Energy prices have become so confusing that at least 1 million Australian households are languishing on uncompetitive deals.

Key points: On average, electricity prices have increased by 75 per cent since 2009, according to Vinnies

On average, electricity prices have increased by 75 per cent since 2009, according to Vinnies Victoria, SA have seen biggest rises

Victoria, SA have seen biggest rises Analysis finds many households could be saving between $500 to $1,000 if they negotiate a better deal

That's according to a new analysis of energy tariffs that highlights the huge differences between so-called standing offers and market offers.

Standing offers are what you pay if you don't try and negotiate a competitive market offer with an energy retailer.

But standing offers in every state and territory have crept higher over the years, so many consumers have ended up paying more.

The co-author of the annual Tariff Tracking report, Gavin Dufty, said scores of households could be saving up to $1,000 if they just "picked up the phone" and negotiated a better deal with their energy provider.

"For the people that are on standing offers and have never entered the market, you're looking to save between $500 to $1,000," Mr Dufty told the ABC.

"At the extreme, depending on where you are, there's $1,000 on the table there … it is a lot.

"Probably a more modest and average sort of price, if you haven't shopped around in the market, there's $600, easy, waiting for you right on the table."

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Here's where to find the biggest savings

In NSW, about 555,000 households could be paying less

In NSW, about 555,000 households could be paying less In Queensland, it's about 210,000 households

In Queensland, it's about 210,000 households In Victoria, about 175,000 households

In Victoria, about 175,000 households In SA, about 92,000 households

If you're in these states you should definitely be investigating whether you're getting the best deal, according to Mr Dufty, who's an expert on energy policy with charity group Vinnies.

Tasmania and the ACT have regulated energy markets, while the Tariff Tracking project doesn't cover Western Australia or the Northern Territory.

Mr Dufty said the market did not work when consumers were not actively engaged in it.

"They're not shopping around, they're not taking it up to their retailer to try and get a good deal, and those people are being premium priced," Mr Dufty said.

His advice if you're about to pick up the phone: don't be afraid of smaller retailers.

"Don't always go to the known brands," he said.

"There's some really keen prices from companies that aren't the big three or four.

The ACCC agrees that Australians have been paying too much for their electricity. ( ABC News: Natasha Johnson )

"Don't be afraid to go to them. They have been tested by the regulators about their financial viability, they have to meet certain standards.

"So just because you don't know them, doesn't mean that they're dodgy or risky.

"They might not be able to give the same full customer service, particularly because they don't have huge call centres, but in terms of price they are very competitive."

'It's a confusion-opoly'

Mr Dufty said some people put electricity prices in the "too hard basket" and stayed on standing offers because the market was a "confusion-opoly".

"When we started tracking things in 2008, it was only one tariff and it was all the same," he said.

"Now we're up to 2018 and you have hundreds of different tariffs with different discounts."

Sydney retiree Merinda Air has tracked her energy bills over the past few years using a spreadsheet, but said it was still difficult to know if she was getting the best deal.

Ms Air said many of her older friends didn't try to shop around for a good energy deal. ( ABC News: Mary Lloyd )

"Each provider seems to use a different format, so my current provider gives me one price … that covers everything I use, and then gives me my solar rebate," Ms Air said.

"But others give me peak, shoulder, off-peak — and so if I only have one price, I don't know how to compare the others, so I find that disconcerting.

"I will start looking around again, but it's trying to understand the differences, and that's the hard part."

Ms Air said it was difficult to know if she was getting the best deal. ( ABC News: Mary Lloyd )

Last month Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the Government wanted to end this confusion and help consumers get the best deal for their electricity.

As part of a four-part package, the Coalition proposed setting a base or "default" price for power in each jurisdiction.

This would ensure customers were not being exploited for staying with a standing offer, Mr Morrison said.

While the market could soon be changing, Mr Dufty had a warning for households.

"Don't expect the Government to be looking after you. If you engaged in the market, you would save a minimum of $500," he said.

Sarah McNamara from the Australian Energy Council said the industry was working hard to make it easier for consumers.

"There are already good deals in the marketplace today and we want to encourage consumers not to wait for reforms to be completed, but to get on the phone to their retailer or get on the Government comparator website and choose the best deal for their circumstances today and start saving," she said.

"In the medium term though we want to reassure customers that we're working very hard on reforms with the Government, and we've been doing that for some time to make the market easier to understand and easier to engage with.

"We absolutely appreciate that it is a market that is confusing for consumers and particularly in an environment of high prices, we want to make sure it's as easy for them as possible to get onto those cheaper market deals."

Power prices have increased by 75pc since 2009

In the 10 years since the Tariff Tracking project began, electricity prices have more than doubled in South Australia and Victoria.

South Australian prices have gone up by 112 per cent and Victorian prices have gone up 104 per cent. On average, electricity prices have increased by 75 per cent since 2009.

Vinnies have pulled together all their data in an interactive map, where consumers can explore changes to bills as well as potential savings that could be made by switching retailer.

The Federal Government wants to help households save more on their power bills. ( ABC News: Natasha Johnson )

Ms McNamara said the difference in Victoria and South Australia was the closure of coal-fired power stations.

"The exit of those plants creates volatility in the wholesale market and that volatility tends to push prices up," she said.

"Those markets have recovered somewhat following those events but it does take some time to stabilise."

Ms McNamara said volatility in the wholesale market would continue until policy around emissions was developed.

"That's the best way to stabilise these wholesale prices," she said.