South Australia Electricity Cost Calculator
South Australia has historically had some of the highest electricity prices in Australia and the world, driven by high reliance on gas peaking plants and the closure of coal power stations. The AER's Default Market Offer (DMO) for SA (the SA Power Networks distribution area, which covers the entire state) has typically been among the nation's highest. For 2025–26, typical SA usage rates range from 32–42 cents/kWh, with a daily supply charge around 95–120 cents. Average SA household consumption is approximately 4,000–5,000 kWh per year, giving annual bills of ,800–,800. South Australia has the world's highest rooftop solar penetration per capita, over 50% of eligible homes have panels, and operates the Hornsdale Power Reserve, one of the world's largest grid batteries. Current solar feed-in tariffs are 5–10 cents/kWh from most retailers. The SA Government's Cost of Living Concession provides .30 per year to eligible concession cardholders.
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 2400W appliance running 2h/day at 45.5¢/kWh:
(2400 ÷ 1,000) × 2 kWh × 0.455 × 30 days = $6.55
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
Why does South Australia have the highest electricity prices?
South Australia has the highest residential electricity prices in Australia, with rates around 45.5 cents per kWh as of 2025-26. This is driven by high network costs (the 'poles and wires' component is expensive in SA due to the dispersed population and long transmission distances), as well as the relatively small retail market. High renewable energy penetration (over 70% of generation from wind and solar) has reduced wholesale prices at times, but network costs remain elevated.
Is solar worth it in South Australia?
Yes, SA has Australia's highest solar irradiance (approximately 4,800 kWh per kW installed per year), meaning a 6.6kW system produces significantly more energy than the same system in any other state. Combined with SA's high grid electricity prices, self-consumed solar saves at the full retail rate of 45.5 cents per kWh, making solar one of the best investments in the country. A 6.6kW system in Adelaide produces roughly $2,100 worth of electricity per year at full retail rates.
What is SA's feed-in tariff?
SA has one of the lowest feed-in tariffs in the country. The state-owned retailer Synergy offers approximately 2.25 cents per kWh for its customers, among the lowest FiT rates in Australia. However, some private retailers offer better rates of 5-9 cents/kWh. This makes maximising self-consumption critically important in SA, every kWh used directly saves 45.5 cents rather than earning 2.25 cents. Battery storage makes particularly good economic sense in SA for this reason.
What is the average SA electricity bill?
A typical South Australian household pays approximately $2,600-$3,200 per year for electricity, or roughly $220-$270 per month. This is significantly higher than other states. Solar is particularly valuable in SA, a 6.6kW system with a battery can reduce this bill by $1,500-$2,000 per year. Without solar, comparing retailers and switching to a competitive market offer is essential to avoid standing offer rates.