Queensland Electricity Cost Calculator
Queensland electricity is supplied by Energex (south-east Queensland, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast) and Ergon Energy (regional and rural Queensland). In south-east Queensland, the market is competitive, retailers including Origin, AGL, Alinta, Lumo, and Amber all operate. For 2025–26, usage rates in south-east Queensland typically range from 26–33 cents/kWh, with a daily supply charge around 95–115 cents. Average Queensland household consumption is approximately 5,500–7,000 kWh per year (higher than southern states due to greater air conditioner use), giving annual bills of ,700–,800. Outside the south-east, Ergon Energy's Uniform Tariff Policy means regional customers pay the same rate as urban customers. Queensland has excellent solar conditions, over 40% rooftop solar penetration in many areas, with current market feed-in tariffs of 5–10 cents/kWh. The Queensland Government's Cost of Living Rebate provides electricity credits to eligible households.
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 1200W appliance running 5h/day at 28.8¢/kWh:
(1200 ÷ 1,000) × 5 kWh × 0.288 × 30 days = $5.18
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
How much does electricity cost in Queensland?
Queensland electricity averages approximately 28.8 cents per kWh with a daily supply charge of around 93 cents/day as of 2025-26. Energex covers south-east Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast), while Ergon covers regional and rural Queensland. Regional Ergon areas typically have higher supply charges due to longer network infrastructure. The Queensland Government regulates some aspects of electricity pricing through the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA).
Why is Queensland good for solar?
Queensland has the highest solar irradiance of any Australian state, meaning a 6.6kW system in Brisbane produces approximately 4,400 kWh per year compared to just 3,400 kWh in Hobart. This is about 30% more annual generation than Tasmania. Combined with a reasonable feed-in tariff of around 6.8 cents/kWh, Queensland offers some of the fastest solar payback periods in the country. Queensland also has among the highest solar uptake rates in the world.
What is the Queensland feed-in tariff?
Queensland has a regulated minimum feed-in tariff of 6.8 cents per kWh as of 2025-26. Unlike Victoria, Queensland allows retailers to set their own rates above this minimum. Many retailers offer 8-10 cents/kWh, with some going higher. Queensland solar owners who sign with retailers offering premium FiT rates can achieve payback periods of 5-7 years on a 6.6kW system.
What is a controlled load tariff in Queensland?
Controlled load (or dedicated circuit) tariffs apply to appliances like hot water systems and pool pumps that run on a separate circuit. These tariffs offer significantly lower rates (typically 15-18 cents/kWh) but only allow the electricity to flow during off-peak hours, usually overnight. Many Queensland homes have controlled load hot water systems which can significantly reduce hot water electricity costs compared to standard tariff rates.