<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/electricity" rel="" target="" title="Electricity"><span>Electricity</span></a><span> companies are legally required to tell you if you're not getting their best offer, and acting on the information could save you almost $500 a year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released data showing a "better offer" notification is currently printed on the power bills of almost 6.7 million Australian customers - which means more than three-quarters of households nationally are not on the cheapest electricity plan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Financial comparison site Canstar said taking up the offer could result in an average saving of $291 a year, up to $490 — potentially saving the country $1.9 billion.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-16-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/b87380ba-5f3b-470d-bdca-a98c869f95af" target="_blank"><strong><span>Refinery fire to have 'catastrophic' impact on Aussie fuel supply</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the Better Bills Guideline from the Australian Energy Retailer, retailers are required to include a message at least every 100 days to alert customers as to whether they could save money if they switched to a different plan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If a new plan has the same name as an older version of the plan with different rates, they're obligated to make it clear customers can switch to the new version.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The data showed more than a quarter (27 per cent) of customers who are not on the cheapest plan, are on a plan with the same name.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-electricity-bills-how-to-save-money-on-power-lowest-price-plan-australia-national-news/9f048269-fc7d-4299-9432-48a59113115c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As of December 30, retailers will be required to put this information in the body of the email or letter, not only on the bill.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is staggering to think that $1.9 billion is sitting on the table simply because we haven't taken up the offer that's on the front page of our bills," Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The end of the federal electricity rebates has pushed some households into bill shock, however, most can manufacture their own discount today with just one phone call."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tindall said from there, households could then ensure they were getting market-leading rates by comparing the best plans from different retailers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=9news.com.au" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>