Australian Electricity Cost Calculator
Australian electricity pricing varies significantly by state, network area, and retailer. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) sets a Default Market Offer (DMO), a reference price that regulated retailers must offer as a 'standing offer', and against which all other plans must be compared as a percentage discount. Usage rates typically range from 25–42 cents/kWh depending on state, with a daily supply charge of 80–130 cents/day regardless of consumption. Solar feed-in tariffs (FiTs), the rate paid for electricity exported to the grid from rooftop solar, are set by retailers and range from 3–10 cents/kWh in most states, well below the usage rate. This means solar self-consumption (using your own generation rather than exporting it) is worth roughly 4–8 times more than export. This calculator uses current AER reference rates to estimate your annual electricity cost and the value of any rooftop solar system you have, based on your state's typical grid conditions.
How the calculations work
Daily cost
Each appliance's daily cost is calculated as:
cost = (watts ÷ 1,000) × usage (kWh/day) × rate ($/kWh) × days + supply charge × days
For example, a 1500W appliance running 4h/day at 30¢/kWh:
(1500 ÷ 1,000) × 4 kWh × 0.30 × 30 days = $5.40
Where the supply charge is a fixed daily cost added regardless of usage.
Solar estimate
Annual solar production splits into two parts, what you use at home and what you export to the grid:
annual production (kWh) = system size (kW) × output (kWh/kW/year) self-consumed (70%) = annual production × 0.70 exported (30%) = annual production × 0.30 self-consumption savings = self-consumed kWh × electricity rate export earnings = exported kWh × feed-in tariff rate
The 70/30 split is a representative assumption, actual self-consumption rates vary from 20% to 50% depending on household occupancy patterns and usage timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average electricity cost in Australia?
The average Australian household electricity cost is approximately 30-32 cents per kWh with a daily supply charge of around 95-100 cents/day as of 2025-26. This varies significantly by state: South Australia has the highest rates (45.5 cents/kWh) while Tasmania has the lowest (26.4 cents/kWh). Victoria uses time-of-use pricing, while Queensland, NSW, and SA have simpler flat-rate structures. Regional areas typically pay more due to higher network charges.
How much does the average Australian household pay for electricity?
An average Australian household consumes approximately 6,500-7,000 kWh per year and pays roughly $2,200 per year for electricity, or about $185/month. This varies by state, Tasmanian households pay the least (around $1,600-1,900/year) while South Australian households pay the most (approximately $2,600-3,200/year). The daily supply charge accounts for roughly $35-40/month regardless of consumption.
How much solar does the average Australian home need?
A 6.6kW solar system is the most common size for Australian households, producing 4,000-4,800 kWh per year depending on location (QLD and SA produce the most due to higher irradiance, TAS the least). A system of this size typically costs $5,000-$8,000 after rebates and saves $900-$2,100 per year depending on self-consumption rates, network rates, and feed-in tariffs. Most households recover their investment in 4-7 years.
What is a good feed-in tariff in Australia?
Feed-in tariffs in Australia as of 2025-26 range from approximately 5 to 10 cents per kWh exported, depending on the state and retailer. Tasmania has Australia's highest regulated minimum (8.8 cents/kWh), while Victoria has the lowest (5.2 cents/kWh). A 'good' feed-in tariff is typically 8 cents/kWh or above, though maximising self-consumption is always more valuable than chasing higher export rates, because each kWh self-consumed saves the full retail rate (25-45 cents/kWh depending on state) rather than earning the lower feed-in rate.