What is the average electricity bill?

Fact Checked

The following information is based on a survey finalised in December 2022 and calculated as an average of estimated quarterly bills based on survey respondents’ latest bill. As such, the average quarterly bill sums cited may not reflect current energy pricing and billing. Please use the information below as a general guide only and contact your provider if you have any questions about your bill.

When a big power bill comes through, it’s natural to question it. Did I really use that much electricity last month? Could there be a mistake with the meter reading? Realistically, the bill you have is accurate, but sometimes it’s good to compare your costs to other households – not only for peace of mind, but also to check how other plans compare. You could be missing out on a better deal!

To help you understand how your energy costs compare, we’ve used our research data to calculate the average electricity bills in Australia. We show average energy bills across the states, breaking down by customer age and household size too, before revealing the cheapest plans on our database so you can see whether or not you’re getting a good deal on price.

Get Better Than Average – Compare Plans Here

If you want to get ahead of the game and compare plans in your area, jump straight into our electricity comparison tool.

Average Australian Electricity Bill

The following average electricity bills were taken from a Canstar Blue survey of more than 4,400 households, conducted in December 2022. The costs reported include households of all sizes and should only be considered as a general guide.

Source: Canstar Blue research, December 2022.

As you can see, households in Tasmania and South Australia report the highest energy bills, with those in New South Wales not too far behind, while those in Victoria, Queensland, the ACT and Western Australia, report the lowest quarterly average. Consider how your energy costs compare to the average in your state.

Read on for a more detailed look at average electricity costs across the states. We also show the cheapest deals on our database that include a direct link to the provider’s website, to give you an idea of how your bills compare to pricing currently available. Use our comparison tool above for a specific comparison in your area.

NSW Average Electricity Bill

Across New South Wales, we found the average quarterly electricity bill to be $313. Two-fifths (40%) of NSW bill-payers say they think they got a good deal on energy, while only 12% said they had switched providers in the last two years.

Cheap Electricity Deals NSW

Victoria Average Electricity Bill

In Victoria, the average quarterly electricity bill was found to be just over $290. Only 15% of Victorians said they had switched providers in the last two years, however of those that did, 63% said it proved to be a good financial decision.

Cheap Electricity Deals VIC

QLD Average Electricity Bill

The average quarterly electricity bill in Queensland was found to be $276. Despite only 41% of Queenslanders saying they thing they get a good deal on electricity, only 12% made a conscious effort over the last two years to find a better deal.

Cheap Electricity Deals QLD

SA Average Electricity Bill

The average quarterly electricity bill in South Australia is about $322, our latest research shows. Almost half (44%) of South Australians think that they get a good deal on their electricity, and 12% said they switched electricity providers in the last two years.

Cheap Electricity Deals SA

Average electricity bill based on household size

As the above average costs from our research are based on households of all shapes and sizes, let’s dive further into the data to see how these utility bills look based on household size. If you live alone or with just one other person, you will generally use less electricity than a large family with three teenagers who all play computer games around the clock. The following table shows average electricity bills by household size across Australia.

Source: Canstar Blue research, December 2022.

This table follows an intuitive path, with average energy bills increasing with the number of residents. Single person households recorded the lowest bills, with two to three person residences recording they have spent a few hundred dollars more. Our survey suggests that a third person might run a property about $50 more a quarter on their power bill.

Average electricity bill based on household income

When it comes to household bills, the concern is always that those who can least afford to pay the most, often end up doing so. But what about when it comes to electricity? Our research also shows average power bills by households income.

Source: Canstar Blue research, December 2022.

It would appear that low income households generally pay less for power than higher income households, though of course there may be multiple factors at play here. For example, higher income households are seemingly more likely to live in larger homes, with higher energy usage requirements. These findings don’t necessarily suggest lower income families get better power deals.

Average electricity bill based on age group

In our high-level findings above, we’ve mentioned the lowest and highest average bills by state and age group, with younger Australians generally paying the most and older customers typically paying a lot less across the country. On a national level, here are average power bills by age group.

Source: Canstar Blue research, December 2022.

So, the older you get, the less you pay for power? Maybe. It’s certainly the case that some electricity retailers offer additional discounts for seniors card holders and pensioners may be eligible for government rebates on their power bills. But also consider the other factors potentially impacting these costs. For example, younger people may live in larger households with high electricity usage needs, while older energy customers are more likely to have solar systems installed. Younger Australians are also more likely to live in rental properties where they are perhaps less concerned about finding a good power deal.

What impacts energy bills?

Average energy bills are just that – an average reflection of what households pay to keep the lights on. However, there are two main factors that determine the average costs mentioned above:

• Electricity Usage: Small households of two or three people will typically use less energy than a larger household of four or five people. But the amount of energy used by a property is also dependent on other factors, such as the energy-efficiency of appliances, how often certain appliances are used (e.g. air conditioners and clothes dryers) and whether the property has a swimming pool.
• Electricity Prices: The other major factor in determining energy costs is the price you pay for power. If you’re getting a good deal on electricity, you’ll naturally have lower bills than an equivalent household getting a bad energy deal.

If you’re keen to cut your electricity costs, the good news is that you have the power to act on the factors mentioned above – by either reducing your energy usage, or finding a better energy deal. Or both!

How else can I tell if my energy bills are average?

If you’re looking for further evidence that your electricity bills are typical of other households like yours, your latest energy bill may be able to help. Most electricity providers publish helpful information in your bill statements, such as the actual amount of power used, what it costs, how your usage has changed over time, and how your usage compares to other customers in your area. The following image is taken from an Alinta Energy bill, showing the customer’s electricity usage compared to that of other households.

Could I get a better-than-average energy deal?

Having an average energy bill may be reassuring if you thought your bills are not accurate, or that you’re generally paying way too much. But being average is certainly nothing to aspire to when it comes to electricity. In fact, having an average bill – by definition – means you’re paying more than you need to.

Therefore consider the table below which shows annual costs for the cheapest electricity plans on our database, based on a general usage assumption at a selected postcode in each state.

Source: Canstar Blue electricity comparison database, January 2023. Costs are yearly estimates only and based on single rate tariffs in each state. Postcodes used for example in order: 2040, 3122, 4064, 5033, 7000.

How do your electricity costs compare? If you pay more than the costs above, you may be paying too much. Keep in mind that costs can vary significantly between suburbs and household sizes, but this provides a helpful guide as to what you could be paying.

Still want to be average?

The fact that you’ve found this page on our website suggests you’re not happy with the price you’re paying for energy. But the good news is that – unless you are already on the best deal in your area – there are potentially big savings to be had by shopping around. To get a better-than-average power deal, you will need to be proactive. This means regularly comparing your options and being willing to switch to a better deal if it comes up. Don’t put up with an average electricity bill, search for a better one.