iO Energy
iO Energy is a privately held South Australian electricity retailer serving residential and small business customers with time-of-use pricing plans, zero-upfront solar and battery subscriptions, and storage heater hardware. It operates exclusively on the SA Power Networks grid, headquartered in Adelaide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersAdelaide, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What iO Energy does
iO Energy is a privately held, South Australia-only electricity retailer that sells time-of-use electricity plans to residential and small business customers on the SA Power Networks (SAPN) grid. Founded in 2019 and headquartered at Lot Fourteen, North Terrace, Adelaide, the company operates through three related Australian entities: iO Energy Holdings (ACN 687 236 568), iO Energy Retail (ACN 686 336 265), and Radian Holdings (ACN 633 200 656). Its core proposition is a pricing structure that pays customers (negative effective rates) to consume electricity between 10:00am and 3:59pm when grid solar generation is highest, while charging premium rates during the 6:00pm–8:59pm peak window. The company also extends a zero-upfront solar and battery subscription (Small, Medium, and Large configurations) with day-one cashflow-positive economics, lifetime maintenance, and a 10-year equipment refresh.
The product portfolio layers three categories on top of the core retail plans: subscribed solar and battery systems using Longi, Sungrow, and Huawei hardware and bundled with a free Tribe Energy Optimiser; premium European thermal storage heaters (Heatboss 1.5/2/4 and Heatwave 4) marketed as a 4.7x cheaper, 2.4x higher-capacity alternative to chemical battery storage; and Sensibo smart thermostats (Sky and Air) for demand response. A Sustainable Buildings Advisory service targets property owners and developers. Technology is assembled rather than built: time-of-use billing is enabled by SA Power Networks smart meter data, customer self-service runs on the Utilibill portal, customer support is delivered via Energy Locals, and the 'AI programming' on storage heaters and smart thermostats resides in third-party hardware and firmware rather than iO-developed models.
Revenue is generated from three streams: electricity retail margin (daily supply charges of 165c residential / 200c business plus variable time-of-use consumption charges), solar and battery subscription daily rates inclusive of hardware, software, and lifetime servicing, and direct storage heater hardware sales with installation by partnered electricians. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through the iO Energy website, online signup, email-based free energy analysis (with bill attachment), a 1300 313 463 phone line, and a customer referral/case-study engine featuring named customers such as a nurse, retiree couple, technology entrepreneur, former professional athlete, and the Treasure Boxes nonprofit. Documented customer savings range from $480/yr (renter) to $5,100/yr (all-electric home with two EVs). Leadership consists of co-founder and CEO Rob Morris and co-founder and COO Luke Morton; total headcount is 1–10. No external funding rounds, institutional investors, or M&A activity are disclosed.
iO Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- iO Energy
- Legal name
- iO Energy Holdings Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://ioenergy.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- iO Energy is a privately held South Australian electricity retailer serving residential and small business customers with time-of-use pricing plans, zero-upfront solar and battery subscriptions, and storage heater hardware. It operates exclusively on the SA Power Networks grid, headquartered in Adelaide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
iO Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Electricity Services
- NAICS
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Electric Housewares & Fans (3634)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Home Energy & EV Charging (HEMS, Smart Meters, Batteries, Chargers) (HSAPAQAF)
Keywords
Where iO Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Adelaide
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
iO Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Electricity Retail: iO Energy sells electricity to residential and business customers in South Australia using time-of-use pricing. Revenue comes from daily supply charges and variable consumption charges based on time of day. Lower rates during daytime solar hours (10am-3:59pm charged at -2c/kWh) encourage usage when grid power is cheapest.
- Solar and Battery Subscription: Zero upfront cost solar and battery systems offered under a 'pay as you save' subscription model. Customers pay a daily rate inclusive of all hardware, software, servicing and maintenance. Systems are cashflow positive from day one with zero day payback period. Includes complete equipment refresh at 10 years.
- Storage Heater Sales and Installation: Sale and installation of premium European storage heaters (Heatboss and Heatwave series). Electrician provides fixed-price installation quote. Available to South Australian customers with optional local delivery service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Monthly | Residential Time of Use Plan |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Business Time of Use Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Solar and Battery Subscription (Home Energy Systems) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
iO Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
iO Energy is a South Australian electricity retailer that sells time-of-use electricity plans to residential and small business customers, offering lower daytime rates (including negative rates during peak solar generation hours) to encourage usage when grid power is cheapest. The company also supplies zero-upfront-cost solar and battery subscriptions, premium European thermal storage heaters, and smart thermostats that help customers shift energy consumption to affordable daylight hours. Operations are confined to South Australia via the SA Power Networks (SAPN) grid.
Product overview
iO Energy is a South Australian electricity retailer offering a unified energy platform combining time-of-use electricity plans with hardware and software products. Its core offerings are Residential and Business Time-of-Use Electricity Plans, which provide cheaper daytime energy rates and work in tandem with add-on hardware products. The add-on portfolio spans Solar and Battery Systems (subscribed in Small, Medium, and Large configurations with zero upfront cost), Storage Heaters (Heatboss series and Heatwave, offering 7.4–32 kWh thermal storage as a battery alternative), and Smart Thermostats (Sensibo Sky and Sensibo Air for demand response). A free Tribe Energy Optimiser is bundled with solar/battery installs to maximize self-consumption. Together these products enable customers to shift energy use to cheaper daytime hours, generate their own solar power, store heat or electricity for later use, and intelligently control appliances — all managed through a web portal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Residential customers save $480-$5,100 per annum depending on usage patterns
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use iO Energy
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
iO Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature5 records
iO Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SA Power NetworkscoreSA Power Networks is the electricity distribution network operator for South Australia. iO Energy accesses customer smart meter data from SA Power Networks for energy analysis purposes. The company's electricity plans are built on SAPN network tariffs (RESELE, RESELENE for residential; SBELENE, SBELE for business).
- TribecoreTribe provides energy optimizers that are included free with iO Energy solar and battery systems. These optimizers maximize solar consumption by controlling appliances.
- Energy LocalscoreEnergy Locals provides customer service support for iO Energy customers. Customer support email references [email protected] as the customer service contact.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
iO Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Energy Locals: Australian electricity retailer offering transparent pricing and direct customer service. Both iO Energy and Energy Locals operate in the Australian retail electricity market with a focus on customer-centric, technology-enabled offerings. Energy Locals is also iO's customer service partner.
- Amber Electric: Australian electricity retailer that pioneered real-time wholesale pricing passed through to customers. Both companies leverage smart meter data and time-varying pricing to help consumers save money, particularly for households with solar and batteries.
Broad incumbents
- Powershop (now Shell Energy): Was an Australian-focused smart energy retailer with strong digital customer experience, now part of Shell Energy. Operates in the same Australian retail electricity market with technology-enabled offerings and time-of-use pricing options.
- AGL Energy: One of Australia's largest electricity and gas retailers with millions of customers. While much larger and broader in scope, AGL offers competing residential and business electricity plans including solar and battery products in the same South Australian market.
- Origin Energy: Major Australian integrated energy retailer with significant market share in residential electricity. Competes directly with iO Energy in South Australia and offers solar/battery solutions alongside traditional electricity plans.
- Ovo Energy: UK-based smart energy retailer known for technology-enabled customer experience and renewable energy offerings. Comparable to iO Energy in its focus on time-of-use pricing, smart meter integration, and clean energy for residential customers.
- Tesla Energy: Global leader in residential battery storage (Powerwall) and solar. iO Energy positions its storage heaters as a cost-effective alternative to Tesla Powerwall. Both companies serve residential customers seeking energy independence and storage.
Emerging players
- Reposit Power: Australian battery and virtual power plant operator enabling households to monetize battery storage. Comparable to iO Energy's battery offerings and shared focus on helping residential customers maximize value from energy storage systems.
- Solar Choice: Australian solar comparison and installation platform. Overlaps with iO Energy's solar/battery subscription offering in the residential rooftop solar market, though Solar Choice focuses on purchase rather than subscription models.
Others
- Enphase Energy: Global leader in solar microinverters and home energy systems including batteries. Enphase products (or similar from competitors like SolarEdge) are typically integrated into residential solar systems that iO Energy sells and services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
iO Energy social profiles
Digital presenceiO Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
iO Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
iO Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
iO Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about iO Energy
What does iO Energy do?
iO Energy is a South Australian electricity retailer that sells time-of-use electricity plans to residential and small business customers, offering lower daytime rates (including negative rates during peak solar generation hours) to encourage usage when grid power is cheapest. The company also supplies zero-upfront-cost solar and battery subscriptions, premium European thermal storage heaters, and smart thermostats that help customers shift energy consumption to affordable daylight hours. Operations are confined to South Australia via the SA Power Networks (SAPN) grid.
Is iO Energy a public or private company?
iO Energy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was iO Energy founded?
iO Energy was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is iO Energy based?
iO Energy is headquartered in Adelaide, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does iO Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Electricity Retail is the primary driver. The others are solar and Battery Subscription and storage Heater Sales and Installation.
Who are iO Energy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Energy Locals and Amber Electric. Broad incumbents are Powershop (now Shell Energy), AGL Energy, Origin Energy, Ovo Energy and Tesla Energy. Emerging players are Reposit Power and Solar Choice. Enphase Energy is listed as an others.
Does iO Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for iO Energy.
What industry is iO Energy in?
iO Energy's product category is Retail Electricity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAPAQAF, Home Energy & EV Charging (HEMS, Smart Meters, Batteries, Chargers). Its NAICS code is 2211 and its SIC code is 4911.