Reference prices in south-east QLD, NSW, SA and Victoria will change from July 1, 2025.
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Please confirm plan information with the provider before making a decision.
KEY POINTS
- On average, Tasmanians and Victorians paid the lowest electricity bills last quarter.
- Seniors and 18 to 29-year-olds paid the lowest on average.
- Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney had some of the cheapest average annual electricity plans on our database.
On this page:
- Average Australian electricity bill
- Average electricity bill based on household size
- Average electricity bill based on age group
- Compare energy plans in each state
- What impacts electricity bills?
- How else can I tell if my electricity bills are average in Australia?
- Could I pay less than the average electricity bill?
- Start comparing energy plans
Note: The below averages are for single rate plans and should only be considered as a general guide.
Average Australian electricity bill
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| State | Average quarterly electricity bill |
|---|---|
| Queensland | $502 |
| Victoria | $358 |
| ACT | $580 |
| New South Wales | $450 |
| South Australia | $549 |
| Tasmania | $323 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 15/07/2025. Electricity usage cost estimates based on the average usage rates from the above table. Scenario based on a customer who uses the same amount of electricity as the reference annual usage for a single rate plan from each distributor. Based on a 365-day year. Postcodes used for examples are in order: 4064, 3122, 2600, 2040, 5033 and 7000.
Households in Tasmania and Victoria reported the lowest average electricity bills.
Households in the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and New South Wales reported the highest quarterly average electricity bills.
Compare energy deals
Here are some sponsored 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 energy 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 and to see other products in our database that may be available. 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.
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12% Less than reference price |
$1,491 Price/year (estimated) |
Go to Site |
Here are some sponsored 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 and to see other products in our database that may be available. 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.
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11% Less than VDO |
$1,200 Price/year (estimated) |
Go to Site |
Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from our 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 and to see other products in our database that may be available. 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.
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14% Less than reference price |
$1,681 Price/year (estimated) |
Go to Site |
Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from our 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 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. 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.
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6% Less than reference price |
$2,036 Price/year (estimated) |
Go to Site |
Average electricity bill based on household size
The following table shows the average electricity bill by household size across Australia based on Canstar Blue’s research.
| Household size | Average quarterly electricity bill |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $263 |
| 2 people | $322 |
| 3 people | $384 |
| 4 people | $420 |
| 5 or more people | $453 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, December 2024.
This research shows that average electricity bills increase as the number of household residents increases.
Average electricity bill based on age group
You’ve now seen the average costs by state, capital city and household size – but how does your age impact the amount you’ll be charged for electricity in Australia? Canstar Blue collated recent data to show the average electricity bills by age group at a national level.
| Age group | Average quarterly electricity bill |
|---|---|
| 18 to 29 years | $278 |
| 30 to 39 years | $282 |
| 40 to 49 years | $284 |
| 50 to 59 years | $291 |
| 60 to 69 years | $249 |
| 70 years or more | $228 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, December 2024.
Retirees and seniors typically pay less for power on average for multiple reasons:
- Some electricity retailers offer additional discounts for senior cardholders and pensioners.
- Seniors may be eligible for government rebates on their electricity bills, potentially reducing their fees below the average electricity bill for a two-person or one-person household.
- Younger people may live in larger households with high electricity usage needs, while older energy customers are more likely to have a solar system installed.
- Younger Australians are more likely to live in rental properties, which may limit their access to energy-efficient technologies or upgrades.
Compare energy plans in each state
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.
What impacts electricity bills?
Electricity usage
How much your bill costs positively varies with how much electricity you’re using. The more energy you consume, the larger the bill. How much electricity is used is affected by the following:
- Size of the household: Small households of two or three people will typically use less energy than a larger household of four or five people.
- Energy efficiency of appliances: Not all appliances are made equal, with some being more energy-intensive than others (e.g. air conditioners and clothes dryers).
- How often do you use your appliances: How often you use your appliances, leave them switched on or on standby influences your electricity usage.
- Season and climate: Colder seasons or climates could influence how often you take hot showers or dial up indoor heating. Conversely, summer seasons or warmer climates could see an uptick in your air-conditioning use.
Electricity prices
The other major factor in determining energy costs is the price you pay for electricity.
On every bill, Aussies should expect to pay two charges — supply charges and usage charges:
- Supply charges: Supply charges are a fixed daily charge (in cents) that households must pay to remain connected to the electricity grid
- Usage Charges: Usage charges are variable charges (in c/kWh) that households must pay for every kWh of electricity consumed.
However, usage charges can vary significantly based on the type of tariff you’re on, which refers to how you’re billed for your energy usage:
- Single rate tariff: Customers on a single rate tariff pay a flat rate for every unit of electricity, irrespective of the time it was consumed.
- Time of use tariff: Customers on a time of use tariff pay higher usage charges during peak hours and lower usage charges during off-peak hours. Shoulder rates, which sit between peak and off-peak hours, are priced somewhere in the middle.
- Controlled load tariff: This is a tariff exclusively for high-consumption appliances, which are metered at a lower rate and separately from the rest of your home.
How else can I tell if pay the average electricity bills in Australia?
Most electricity providers publish helpful information in their bill statements, such as
- The actual amount of energy used and what it costs
- How your usage has changed over time
- 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.
For more information on your electricity bills, visit the Canstar Blue guide on how to read your electricity bill.
Source: alinta.com.au
Alternatively, you can also assess your real-time or historical usage by installing a power usage monitor or through your provider’s dedicated smartphone app (assuming you already have a smart meter installed).
Could I pay less than the average electricity bill?
Yes, you could pay less than the average electricity bill in your state. However, how much you can save boils down to how proactive you are in managing your bills and comparing energy plans in the market.
If you’re keen to reduce your energy bill, it’s a good idea to start by assessing your household energy usage, reducing your energy usage and/or finding a better energy deal.
When shopping around, you should consider the annual costs for the cheapest single-rate electricity plans in your state as compared to your current electricity plan’s annual cost (which you can find by searching for your postcode on Canstar Blue’s tool).
For example, the table below shows some of Australia’s cheapest electricity plans, based on a general usage assumption in a selected postcode for each capital city.
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| Capital city | Cheapest electricity plan (annual costs) |
|---|---|
| Sydney | $1,464 |
| Melbourne | $1,107 |
| Brisbane | $1,599 |
| Adelaide | $1,817 |
| Canberra | $1,992 |
| Hobart | $1,216 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 15/07/2025. Based on single rate electricity plans on Canstar’s database; excluding solar-only plans. Annual costs calculated based on the estimated lowest possible price a representative customer would be charged in a year, assuming all conditions of discounts 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 For a full comparison, please visit Canstar Blue’s free comparison tool.
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.
Start comparing energy plans
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.
Whether you’re comparing your expenses to the average electricity bill in Melbourne or aiming to pay lower than the average electricity bill for a two-person household, proactive research and switching to a better plan will help you save money.
Click on the link below to find out more.
Original reporting by Simon Downes
Image Source: chuyuss/Shutterstock
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