensland Government loves coal, even though it is cooking the planet. The management of Ergon Energy need to stand up to their political masters.
Help give them the courage they need. Tell them to refuse to buy electricity from any new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Integral Energy
[QLD, NSW] » More info
Integral Energy state on their website that burning coal is having a significant impact on the environment. What a fine sentiment. Not that it has had any impact on their energy sourcing policy. They plan to keep on burning.
Email Integral and ask why, if they consider the environment so important, they won't commit to not buying electricity from any new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Neighbourhood Energy
[VIC] » More info
Neighbourhood Energy says that renewable energy is limitless and is required to reduce greenhouse emissions. But it is going to take more than just talk to get a gold star or, in this case, a green tick.
Email Neighbourhood Energy and ask them to commit to not buying electricity from any new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Origin Energy
[QLD, NSW, VIC, SA] » More info
Origin is the only large retailer without coal assets. Origin was an early supporter of international action to tackle climate change, but they seem to have lost momentum as an energy leader.
Origin won't commit to not buying electricity from new coal-fired power stations. Until they do, they are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Ask them to stop sitting on the fence. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Queensland Electricity
[QLD] » More info
Unlike some of its competitors, Queensland Electricity doesn't claim to be doing much for the environment on its website. Give them a call, and let them know that even if they aren't concerned about the environment, their customers are.
Ask them to commit to not buying electricity from any new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Red Energy
[VIC, SA] » More info
Red Energy have committed to not buying power from new coal power stations, and their parent company has a new policy not to build coal power stations. Well done.
More retailers need to join the ranks of progressive retailers like Red Energy by saying "no" to new coal. [x] |
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Rates well |
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Simply Energy
[SA, VIC] » More info
Simply Energy is the worst retailer in Australia. Their parent company, International Power, owns two coal-fired power stations, including Hazelwood, one of the dirtiest in the world. Not only are they refusing to commit to no new coal, they are on record as wanting MORE.
Simply Energy, and their owners, need to get their heads out of the coal piles. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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South Australia Electricity
[SA] » More info
South Australia Electricity, unlike some of its competitors, doesn't claim to be doing much for the environment on its website. At least they are honest.
Send them an email, and let them know their customers are concerned about the environment. Ask them to commit to not buying electricity from any new coal-fired power station. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Synergy
[WA] » More info
Synergy is Western Australia's biggest retailer with a big problem on its hands. They claim to be committed to the environment and to the community, yet Western Australia is building coal-fired power stations like there's no tomorrow. Will Synergy buy electricity from these brand new coal plants?
Tell them: "Synergy, if you want to prove your commitment to the community, commit to not buying electricity from any new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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TRUenergy
[QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, SA] » More info
TRUenergy is both a generator and a retailer – so they dig, burn and sell. While they have promised to not build any new coal-fired power stations themselves, which is great, they have yet to commit to not buying electricity from new coal-fired power stations built by other companies.
By making this public commitment they can help to ensure no one else builds coal power. Send them an email and ask them to get on with it. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
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Victoria Electricity
[VIC] » More info
Victoria Electricity say that burning coal is an environmentally harmful process. Well, we agree with them on that point. Surely enough is enough. Isn't it time to draw a line in the sand and say no new coal power in Australia?
Email Victoria Electricity and tell them you want them to publicly commit to not buying electricity from any new coal-fired power stations. [x] |
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Email the CEO |
1 Does not own a coal-fired power stations, and is not associated with companies that own or have substantial interests in a coal-fired power station.
2 Only companies associated with electricity generating assets are rated - the remaining receive an N/A (not applicable).
3 Commercial Green currently only retails to business customers in Victoria, but is expected to enter the household electricity retail market this year.
NB. Information collated from survey and/or phone responses, or publicly available information