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The cost of power is increasing worldwide, and Aussies are feeling it more than many. So, naturally, we’re worried about our electrical bills.
We could keep taking more money out of our budget to pay the rising bills, or we could reduce them. Understanding your electrical bill and how it compares to the average household in Australia is an important first step to taking control of your energy consumption.
Then, we will look at things that affect your bill, which will help you find ways to save money.
The Average Electricity Bill in Australia
According to the Australian Energy Regulator, the average household electricity bill across Australia is $165 monthly or $495 quarterly. The amount you pay will vary depending on your energy provider, the size of your home, how many people live there, what kind of appliances you have, and other factors. Location also affects your bill, with those in Southern Australia paying the most while Victoria pays the least.
Here’s a breakdown of monthly and yearly bills by state.
| State | Average Monthly Bill | Average Yearly Total |
| Victoria (VIC) | $131 | $1,571 |
| New South Wales (NSW) | $152 | $1,827 |
| Southeast Queensland (QLD) | $164 | $1,969 |
| Western Australia (WA) | $187 | $2,252 |
| Southern Australia (SA) | $190 | $2,279 |
| Tasmania (TAS) | $170 | $2,040 |
Average Electricity Bill Based on Age Group
Are you wondering if different age groups pay more or less for electricity? They do. Seniors over 65 years pay the least. This is because many seniors are eligible for state and territory rebates and concessions that help lower their bills.
In contrast, the 45-54 age group had the highest bills, followed by the 35-44 age group, which had the second-highest bills. This may reflect the fact that these are the age groups that often have children and teenagers living at home. The more people in a household taking showers and doing laundry, the higher the monthly costs will be.
Here’s a breakdown of the average electrical bill based on age group by quarterly and yearly totals.
| Age Group | Average Quarterly Bill | Average Yearly Total |
| 18-24 | $392.90 | $1,571.60 |
| 25-34 | $406.00 | $1,624.00 |
| 35-44 | $439.60 | $1,758.40 |
| 45-54 | $467.40 | $1,869.60 |
| 55-64 | $415.80 | $1,663.20 |
| 65+ | $346.90 | $1,387.60 |
What are the Main Factors that Impact Electricity Bills?
Many factors will affect the amount you pay for your electrical, from the size and age of your home and how many people live there to where you live and who your energy provider is.
Let’s examine this further.
Electricity Provider
Different providers have different tariff structures, which include usage fees per kWh and supply fees, which are flat rates that cover administrative and maintenance fees and do not vary with usage. Also, some providers offer more discounts than others.
If you have been with the same provider for a long time, it might be worth shopping around to look for better rates from different providers.
Location
What state or territory you live in will also affect your costs, with Southern Australia being the most expensive and Victoria being the cheapest.
Tariffs and Prices
Even within the same provider and location, there are usually different tariff structures you can sign up for that will affect your rates. For instance, variable time-of-use rates where the cost per kWh is highest when demand is highest (during the day) and lowest when demand is lowest, like in the middle of the night.
If you take advantage of running your appliances during off-peak hours, you could save significant money. You can contact your provider at any time to see if you can negotiate a better tariff that suits your home and lifestyle.
Electricity Usage
Of course, the amount of electricity your household uses greatly impacts your costs. Larger homes use more power than smaller homes, and homes with more people naturally use more power than homes with fewer people since there are more showers and laundry to do. Also, the more appliances you have, the more your monthly costs will be.
Finally, how you use your power will also affect your bill. If you keep your air conditioner set very low or electric heat very high, or take long showers, those all use more power. Adjusting your thermostat and taking shorter showers can reduce your consumption and save you money.
Insulation
Air conditioning and electric heat often account for a significant portion of your bill. Older homes with poor insulation, single-pane windows, and doors with old or broken seals all cause heating and cooling costs to soar. Better insulation and sealing your doors and windows could save you significant money.
Energy Efficient Appliances
If you have newer, more energy-efficient appliances, you will see more savings on your monthly expenses than homes with older, less efficient ones. New appliances also usually have additional energy-efficient settings to save you even more.
Renewable Energy
Homes that install roof-mounted EcoFlow Solar panels will enjoy much cheaper utility costs than those without. You might even be able to take advantage of net metering, called the Feed-in-Tariff or FiT and sell any excess energy you produce back to the grid, lowering your costs even more.
You can also use the EcoFlow app, which comes free with your solar system, to monitor your energy usage in real-time. The app shows you where and when you use the most power, which you can then use to reduce or change your consumption patterns.
You can take this one step further and get a large enough EcoFlow Solar Generator, a portable power system with backup batteries, and go off the grid altogether. Your batteries will provide power at night or during bad weather when your panels aren’t producing any. The EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators, such as EcoFlow DELTA 2 + 220W Solar Panel are great options for comprehensive home back-up.
Numerous solar tax incentives and rebates are also available throughout Australia, which could save you thousands on the cost of installation. After the solar payback period, when the savings on your monthly expenses pay for the installation cost, your energy will be free for 20 years or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
On average, electricity in Australia is more expensive than in many countries worldwide, but it is not the most expensive. Still, average prices are 10% higher than in Japan, 20% higher than in most of the EU (excluding the UK), 70% higher than in the U.S., and 130% higher than in Canada.
According to the Australian Energy Regulator, the average three-person household in Australia used 18.71 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in 2023. That’s about 561.3 kWh per month or about 6,829.15 kWh annually.
The average quarterly electrical bill for a two-person household in Perth is about $311. That works out to about $1,244 per year.
The average quarterly electricity bill for a 2-person household in Brisbane is about $320, or about $1,280 annually.
Final Thoughts
The average electrical bill last year in Australia was around $165 monthly or $495 quarterly. While the 65+ paid the least for power, probably due to rebates they are eligible for in many areas, the 45-54-year-olds paid the most, possibly because many of those still have growing kids and teenagers at home who use more power.
Shopping around for cheaper providers or more suitable tariff structures can save you money. However, if you really want to reduce or eliminate your power bills altogether, consider an EcoFlow Solar Generator. After the solar payback period, your energy could be free for 20 years or more!