Almost 240,850 households across the country switched electricity companies in June, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.
This included about 87,000 households in Victoria, 85,000 in NSW, 51,000 in Queensland and 17,000 in South Australia.
Energy prices have risen across the country.
The number of people switching was only surpassed in April 2021, when a mid-sized retailer was sold to a larger retailer and around 267,000 switched automatically.
Joel Gibson, from consumer network One Big Switch, said the massive June move was due to the biggest energy price hikes the country has seen.
Today’s report from the energy market operator confirmed that unprecedented wholesale prices are now flowing into homes and businesses.
That could be a driver for more people to switch energy suppliers at the end of July, as most big retailers don’t raise their prices until this month or even next, Gibson said.
“Four retailers have also gone out of business, most of them in July: Enova Energy, Pooled Energy, Weston Power & Power Club, and their customers will automatically be switched to the big retailers,” he said.
“And finally, the Victorian Government has also this month started paying households $250 just to visit its energy comparison website.”
AGL and EnergyAustralia will increase rates for 5.5 million customers next Monday.
AAP