The regulated default offers for 2026-27 put a typical household's electricity at 39.8c to 58.4c per kWh, counting the daily supply charge as well as usage. That runs from $1,591 a year for 4,000 kWh in Victoria to $2,334 for 4,000 kWh on SA Power Networks (AER and ESC, prices from 1 July 2026).
Default offer prices for 2026-27, by network
The Default Market Offer (set by the AER for NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia) and the Victorian Default Offer (set by Victoria's Essential Services Commission) are the price caps on standing offers. Each one is published as an annual bill at a stated annual usage, which is what makes the per-kWh figure below possible:
| Network | Annual bill 2026-27 | Annual usage | All-in cost per kWh | Change on 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid (Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter) | $1,899 | 3,900 kWh | 48.7c | −$66 |
| Endeavour Energy (western Sydney, Illawarra) | $2,328 | 4,900 kWh | 47.5c | −$83 |
| Essential Energy (regional NSW) | $2,604 | 4,600 kWh | 56.6c | −$137 |
| Energex (south-east Queensland) | $1,988 | 4,600 kWh | 43.2c | −$155 |
| SA Power Networks (South Australia) | $2,334 | 4,000 kWh | 58.4c | +$33 |
| Victoria, average of five networks | $1,591 | 4,000 kWh | 39.8c | −$84 |
Residential flat-rate offers. All-in cost per kWh is the annual bill divided by the annual usage it is priced at, so it includes the fixed daily supply charge. Sources: AER, Default Market Offer 2026-27 Information Kit and Essential Services Commission, Victorian Default Offer 2026-27, both checked 10 October 2026. Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory set their own regulated tariffs and are not covered by either default offer.
Did prices go up or down in 2026?
Down in most places. 5 of the 6 default offers above fell on 1 July 2026, and SA Power Networks rose (+$33). Your own bill depends on your retailer's market offer; the AER notes the default offer may not be the best offer available, so it is worth comparing.
What you are actually paying for
- Usage charge (per kWh), applied to everything you import from the grid.
- Supply charge, a fixed daily amount you pay regardless of usage.
- Wholesale, network, environmental and retail costs are bundled into both.
How solar cuts your per-kWh cost
Every kWh you generate and use yourself avoids the usage charge, while an exported kWh earns only the feed-in tariff, a few cents in most states. That is why self-consumption is where the savings are. See what a system costs, compare feed-in tariffs, or estimate your savings.
Common questions
What is the average cost of electricity per kWh in Australia?
On the 2026-27 default offers, 39.8c to 58.4c per kWh once the daily supply charge is counted in: the annual default-offer bill divided by the annual usage it is priced at, across the five AER networks and the Victorian average. The AER notes market offers can beat the default offer.
Which state has the most expensive electricity?
Of the regions with a default offer, SA Power Networks (South Australia) is the dearest per kWh in 2026-27 at about 58.4c all-in ($2,334 for 4,000 kWh), and Victoria the cheapest at about 39.8c.
How much can solar reduce my electricity bill?
It depends on how much of your bill falls in daylight. Our savings engine lets solar alone offset at most 60% of a bill; on a $450 quarterly bill a 6.6 kW system saves about $972-$1,188 a year. A battery moves more of the evening use onto your own solar.