We're after energy plans that make large unpredictable energy bills a thing of the past.
We want plans that offer a choice of payments better matched to the income of individual households.
If you've got someone in your friend and family group that might benefit from lower energy costs or less bill shock then join our waitlist.
Joining our waitlist shows your support for zero bill shock energy plans.
Add me to the waitlistNo cost to join the list — just your interest, and an email address.
Most of us get our bills quarterly and we really don't have any idea how big the bill will be. The best we can hope for when a bill arrives is relief it wasn't higher.
Network Effect started with the thought to help fixed income households such as pensioners and social security recipients.
There's no reason everyone couldn't benefit from less bill shock. Energy bills don't need to be shocking.
Your bill today spikes seasonally — we aim to flatten it into an even payment across the year*.
* Not an actual example — illustrative only.
Individual consumers have little bargaining power when it comes to dealing with large businesses. This might in part be why consumers pay significantly more per kWh than business pays for electricity*.
Waitlists are simply a way to assemble people who share an interest. This can remove uncertainty retailers might have about the level of support for a new service. Waitlists can stimulate action from retailers that would not otherwise happen.
*The Australia Institute, David Richardson, Discussion Paper December 2024, "Price Gouging: AGL and Origin — Are you being ripped off?"
Here's what we're aiming for.
Choose a regular amount to pay based on your current usage — you won't have to guess. A regular fixed payment you nominated comes out on a day you select — once a week, once a fortnight, once a month — whatever suits.
Any difference between what you paid and what is billed will be picked up in your future payments — never a surprise, no outsized payments to unsettle the budget.
We're after a retailer's Best Offer Always — if there's a better offer for new customers you get it, automatically.
Regular payments are good for the retailer too so we expect a reduction in tariffs.
Commissions can weigh on your every bill. When we succeed in getting a suitable deal with a retailer, Waitlisters who sign up won't be getting their bills loaded up with commissions.
We're not a power company. We don't sell you electricity. We assemble potential consumers to negotiate a better, fairer, simpler deal for energy — but always with a licensed retailer.
You're in control. You'll hold a normal energy contract in your own name. You will be free to leave any time, and your consumer protections will be the same as with any retailer.
We're upfront about money. Network Effect will take no commissions from a retailer. That's deliberate.
The bigger the group, the better the deal we should be able to negotiate. Add your name to the waitlist — it costs nothing and commits you to nothing. It does let us stay in touch by email — and we'll be in touch as any deal takes shape.
We'll only use your details to keep you posted about Network Effect. We won't sign you up to anything or pass your information to anyone without your clear consent. See our privacy policy.
We're not after some discount a retailer gives out of goodwill — we want consumers to share in a real cost they stop having to carry.
Here's the actual mechanism.
A typical energy plan supplies household power for around 13 weeks before a bill arrives, and the consumer then gets a further 3 weeks to pay the bill. That's roughly 16 weeks during which the consumer used the power before paying the retailer for that consumption. This is where most of the bill shock comes from.
The retailer doesn't get 16 weeks to pay for energy supplied. The same few large payments that create bill shock for consumers can create a funding gap for energy companies. This funding gap arises because retailers are paying out for energy for months before they get repaid by the customer. When customers make more frequent payments rather than a few large payments each year, it can reduce the retailer's costs in funding that gap.
Lower costs for the retailer → room for a lower price for you. That's the saving we're negotiating for — not a favour, just recognition for costs the retailer no longer has to carry.
You can voluntarily make extra payments for many household bills. Centrepay and most bank accounts and credit cards will let you add periodic payments to suit. Extra voluntary payments alone however won't see your retailer rushing to reward you with a discount on your energy bills - and more frequent payments won't ensure you're automatically moved to the retailer's best tariff. These things need to be negotiated.
Everyone wins when the gains are shared.