In line with the recent trend of tech startups that aim to help us save a buck, Melbourne-based switchwise.com.au, has launched an online service that allows consumers to easily compare electricity and gas prices and switch suppliers over the Internet.

According to founder, Shaun Johnson, the site was:

created to help untangle the complex web of energy pricing and to assist consumers to select the right energy plans for their homes. An average household could save around $200 per year on their combined electricity and gas bills by switching to a cheaper supplier using switchwise.

The service is free to end-users and prides itself on being “unbiased and independent”. To help with the comparing switchwise has developed a sophisticated calculator that uses the consumer’s suburb and energy use to determine the costs and savings of each energy plan available. For those unwilling to trust the calculator, you can get detailed information about each plan, such as price, payment methods and terms and conditions and make up your own mind.

For me, the best part of the site is that if you decide you want to switch you can either do it there and then, online, or phone switchwise directly and have a rep do it for you.

The site was founded by Shaun Johnson, who has over 10 years’ experience in managing digital media, e-commerce and technology-related businesses in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Before establishing switchwise, Shaun was Commercial Director at Ukash, a European e-commerce payments company based in London. Prior to that, he worked in Sydney as the Australian & New Zealand Managing Director for Itsmobile, a mobile payments company, now a division of Payzone plc. Shaun’s experience also includes several years at AOL Europe, where he was General Manager of the CompuServe and Netscape businesses. Whilst at AOL, Shaun launched the highly acclaimed Netscape Online ISP and portal, which he built into a leading player in the UK market. Shaun also spent several years as a strategy consultant with Accenture.

Sounds like he has the business chops to make this site a success, and the VCs at Netus, who have funded switchwise, would appear to agree.

At the moment, the site is in beta and only has Victorian data though Shaun says it will be extended to other States and Territories of Australia shortly.

Other sites in the space include Go Switch and Switch Select (I’m starting to sense a naming trend in the space). The presence of another competitor in switchwise will only help promote competition and hopefully lead to even better analyses and savings.

Keep them coming guys - I’m loving all these new sites!