AGL review

March – AGL gets green light for big battery at Liddell coal site – Electricity giant AGL has secured planning approval to build a grid-scale battery on the site of the soon-to-be-closed Liddell coal-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley, beginning its proposed transition to a low-carbon “energy hub”.

March –  AGL rejects second takeover bid, with Mike Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield set to walk away – Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and his partners Brookfield Asset Management are set to abandon their takeover bid for energy giant AGL, after the electricity company rejected a second offer worth around $9 billion.

June – EPA fines power station operator for alleged air pollution – The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined AGL Macquarie Pty Ltd (AGL) $15,000 for alleged air pollution offences at its Liddell Power Station.

November 2020 – AGL ‘comfortable’ with net zero emissions by 2050 target – AGL firmly believes in a net zero future and is “comfortable” with 2050 as the deadline for that goal.

October 2020 – AGL gets ‘first strike’ as investors revolt on pay – Investors have objected to remuneration at the large electricity and gas supplier amid broader dissatisfaction across the market on pay.

August 2020 – Virus hit sends AGL shares to five-year low – The COVID-19 pandemic has given extra bite to the chilly headwinds facing AGL Energy, with shock guidance on 2020-21 profits pointing to a drop of as much as 46 per cent in benchmark earnings in the space of two years and sending the shares to a five-year low.

August 2020 – When is AGL Energy going to grow up? – AGL’s share price was down 10% on its results day, because its FY2021 guidance was way below expectations.

November 2019 – AGL takes renewables hit as grid congestion worsens – Wind and solar farms owned by AGL Energy and QIC are among renewable power plants that are set to be even worse hit by transmission losses next financial year as developers pay the price for the unco-ordinated flood of new capacity onto remote parts of the grid.

October 2019 – AGL eyes batteries, transport fuels as energy markets collide – AGL Energy chief executive Brett Redman has signalled a move into transport fuels and wouldn’t rule out a possible re-entry into natural gas production as the utility adapts to the rapidly evolving energy market and the entry of oil majors onto its patch

September 2019 – Clean energy projects win state support – The NSW government will spend $75 million to spur private investment in renewable energy and storage in the state ahead of the Liddell coal-fired power plant’s 2023 closure.

August 2019 – AGL delays closure of Liddell power station to meet energy demand over summer – Company says parts of coal-fired Hunter Valley plant will stay open until 2023, and life of Torrens A, near Adelaide, may also be extended.

May 2019 – AGL sought Victorian rule change to clear way for controversial gas terminal – Wastewater policy a ‘significant hurdle’ to company’s plans for Crib Point.

Green Electricity score

This score is based on the company’s Green Electricity Guide star rating.

Complaints score

This score is based on the number of complaints measured as a proportion against the number of customers. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

Call response score

This score is based on how likely the retailer is to answer a call within 30 seconds. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

AGL sells electricity to just under 2.1 million households, or over 22% of Australia’s residential customers, according to 2021–22 figures. AGL joined the Australian market in 1837, supplying gas for street lamps, and claims to have a proud heritage of innovation. AGL speaks toward sustainability in its media pages, claiming approximately 20% of the total generation capacity within Australia’s National Electricity Market.

AGL was established in 1837 and currently has over 2 million residential customers – it is a publicly owned entity, which means it is partially Australian owned. Its head office is in Sydney with a call centres in Adelaide and Melbourne.

It is one of the few energy retailers that is climate active. However, the company owns and operates coal, gas, battery, hydro, solar and wind energy. It operates large coal-fired power stations and gas-fired power plants.

Contact details for AGL Energy

Which states does AGL supply?

Text-only accessible version

AGL is is available in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

CHOICE Expert Rating on AGL

Text-only accessible version

CHOICE Expert Rating: 53% Green electricity score: 12% Complaints score: 99% Call response score: 61%

CHOICE verdict on AGL

Environmental

  • 83% of AGL’s generation comes from burning coal. It’s Australia’s biggest climate polluter accounting for about 8% of national greenhouse gas emissions.
  • It currently has extensive investments in CSG and coal power stations, with emissions intensity above NEM average.
  • AGL was penalised by EPA NSW for pollution in 2021.
  • Its green electricity results have sharply declined from a star rating of 7 out of 10 in 2019-2020, to 1.2 out of 10 in 2020-21.
  • It plans to burn coal until 2045 and is involved in mining, as well as burning it.
  • It offers carbon offsets (other than GreenPower) and is involved in renewable assets.
  • AGL has comprehensive and accessible energy efficiency products and involvement in demand management/response programs.

Customer service

  • 11,208 (or 0.5%) of AGL’s customers lodged complaints again the company in 2021-22. This is a notable decrease on the over 17,000 complaints lodged in 2020-21.
  • 60% of calls made to AGL are answered within 30 seconds. 
  • Many callers are left waiting longer – the average wait time is 85 seconds. 
  • 6.7% of callers hang up before their call is answered. This is marginally more more than the 5.5% of callers that hung up during our 2020-21 survey.

AGL’s energy sources

Though sources were not transparent during our 2020-21 survey, 83% of AGL’s generation comes from coal. Sources listed below are from our 2019-20 survey.
Text-only accessible version

coal 84.27% gas 6.01% wind 6.42% hydro 2.50% solar 0.80%

How we get our results

March – AGL gets green light for big battery at Liddell coal site – Electricity giant AGL has secured planning approval to build a grid-scale battery on the site of the soon-to-be-closed Liddell coal-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley, beginning its proposed transition to a low-carbon “energy hub”.

March –  AGL rejects second takeover bid, with Mike Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield set to walk away – Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and his partners Brookfield Asset Management are set to abandon their takeover bid for energy giant AGL, after the electricity company rejected a second offer worth around $9 billion.

June – EPA fines power station operator for alleged air pollution – The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined AGL Macquarie Pty Ltd (AGL) $15,000 for alleged air pollution offences at its Liddell Power Station.

November 2020 – AGL ‘comfortable’ with net zero emissions by 2050 target – AGL firmly believes in a net zero future and is “comfortable” with 2050 as the deadline for that goal.

October 2020 – AGL gets ‘first strike’ as investors revolt on pay – Investors have objected to remuneration at the large electricity and gas supplier amid broader dissatisfaction across the market on pay.

August 2020 – Virus hit sends AGL shares to five-year low – The COVID-19 pandemic has given extra bite to the chilly headwinds facing AGL Energy, with shock guidance on 2020-21 profits pointing to a drop of as much as 46 per cent in benchmark earnings in the space of two years and sending the shares to a five-year low.

August 2020 – When is AGL Energy going to grow up? – AGL’s share price was down 10% on its results day, because its FY2021 guidance was way below expectations.

November 2019 – AGL takes renewables hit as grid congestion worsens – Wind and solar farms owned by AGL Energy and QIC are among renewable power plants that are set to be even worse hit by transmission losses next financial year as developers pay the price for the unco-ordinated flood of new capacity onto remote parts of the grid.

October 2019 – AGL eyes batteries, transport fuels as energy markets collide – AGL Energy chief executive Brett Redman has signalled a move into transport fuels and wouldn’t rule out a possible re-entry into natural gas production as the utility adapts to the rapidly evolving energy market and the entry of oil majors onto its patch

September 2019 – Clean energy projects win state support – The NSW government will spend $75 million to spur private investment in renewable energy and storage in the state ahead of the Liddell coal-fired power plant’s 2023 closure.

August 2019 – AGL delays closure of Liddell power station to meet energy demand over summer – Company says parts of coal-fired Hunter Valley plant will stay open until 2023, and life of Torrens A, near Adelaide, may also be extended.

May 2019 – AGL sought Victorian rule change to clear way for controversial gas terminal – Wastewater policy a ‘significant hurdle’ to company’s plans for Crib Point.

Green Electricity score

This score is based on the company’s Green Electricity Guide star rating.

Complaints score

This score is based on the number of complaints measured as a proportion against the number of customers. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

Call response score

This score is based on how likely the retailer is to answer a call within 30 seconds. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

AGL in the news 2022

March – AGL gets green light for big battery at Liddell coal site – Electricity giant AGL has secured planning approval to build a grid-scale battery on the site of the soon-to-be-closed Liddell coal-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley, beginning its proposed transition to a low-carbon “energy hub”.

March –  AGL rejects second takeover bid, with Mike Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield set to walk away – Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and his partners Brookfield Asset Management are set to abandon their takeover bid for energy giant AGL, after the electricity company rejected a second offer worth around $9 billion.

June – EPA fines power station operator for alleged air pollution – The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined AGL Macquarie Pty Ltd (AGL) $15,000 for alleged air pollution offences at its Liddell Power Station.

November 2020 – AGL ‘comfortable’ with net zero emissions by 2050 target – AGL firmly believes in a net zero future and is “comfortable” with 2050 as the deadline for that goal.

October 2020 – AGL gets ‘first strike’ as investors revolt on pay – Investors have objected to remuneration at the large electricity and gas supplier amid broader dissatisfaction across the market on pay.

August 2020 – Virus hit sends AGL shares to five-year low – The COVID-19 pandemic has given extra bite to the chilly headwinds facing AGL Energy, with shock guidance on 2020-21 profits pointing to a drop of as much as 46 per cent in benchmark earnings in the space of two years and sending the shares to a five-year low.

August 2020 – When is AGL Energy going to grow up? – AGL’s share price was down 10% on its results day, because its FY2021 guidance was way below expectations.

November 2019 – AGL takes renewables hit as grid congestion worsens – Wind and solar farms owned by AGL Energy and QIC are among renewable power plants that are set to be even worse hit by transmission losses next financial year as developers pay the price for the unco-ordinated flood of new capacity onto remote parts of the grid.

October 2019 – AGL eyes batteries, transport fuels as energy markets collide – AGL Energy chief executive Brett Redman has signalled a move into transport fuels and wouldn’t rule out a possible re-entry into natural gas production as the utility adapts to the rapidly evolving energy market and the entry of oil majors onto its patch

September 2019 – Clean energy projects win state support – The NSW government will spend $75 million to spur private investment in renewable energy and storage in the state ahead of the Liddell coal-fired power plant’s 2023 closure.

August 2019 – AGL delays closure of Liddell power station to meet energy demand over summer – Company says parts of coal-fired Hunter Valley plant will stay open until 2023, and life of Torrens A, near Adelaide, may also be extended.

May 2019 – AGL sought Victorian rule change to clear way for controversial gas terminal – Wastewater policy a ‘significant hurdle’ to company’s plans for Crib Point.

Green Electricity score

This score is based on the company’s Green Electricity Guide star rating.

Complaints score

This score is based on the number of complaints measured as a proportion against the number of customers. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

Call response score

This score is based on how likely the retailer is to answer a call within 30 seconds. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

AGL in the news 2021

March – AGL gets green light for big battery at Liddell coal site – Electricity giant AGL has secured planning approval to build a grid-scale battery on the site of the soon-to-be-closed Liddell coal-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley, beginning its proposed transition to a low-carbon “energy hub”.

March –  AGL rejects second takeover bid, with Mike Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield set to walk away – Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and his partners Brookfield Asset Management are set to abandon their takeover bid for energy giant AGL, after the electricity company rejected a second offer worth around $9 billion.

June – EPA fines power station operator for alleged air pollution – The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined AGL Macquarie Pty Ltd (AGL) $15,000 for alleged air pollution offences at its Liddell Power Station.

November 2020 – AGL ‘comfortable’ with net zero emissions by 2050 target – AGL firmly believes in a net zero future and is “comfortable” with 2050 as the deadline for that goal.

October 2020 – AGL gets ‘first strike’ as investors revolt on pay – Investors have objected to remuneration at the large electricity and gas supplier amid broader dissatisfaction across the market on pay.

August 2020 – Virus hit sends AGL shares to five-year low – The COVID-19 pandemic has given extra bite to the chilly headwinds facing AGL Energy, with shock guidance on 2020-21 profits pointing to a drop of as much as 46 per cent in benchmark earnings in the space of two years and sending the shares to a five-year low.

August 2020 – When is AGL Energy going to grow up? – AGL’s share price was down 10% on its results day, because its FY2021 guidance was way below expectations.

November 2019 – AGL takes renewables hit as grid congestion worsens – Wind and solar farms owned by AGL Energy and QIC are among renewable power plants that are set to be even worse hit by transmission losses next financial year as developers pay the price for the unco-ordinated flood of new capacity onto remote parts of the grid.

October 2019 – AGL eyes batteries, transport fuels as energy markets collide – AGL Energy chief executive Brett Redman has signalled a move into transport fuels and wouldn’t rule out a possible re-entry into natural gas production as the utility adapts to the rapidly evolving energy market and the entry of oil majors onto its patch

September 2019 – Clean energy projects win state support – The NSW government will spend $75 million to spur private investment in renewable energy and storage in the state ahead of the Liddell coal-fired power plant’s 2023 closure.

August 2019 – AGL delays closure of Liddell power station to meet energy demand over summer – Company says parts of coal-fired Hunter Valley plant will stay open until 2023, and life of Torrens A, near Adelaide, may also be extended.

May 2019 – AGL sought Victorian rule change to clear way for controversial gas terminal – Wastewater policy a ‘significant hurdle’ to company’s plans for Crib Point.

Green Electricity score

This score is based on the company’s Green Electricity Guide star rating.

Complaints score

This score is based on the number of complaints measured as a proportion against the number of customers. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

Call response score

This score is based on how likely the retailer is to answer a call within 30 seconds. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

AGL in the news 2020

March – AGL gets green light for big battery at Liddell coal site – Electricity giant AGL has secured planning approval to build a grid-scale battery on the site of the soon-to-be-closed Liddell coal-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley, beginning its proposed transition to a low-carbon “energy hub”.

March –  AGL rejects second takeover bid, with Mike Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield set to walk away – Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and his partners Brookfield Asset Management are set to abandon their takeover bid for energy giant AGL, after the electricity company rejected a second offer worth around $9 billion.

June – EPA fines power station operator for alleged air pollution – The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined AGL Macquarie Pty Ltd (AGL) $15,000 for alleged air pollution offences at its Liddell Power Station.

November 2020 – AGL ‘comfortable’ with net zero emissions by 2050 target – AGL firmly believes in a net zero future and is “comfortable” with 2050 as the deadline for that goal.

October 2020 – AGL gets ‘first strike’ as investors revolt on pay – Investors have objected to remuneration at the large electricity and gas supplier amid broader dissatisfaction across the market on pay.

August 2020 – Virus hit sends AGL shares to five-year low – The COVID-19 pandemic has given extra bite to the chilly headwinds facing AGL Energy, with shock guidance on 2020-21 profits pointing to a drop of as much as 46 per cent in benchmark earnings in the space of two years and sending the shares to a five-year low.

August 2020 – When is AGL Energy going to grow up? – AGL’s share price was down 10% on its results day, because its FY2021 guidance was way below expectations.

November 2019 – AGL takes renewables hit as grid congestion worsens – Wind and solar farms owned by AGL Energy and QIC are among renewable power plants that are set to be even worse hit by transmission losses next financial year as developers pay the price for the unco-ordinated flood of new capacity onto remote parts of the grid.

October 2019 – AGL eyes batteries, transport fuels as energy markets collide – AGL Energy chief executive Brett Redman has signalled a move into transport fuels and wouldn’t rule out a possible re-entry into natural gas production as the utility adapts to the rapidly evolving energy market and the entry of oil majors onto its patch

September 2019 – Clean energy projects win state support – The NSW government will spend $75 million to spur private investment in renewable energy and storage in the state ahead of the Liddell coal-fired power plant’s 2023 closure.

August 2019 – AGL delays closure of Liddell power station to meet energy demand over summer – Company says parts of coal-fired Hunter Valley plant will stay open until 2023, and life of Torrens A, near Adelaide, may also be extended.

May 2019 – AGL sought Victorian rule change to clear way for controversial gas terminal – Wastewater policy a ‘significant hurdle’ to company’s plans for Crib Point.

Green Electricity score

This score is based on the company’s Green Electricity Guide star rating.

Complaints score

This score is based on the number of complaints measured as a proportion against the number of customers. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

Call response score

This score is based on how likely the retailer is to answer a call within 30 seconds. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

AGL in the news 2019

March – AGL gets green light for big battery at Liddell coal site – Electricity giant AGL has secured planning approval to build a grid-scale battery on the site of the soon-to-be-closed Liddell coal-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley, beginning its proposed transition to a low-carbon “energy hub”.

March –  AGL rejects second takeover bid, with Mike Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield set to walk away – Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and his partners Brookfield Asset Management are set to abandon their takeover bid for energy giant AGL, after the electricity company rejected a second offer worth around $9 billion.

June – EPA fines power station operator for alleged air pollution – The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined AGL Macquarie Pty Ltd (AGL) $15,000 for alleged air pollution offences at its Liddell Power Station.

November 2020 – AGL ‘comfortable’ with net zero emissions by 2050 target – AGL firmly believes in a net zero future and is “comfortable” with 2050 as the deadline for that goal.

October 2020 – AGL gets ‘first strike’ as investors revolt on pay – Investors have objected to remuneration at the large electricity and gas supplier amid broader dissatisfaction across the market on pay.

August 2020 – Virus hit sends AGL shares to five-year low – The COVID-19 pandemic has given extra bite to the chilly headwinds facing AGL Energy, with shock guidance on 2020-21 profits pointing to a drop of as much as 46 per cent in benchmark earnings in the space of two years and sending the shares to a five-year low.

August 2020 – When is AGL Energy going to grow up? – AGL’s share price was down 10% on its results day, because its FY2021 guidance was way below expectations.

November 2019 – AGL takes renewables hit as grid congestion worsens – Wind and solar farms owned by AGL Energy and QIC are among renewable power plants that are set to be even worse hit by transmission losses next financial year as developers pay the price for the unco-ordinated flood of new capacity onto remote parts of the grid.

October 2019 – AGL eyes batteries, transport fuels as energy markets collide – AGL Energy chief executive Brett Redman has signalled a move into transport fuels and wouldn’t rule out a possible re-entry into natural gas production as the utility adapts to the rapidly evolving energy market and the entry of oil majors onto its patch

September 2019 – Clean energy projects win state support – The NSW government will spend $75 million to spur private investment in renewable energy and storage in the state ahead of the Liddell coal-fired power plant’s 2023 closure.

August 2019 – AGL delays closure of Liddell power station to meet energy demand over summer – Company says parts of coal-fired Hunter Valley plant will stay open until 2023, and life of Torrens A, near Adelaide, may also be extended.

May 2019 – AGL sought Victorian rule change to clear way for controversial gas terminal – Wastewater policy a ‘significant hurdle’ to company’s plans for Crib Point.

Green Electricity score

This score is based on the company’s Green Electricity Guide star rating.

Complaints score

This score is based on the number of complaints measured as a proportion against the number of customers. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

Call response score

This score is based on how likely the retailer is to answer a call within 30 seconds. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.