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Australian Electricity Rates by State and Network

Electricity rates change from state to state, from network to network and from tariff to tariff. Two near identical homes can pay very different amounts, and most people never check which side of that gap they sit on. GoSwitch shows you where yours lands, with no obligation to switch.

What are the average electricity rates in Australia?

Written by Clint Robinson, GoSwitch CEO
Published 6 August 202610 mins read

Electricity plans on the open market are priced against these benchmarks. A plan advertised at 15 per cent below the benchmark in one network can still cost more than a full price plan in another.

The table below shows the regulated usage rate and daily supply charge for every network, current at 1 July 2026.

Jurisdiction Distribution network LUsage rate (c/kWh) Daily supply charge (c/day)
VIC CitiPower 25.96 121.14
VIC United Energy 27.35 119.12
VIC Jemena 27.47 127.13
QLD Energex 27.97 192.02
VIC Powercor 28.22 138.05
VIC AusNet Services 31.98 128.24
NSW Ausgrid 33.14 166.23
NSW Endeavour Energy 33.73 185.13
NSW Essential Energy 35.01 272.22
SA SA Power Networks 41.91 180.05

Residential flat rate caps, GST inclusive, effective 1 July 2026. NSW, Queensland and South Australia from the Australian Energy Regulator’s Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination. Victoria from the Essential Services Commission’s Victorian Default Offer 2026-27. Verified 29 July 2026.

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How electricity rates differ across each state

Each jurisdiction sets its own benchmark price, which is why identical usage costs different amounts across a border. All five markets are deregulated, so you can change retailer whenever you like.

  • New South Wales – The Australian Energy Regulator sets the Default Market Offer, and rates here fell 3.4 to 5 per cent this year.
  • South East Queensland – Flat rate prices fell 7.2 per cent, the largest cut of any regulated region.
  • South Australia – Rates rose 1.4 per cent, the only increase across the three states the AER regulates.
  • Victoria – The Essential Services Commission sets the Victorian Default Offer, which fell in all five zones by an average of 5 per cent.
  • Australian Capital Territory – The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission lifted the regulated standing offer by 2.73 per cent.
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What makes up the rate you pay?

Two things, and that is the whole story. Usage charges cover the power you actually use, measured in kilowatt hours. The daily supply charge is what you pay just to stay connected, and it lands even on days you are away.

Say you use 20 kWh at 30 cents. That is $6.00 of general usage, plus a supply charge of around $1.50, so the day costs you $7.50.

Most plans carry variable rates, so usage rates and the supply charge can both shift while you are on them. Every rate you see published includes GST, so there is no sting at the end.

 

 

 

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Which tariff type applies to your home?

Your meter decides this, not you. Four tariff types cover almost every Australian home, and the AER defines each one.

Tariff How it charges Who it suits
Single rate tariff One price per kWh, no matter the time of day. Also sold as a flat rate tariff. Basic meters and most older homes
Time of use tariff Peak, shoulder and off-peak prices across the day. Shifting washing to off-peak hours cuts the bill. Homes with smart meters
Controlled load A separate cheap rate for one appliance, usually electric hot water, on its own circuit. Homes with a dedicated circuit
Demand tariff Adds a charge based on your highest half-hour of use in the month. Smart meter homes on selected networks

Victoria also runs a block rate on the AusNet network, which splits usage at 1,020 kWh a quarter. Both blocks carry the same rate this year, so the split does not change what you pay. Check your bill if you are not sure which one you are on.

How to tell if your electricity rate is too high

Compare it against the reference price your regulator sets. That number is the ceiling, not the going rate, so a good plan sits well under it. Never switched? You are probably on a standing offer, sitting close to the cap.

  1. Find the comparison price on your bill or plan summary. It shows what you pay as a percentage of the reference price, so anything near 100 per cent means money is on the table.
  2. Check when your benefit period ends. Discounts often fall away on that date, and conditional discounts for pay on time or direct debit disappear the moment you slip. Bill credits work the same way.
  3. Look past the headline rate. Exit fees, feed-in tariffs and contract terms all move the real cost, and GoSwitch weighs them together rather than ranking on one number.

Please select your tariff you are on to calculate your bill cost

Please select Tariff Type option first

Peak

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Off Peak

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Controlled Load 1

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Controlled Load 2

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Shoulder

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Billing Period

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$
%
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Tariff Type:

Your electricity bill cost would be:

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Usage

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Rate

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Peak

Usage

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Rate

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Off Peak

Usage

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Rate

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Controlled Load 1

Usage

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Controlled Load 2

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Shoulder

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Solar

Solar Export

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Feed-in Tariff

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*Your actual bill cost may vary depending on your usage and if your selections vary to what you're currently on

Please enter your postcode

    Not sure who your distributor is? Check your National Meter Identifier (NMI) on your bill and match it to this table:

    State NMI prefix Distributor
    NSW 410 Ausgrid
    NSW 4310 Endeavour Energy
    NSW 4001, 4204, 4407, 4508 Essential Energy
    VIC 63 Ausnet
    VIC 61 Citipower
    VIC 60 Jemena
    VIC 62 Powercor
    VIC 64 United Energy
    QLD 311,QB Energex
    SA 2001, 2002 SA Power Networks
    ACT 700 ActewAGL

    Work out what your current rate is costing you

    The calculator below turns your bill into a real number. Grab three things off your latest statement, your tariff type, your daily supply charge and your usage rate. Add your solar export if you have panels.

    It handles every tariff type in the table above, so the answer matches how you are actually billed. That gives you your energy costs today. Small business rates work the same way. Finding out what they could be takes under five minutes.

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    Find your distributor before you compare

    Your NMI is the ten-character code on your bill that identifies your meter. Its first four digits tell you which distributor runs the poles and wires at your address.

    That sets the network share of every rate you are offered. Your postcode does the same job if you cannot find the number.

    State Distributor NMI starts with
    NSW Ausgrid 4102 to 4104
    NSW Endeavour Energy 431
    NSW Essential Energy 4001, 4204, 4407, 4508
    VIC Jemena 6001
    VIC CitiPower 6102 to 6103
    VIC Powercor 6203 to 6204
    VIC AusNet Services 6305 to 6306
    VIC United Energy 6407 to 6408
    QLD Energex 31
    SA SA Power Networks 2001 to 2002
    ACT Evoenergy 7001

    Source: AEMO NMI Allocation List, Version 14, November 2025. Verified 29 July 2026.

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    Which electricity retailers GoSwitch compares

    We compare plans from the electricity retailers below, grouped by the state you live in. Many also sell natural gas, so you can bundle both on one bill.

    • New South Wales – AGL, EnergyAustralia, ENGIE, Red Energy, Alinta Energy, GloBird Energy, Kogan Energy, Sumo and 1st Energy.
    • Victoria – AGL, EnergyAustralia, ENGIE, Red Energy, Alinta Energy, Lumo Energy, GloBird Energy, Kogan Energy, Sumo and 1st Energy.
    • Queensland – AGL, EnergyAustralia, ENGIE, Red Energy, Alinta Energy, GloBird Energy, Kogan Energy, Sumo and 1st Energy.
    • South Australia – AGL, EnergyAustralia, ENGIE, Red Energy, Alinta Energy, Lumo Energy, GloBird Energy, Kogan Energy, Sumo and 1st Energy.
    • Australian Capital Territory – AGL, EnergyAustralia and Red Energy.

    Energy retailers pay GoSwitch a commission when you switch, and that is how the comparison stays free to you.

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    Compare Plans in Seconds – Just Choose Your State, Network, and Tariff
    Provider Contract Length Key Features Estimated Annual Cost

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      How solar changes the rate you pay

      Solar panels change the maths twice over. Solar feed-in tariffs credit you for the power you export, and that credit lands straight on your bill.

      The Solar Sharer Offer, live since 1 July 2026, gives you three free hours in the middle of the day. That is 11am to 2pm in NSW and South East Queensland, and 12pm to 3pm in South Australia. You opt in, and you need a smart meter.

      GreenPower is a different thing again, a paid add-on that buys accredited renewable energy on your behalf. Judge a solar plan on its feed-in rate and its usage rate together, never one alone.

      Solar Sharer Offer terms from the AER’s Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination. Verified 29 July 2026.

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      How to switch to a lower electricity rate

      Switching is paperwork, not plumbing. Nobody visits your home, your meter stays where it is, and your power never goes off for a second.

      1. Choose the energy plan that suits your household from the results on screen.
      2. GoSwitch notifies both energy providers, so you never make a call or fill in a form.
      3. An energy specialist checks the details with you and handles the paperwork end to end.
      4. You have 10 business days to change your mind, and the transfer can land as fast as two business days after that.

      Your final bill comes from your old retailer and your first from the new one. That is the whole change.

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      See what a better electricity rate is worth to you

      You have seen what the benchmark is. Now find out where you actually sit against it.

      GoSwitch compares live electricity rates across the retailers we work with in your area, and shows which rebates and concessions apply in your state. No paperwork lands on you.

      Australians rate us Excellent on Trustpilot from over 14,000 reviews. See what a better rate is worth to you today!

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      FAQs

      No single retailer is cheapest everywhere, because the distribution network at your address sets much of the price before any retailer competes. The AER’s benchmark is $1,899 a year in the Ausgrid zone on 3,900 kWh and $2,604 in the Essential Energy zone on 4,600 kWh.

      A retailer can vary your rate at any time, but the National Energy Retail Rules require at least five business days notice first. Queensland is stricter again, and requires ten business days notice before any price increase can take effect.

      Not for a single rate plan, but you do need one for time of use, demand and Solar Sharer Offer tariffs. Every legacy meter must be replaced by 30 November 2030 under the AEMC’s accelerated rollout, so most homes will have one.

      Yes, as long as the electricity account is in your name, which it usually is for a standard residential tenancy. You do not need your landlord’s permission, because switching changes only who bills you and never touches the meter or the wiring.

      Your plan does not move with you, because rates are tied to the meter and the distribution network at a specific address. You close the old account and open a new one, and the rate you were paying may not exist at the new address.

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