More than four million households are paying more to turn the lights on from today, as the country’s biggest retailers switch on price hikes for market plans by up to 13.5%.
July 1 kickstarts a season of price changes with default electricity prices in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT rising today, impacting 1.3 million customers on standard electricity plans.
The country’s biggest two providers, Origin and AGL, are also increasing the prices on their market plans for customers in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia today, impacting almost three million customers.
For the average household, these price hikes could add up to over $200 on to the average electricity bill.
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| Price changes from biggest energy retailers from 1 July | ||
|---|---|---|
| Origin | AGL | |
| NSW | +9.1% | +13.5% |
| South East QLD | +3.1% | +7.5% |
| SA | +5.5% | +7.8% |
| Customers on market plans | 1.62 million | 1.36 million |
Note: Origin changes are weighted average electricity price changes across all tariff types. AGL changes reflect residential and small business customers combined.
When are energy prices changing for other states?
Customers with Australia’s biggest electricity providers – Origin and AGL – in Victoria and the ACT won’t see price changes in effect until August.
Australia’s third largest provider, EnergyAustralia, isn’t hiking its market energy plans until August and September.
A number of other electricity providers are changing market rates in July including Red Energy, Engie and Dodo.
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| Timing of electricity price hikes – Origin, AGL, EnergyAustralia | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July | 1 August | 1 September | |
| Origin | NSW, QLD, SA | VIC, ACT | |
| AGL | NSW, QLD, SA | VIC | |
| EnergyAustralia | NSW, VIC, ACT | QLD, SA | |
Average debt and number of customers in hardship increases
The price hikes come following the latest report from the Australian Energy Regulator showing the number of people falling into debt and applying for hardship is on the rise.
The number of customers in debt increased 7% in the March 2025 quarter from the previous quarter to 215,637, while the number of people in hardship increased by 3% to 114,433.
The average debt for an electricity customer has climbed to $1,415, while the average debt of those in hardship has hit $1,984.
These figures are for electricity customers in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.
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| Customers in debt and hardship, March 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | Change from previous quarter | Year-on-year change | |
| Customers in debt | 215,637 | +14,967 (+7%) | +9,674 (+5%) |
| Average debt | $1,415 | +$20 | +$309 |
| Customers in hardship | 114,433 | +3,329 (+3%) | -12,978 (-10%) |
| Average debt of those in hardship | $1,984 | +$37 | +$302 |
Source: AER. Includes data on jurisdictions covered by the National Energy Retail Law and the Retail Rules: NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT. Does include data for Victoria, Western Australia or Northern Territory.
Government to take sting out of hikes with $75 energy credit to be applied from today
The extension to the federal government’s Energy Bill Relief fund will see households receive a further $150 in credit, applied to electricity bills. The relief will primarily be delivered in two quarters, with $75 credit from July and a further $75 from October.
Electricity price hikes can be avoided
Customers should know they can, and should, shop around for a better deal with retailers often reserving their most competitive prices for new customers.
Canstar Blue research shows a customer switching from the average priced plan to the lowest cost plan on their network could save up to $390 a year.
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| Potential savings switching from average to lowest cost annual electricity plan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| City | Average cost annual plan | Lowest cost annual plan | Potential savings |
| Sydney | $1,731 | $1,410 | $321 |
| Melbourne | $1,369 | $1,057 | $312 |
| Brisbane | $1,974 | $1,599 | $375 |
| Adelaide | $2,185 | $1,870 | $315 |
| Canberra | $2,263 | $1,873 | $390 |
| Hobart | $1,274 | $1,130 | $144 |
Source: Canstar Blue – 1/07/2025. Based on single rate electricity plans on Canstar’s database; excluding solar-only plans. One product shown per distribution network. Annual costs calculated based on the estimated lowest possible price a representative customer would be charged in a year, assuming all conditions of discount offered (if any) have been met. Representative customer based on the reference usage for NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, and SA (per Victorian default offer for VIC, ICRC for ACT, and AER for others) or the median usage in the Office of the Tasmania Regulator’s report, Typical Electricity Customers in Tasmania 2022 for TAS.
Compare electricity prices
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Consider switching for big savings
Canstar Blue’s data insights director, Sally Tindall, says, “From today, more than four million households will see their electricity prices rise, which for an average household could add more than $200 to their annual bill.”
“Thankfully, the government is going to take some of the sting out of these price hikes by extending the electricity bill relief by another $150, delivered in two more quarters – so expect $75 to appear as credit on your bill from this month, and then another from October.
“The problem is, for high-energy households, that’s not going to touch the sides, so it’s well worth taking matters into your own hands.
“Electricity price hikes might feel unavoidable, however, switching providers can potentially bring real relief, especially for those who haven’t switched providers in more than a year.
“Our research shows that if you switch from an average-priced plan to the lowest, you could potentially save over $300, depending on where you live. That’s proper relief, in addition to the extra $150 coming down the line from the federal government.”
Image Source: Chay_Tee/Shutterstock.com
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