Standing Contract:

• A Standing Contract is the retail energy contract (either electricity or gas) available to all South Australian small customers. The terms and conditions of this type of contract are set by the Essential Services Commission under the Energy Retail Code.

The Commission also establishes a price path for standing contracts which regulates the tariffs applied under the contract.

• AGL SA is obliged to offer a standing electricity contract to all existing and new South Australian households.
• Origin Energy is obliged to offer a standing gas contract to all existing and new South Australian households

If you have not actively negotiated a contract for energy with a retailer you are most likely to be on the standing contract.

Market Contract:

• A Market Contract is a retail energy contract that may vary from the regulated terms and conditions of the standing contract.

Market contracts are designed to reflect agreements or arrangements that energy retailers and customers might want to put in place.

For example, market contracts might include direct debit arrangements, loyalty benefits and other terms and conditions (including pricing) as agreed between the retailer and customer.

While market contracts can reflect such arrangements, they must still comply with all of the consumer protection requirements specified by the Energy Retail Code.  The Commission does not regulate tariffs for market contracts.

As with any contract, you should not sign anything unless you are clear about what you are committing to and understand the terms offered.