Origin Energy, the Big Three Australian gen-tailer whose assets range from the Eraring coal plant to a coal plant-sized virtual power plant of rooftop solar and home batteries, has snapped up another small energy retailer.
An internal emailed shared anonymously with Renew Economy says Origin has acquired 1st Energy, just months after the November acquisition of successful Australian electricity retail market disruptor, Energy Locals.
The transaction has been confirmed by Origin Energy, although the company declined to comment further on the news.
1st Energy was launched in 2014 and currently services New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia with electricity, gas and telecommunications services.
Its acquisition by Origin will add over 80,000 new customer accounts to an already strong 4.7 million-strong customer base.
According to the internal memo, the acquisition “strengthens [Origin’s] position as Australia’s leading and most loved energy retailer” and expands the company’s reach while opening “new opportunities to deliver unrivalled customer solutions, smarter experiences, and cleaner energy to even more households.”
It appears that the acquisition will see existing 1st Energy employees integrated into the larger Origin Energy organisation.
Additionally, the source told Renew Economy that 1st Energy is expected to remain as a separate brand that will absorb the customers of Energy Locals, sometime this year.
Renew Economy reported in November that Energy Locals had been acquired by Origin Energy, though it would continue to operate independently as a competitor in the market.
Launched in 2017 with a goal to “kill the traditional energy model”, the company claims to remain an “Australian-owned energy company working to make power fairer and more affordable for households, businesses, and developers across the country.”
1st Energy currently claims that it is “dedicated to providing energy that actually reflects the real cost of doing business whilst giving our customers confidence and peace of mind that we care about them.”
Origin expands VPP accessibility
Meanwhile, Origin has entered into an agreement with US-based home battery manufacturer FranklinWH Energy Storage to integrate its FranklinWH System into the Origin Loop virtual power plant (VPP) program.
FranklinWH announced this week that its customers would now be able to access the Loop VPP, which has a combined capacity of 1.5 gigawatts (GW) across more than 393,000 customer assets, as at June 2025.
“Working with Origin was a natural step for FranklinWH,” said Steve Ruskin, GM of FranklinWH Australia.
“Origin is one of Australia’s most trusted and respected energy brands, and together we’re giving our customers a new way to get even more value from their FranklinWH System, without compromising on its quality and reliability.”
The partnership now allows FranklinWH customers to access Origin’s battery plans while maintaining the current levels of support, warranty protection, and reliability.
This includes the full 12-year or 43 MWh throughput warranty promised by FranklinWH regardless of whether the battery is used exclusively for home power or to generate additional value through participation in a VPP.
“We believe transparency matters,” said Ruskin.
“Our customers deserve peace of mind. That’s why FranklinWH offers the same full warranty protection regardless of how you choose to use your battery. The choice is always yours.”
Origin currently offers three subscription-free plans for battery customers:
- Battery Lite: Offering up to $400 value in the first year, paying customers $1/kWh to export energy when the grid needs it (up to 200kWh annually). Available with any Origin electricity plan.
- Battery Maximiser: An electricity plan that provides uncapped exports and earnings, with a peak feed-in tariff (FiT) of 22c/kWh, with charging and exporting automated to help customers earn more.
- Battery Starter: An electricity plan designed for customers who prefer manual control (no VPP), offering a peak FiT of 18c/kWh and uncapped solar and battery exports.
“We’re excited to be working with FranklinWH, with the shared ambition to deliver meaningful value to customers as they electrify their homes,” said Chris Zondanos, Origin’s general manager of electrify and new connections.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to offering customers choice and delivering smarter energy offerings for households.”
