Contract types
There are two main types of energy contracts available for Queensland residential and small business energy consumers, standard retail contracts and market contracts.
Standard retail contracts
A standard retail contract is the basic type of energy contract available to all Queensland energy consumers. If you have not actively negotiated a contract for energy supply with an energy retailer you are most likely to be on a standard retail contract. All consumers have a right to be supplied energy on a standard retail contract and are under no obligation to sign a market contract. Consumers who are in a standard retail contract are on the Queensland Government's regulated electricity price. The terms and conditions of standard electricity customer contracts are set out in the Electricity Industry Code and cannot be altered by retailers offering this type of contract. Standard gas retail contracts must also comply with terms and conditions set out in the Gas Industry Codes. Consumers can compare other types of contracts (market contracts) with the terms and conditions of standard retail contracts.
Market contracts
Market contracts are an agreement between you and your energy retailer. These types of contracts vary from the regulated terms and conditions of a standard retail contract. They outline all the terms and conditions you have negotiated, including things like price, service standards, fees and charges, billing and payment arrangements and penalties for early termination/cancellation. Your retailer must give you a Customer Charter that clearly outlines the minimum terms and conditions of your contract, which include things like billing, connections and disconnections. While all Queensland customers are entitled to enter a market contract with a retailer of their choice, it is up to the energy retailers to decide which customers they will offer their market contracts to. You can always shop around to see if an energy retailer wants your business. If you do not enter into a market contract, you will stay on the Queensland Government's regulated electricity price. The price of market contracts is set by energy retailers. It is not regulated by the Queensland Government.
