What is the average (kWh) cost of electricity in Australia?

What is a kilowatt hour (kWh)?

Every time you watch a show on Netflix or switch on a lightbulb, you're consuming electricity. Energy companies charge "usage rates" per unit of power you use, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). These rates are determined by several different factors, but rarely are lower than 23c/kWh or higher than 40c/kWh.

In this guide, we'll take a look at what kind of usage rates are reasonable, how they're calculated and how you might get a better deal.

Average electricity cost per kWh (state-by-state breakdown)

Unsurprisingly, electricity rates are not consistent across Australia. Different states or parts of states have their own laws, regulations and power distribution situations, meaning that prices vary widely from New South Wales to Queensland, for example.

The following table contains the average cost of power in c/kWh for four states that have similar regulations. It's based on the main market offers of six providers: AGL, Origin, EnergyAustralia, Red Energy, Click Energy and Alinta Energy.

Average rates based on single rate tariffs. Average rates calculation includes discounts that may expire. Numbers last checked April 2020.

• kWh by provider

  Note: Some of these rates have been calculated with discounts. Discounts may expire after a period of time e.g. one year.

  • New South Wales
  • Victoria
  • Queensland
  • South Australia

  Plan name	Average usage rates (c/kWh)
  AGL Essentials Saver	25.36
  Origin Max Saver – Online Special	24.50
  EnergyAustralia Total Plan Home	25.30
  Red Energy Living Energy Saver	25.60
  Click Energy Hibiscus Plus	23.53
  Alinta Energy Sports Pack	23.77

  Plan name	Average usage rates (c/kWh)
  AGL Essentials Saver	22.65
  Origin Max Saver – Online Special	22.40
  EnergyAustralia Total Plan Home	22.90
  Red Energy Living Energy Saver	24.42
  Click Energy Hibiscus Plus	23.66
  Alinta Energy Homedeal	21.45

  Plan name	Average usage rates (c/kWh)
  AGL Essentials Saver	22.58
  Origin Max Saver – Online Special	20.93
  EnergyAustralia Total Plan Home	23.10
  Red Energy Living Energy Saver	22.44
  Click Energy Hibiscus	20.54
  Alinta Energy No Fuss	20.49

  Plan name	Average usage rates (c/kWh)
  AGL Essentials Saver	35.12
  Origin Max Saver – Online Special	33.80
  EnergyAustralia Total Plan Home	38.30
  Red Energy Living Energy Saver	36.41
  Click Energy Rose	34.68
  Alinta Energy No Fuss	33.17

South Australia stands out as more expensive on average

According to these numbers, South Australians have to pay significantly more than residents of any other state, while Victorians and New South Wales residents are luckier. Remember that while usage rates are a major part of your bill, they're not the only part.

You're also billed a supply charge for each day you're connected, even if you use no electricity. While low usage rates are usually associated with similarly low supply rates, make sure you're not getting cheated on one while the other is kept down.

What do kWh's look like when it comes to actually paying your bill?

Average energy bill in Australia

An April 2020 survey by Finder found that the average quarterly energy bill in Australia is around $393. Of the three state's where we had the most respondents, here are each of their average bills:

_{Note: Finder's survey received 1025 responses. We will continue to update this data as we run the survey again each month.}

Case study: Origin Energy

Your actual bill will of course be determined by your usage. Using "standardised" level of usage (3,900 kWh per year), here's what some of the big providers look like on your quarterly bill.

Disclaimer: The following price estimates are a general guide only. Prices are based on a residential customer in New South Wales who consumes 3,900 kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Ausgrid network. Prices last checked on April 2020 and are subject to change. Always check the providers site before applying

Which appliances in your household waste the most kWh?

Will kWh always stay the same? Don't just look at the rate

The values in the table above are only for single rate tariffs and are averages of rates on marked offers. There are two main factors that affect your final usage rates.

• Tariffs
• Discounts

Where can I find my own costs per kWh?

You can find out what you're actually paying for electricity by taking a look at your power bill. Somewhere on your bill there will be a table that breaks down your power use into pieces. In the example of a real bill from Energy Australia, the power usage breakdown can be found on the second page.

How to read your energy bill

Each row contains different cost types, for example "peak" and "off-peak" for time of use tariffs or simply "peak" for a single rate. You should have a column that contains how much power you used (in kWh), the price per unit (in c/kWh) and the total cost (the previous two values multiplied together).

Providers are also required to show you how your power usage compares to other average households in your area of various sizes.

How are electricity rates set?

In some places, like Queensland outside the South East or rural Western Australia, power prices are regulated, meaning the government sets them. However, in places like South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, South East Queensland, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania, the market is deregulated, meaning that prices are set by private energy companies.

Essentially, power is sold from a distributor to energy companies at a wholesale rate which they sell on to consumers at a rate they decide. Some power companies, like Amber Electric, allow customers to buy power directly at wholesale rates.

When can electricity prices change?

Wholesale prices themselves change every 30 minutes, but retailers don't update their rates nearly so often. The frequency that they're allowed to do so depends on what type of contract you're on:

• Standing offer. This is a type of default contract you'll be placed on if you don't purchase any particular retailer's plan or explicitly purchase a standing offer plan. On a standing offer, your rates can't legally be changed more than once every six months.
• Market offer – variable rate. If you buy a variable rate plan from a retailer, it can technically change the rates as often as it wants, so long as it lets you know. In reality, retailers rarely update their rates much more than once per year.
• Market offer – fixed rate. Certain energy plans promise fixed usage rates for a certain period that's set at purchase. In this case, rates can't be changed until the benefit period expires, usually a year.

How can I find the best kWh rates?

As covered in this article, flat usage rates are one of the most important factors in determining how cheap a plan really is. However, things like discounts, contract terms and other considerations can matter, too.

The best way to find plans with good rates is to use our comparison tool or to check out our cheapest plans by state, updated each month.

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Australian Capital Territory
• Tasmania
• Western Australia
• Northern Territory