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title: "Australian electricity costs 2026: average bills, prices ..."
description: "Australian household electricity usage was valued at $23.9 billion in 2024–25, around twice the 2009–10 level. Using a regulated benchmark for households using"
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    "description": "Australian household electricity usage was valued at $23.9 billion in 2024–25, around twice the 2009–10 level. Using a regulated benchmark for households using 6,500 kWh a year, annual electricity bills range from $2,187 in Tasmania to $3,357 in South Australia. Electricity prices rose 22.5% in the year to April 2026.",
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# Australian electricity costs 2026: average bills, prices and household spending

Australian household electricity usage was valued at $23.9 billion in 2024–25, around twice the 2009–10 level. Using a regulated benchmark for households using 6,500 kWh a year, annual electricity bills range from $2,187 in Tasmania to $3,357 in South Australia. Electricity prices rose 22.5% in the year to April 2026.

12 min read  11 June 2026 Updated 02 July 2026  Fact checked 

In this article

1.  [How much Australian households spend on electricity](#how-much-australian-households-spend-on-electricity)
2.  [How much do electricity bills vary by state?](#how-much-do-electricity-bills-vary-by-state)
3.  [Electricity use rises with household size and colder climates](#electricity-use-rises-with-household-size-and-colder-climates)

4.  [When are electricity bills highest in Australia?](#when-are-electricity-bills-highest-in-australia)
5.  [How electricity bills affect household budgets](#how-electricity-bills-affect-household-budgets)

Key figures at a glance

$23.9B 

**Total value of household electricity usage in 2024–25**, up from $11.674B in 2009–10

$3,357

**Highest state standing-offer benchmark**, South Australia at 6,500 kWh (ICRC, July 2026)

$2,187

**Lowest state standing-offer benchmark**, Tasmania at 6,500 kWh (ICRC, July 2026)

2×

**Retail electricity prices have doubled** since 2009–10 in ABS national accounts terms

Section 01 What Australians pay overall 

## How much Australian households spend on electricity

Australian household electricity usage was valued at **$23.9 billion** in 2024–25, up from $11.674 billion in 2009–10. That represents an increase of around 105% in nominal terms over 15 years.

Of that $23.9 billion, households paid **$17.752 billion** directly to retailers, governments covered a further **$5.368 billion** through rebates, and **$798.8 million** was attributed to household solar electricity consumed at home. The national average retail rate was approximately **$0.29 per kWh**, also around twice the 2009–10 level.

In the 12 months to April 2026, the electricity CPI rose **22.5%**, primarily because government rebates that had reduced bills in 2024–25 came to an end. Excluding that rebate effect, underlying prices rose **3.1%**, reflecting annual retailer reviews in July 2025.

$23.9B 

Total household electricity usage value · 2024–25

Total value of household electricity usage in 2024–25

Households paid **$17.752 billion** directly to retailers, governments covered a further **$5.368 billion** through rebates, and **$798.8 million** was attributed to household solar consumed at home. The national average retail rate was **$0.29/kWh**, double the 2009–10 level.

ABS retail electricity price index, 2009–10 to 2024–25

Index: 2009–10 = 100 · ABS national accounts series

-   Retail price index 
-   Total household usage value ($B) 

The ABS retail electricity price index rose from 100.0 in 2009–10 to 209.1 in 2024–25, while total household electricity usage value eased slightly from $24.1 billion in 2023–24 to $23.9 billion in 2024–25.

**Source:** ABS, Household solar electricity generation in the Australian national accounts, Graph 7 and Graph 8.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

What the $23.9 billion figure includes

Australian household electricity usage was valued at $23.9 billion in 2024–25. The total includes electricity paid for by households, government rebates and household solar consumed at home. The retail price index stood at 209.1, meaning prices were just over twice their 2009–10 level.

What is the most current official measure of what Australian households spend on electricity? + 

The most current official measure is the 2024–25 national-accounts figure, which valued Australian household electricity usage at **$23.9 billion**. This includes electricity paid for directly by households, government rebates and household solar consumed at home. The latest survey-based per-household electricity spending figure is older: $30 per week from the ABS Household Expenditure Survey in 2015–16. It has not been updated since.

Section 02 How much does location matter? 

## How much do electricity bills vary by state?

What these figures show

Customer type

Residential, on a standing offer 

Not a switched market deal

Usage assumed

6,500 kWh  per year

A benchmark usage level for comparison

What it is not

Not a survey of what households paid 

Not an average bill across all households

Using this benchmark, a South Australian household on a standing offer pays around **$3,357** a year, or about $280 a month and $65 a week. A Tasmanian household using the same amount pays **$2,187 a year,** or about $182 a month and $42 a week. The $1,170 annual gap works out to about $22 a week more in South Australia, based on identical usage under the same plan type.

Usage above or below 6,500 kWh, concessions, solar and market offers will change the final bill.

The final determinations were released on 26 May 2026 and apply from 1 July 2026. Under these changes, NSW standing-offer benchmarks fall by **3.4% to 5.0%,** south-east Queensland falls by **7.2%,** and Victoria falls by **5.0%**. South Australia rises by **1.4%**, and the ACT rises by **2.73%**.

Annual standing-offer bill by state

6,500 kWh/year · residential standing-offer customer · GST inclusive · as at 1 July 2026

SA

$3,357 ▲

NSW

$2,869

Reg QLD

$2,671

ACT

$2,640

SE QLD

$2,623

VIC

$2,392

TAS

$2,187

$0 $1k $2k $3k 

South Australia ($3,357) is $1,170 more per year than Tasmania ($2,187), around $22 extra per week, on identical usage. NSW and Victoria values are weighted averages across distribution zones.

**Source:** ACT ICRC, Figure ES0.1, Maximum annual residential standing-offer electricity bills as at 1 July 2026 using 6,500 kWh (GST inclusive).

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

State-by-state: what standing-offer customers pay

6,500 kWh/year · standing offer · GST inclusive · as at 1 July 2026

Per yearPer monthPer week

SA

$3,357

/year · standing offer

↑ +1.4% from Jul 2026

South Australia

$2,334/yr from Jul 2026

NSW

$2,869

/year · standing offer

↓ −3.4 to −5.0% from Jul 2026

New South Wales

$1,899–$2,604 (by zone)

Reg QLD

$2,671

/year · standing offer

— from Jul 2026

Regional QLD

Ergon Energy tariffs

ACT

$2,640

/year · standing offer

↑ +2.73% from Jul 2026

ACT

Regulated tariff +2.73%

SE QLD

$2,623

/year · standing offer

↓ −7.2% from Jul 2026

South East QLD

$1,988/yr from Jul 2026

VIC

$2,392

/year · standing offer

↓ −5.0% from Jul 2026

Victoria

$1,591/yr from Jul 2026

TAS

$2,187

/year · standing offer

— from Jul 2026

Tasmania

Aurora standing offer

WA †

$2,797

/year · standing offer

— from Jul 2026

Western Australia

Synergy state tariffs

NT †

$2,412

/year · standing offer

— from Jul 2026

Northern Territory

Jacana Energy tariffs

Standing-offer benchmarks at 6,500 kWh (GST inclusive) as at 1 July 2026. WA and NT are outside the ICRC comparison; figures shown are from the Tasmanian Economic Regulator November 2025 report at 7,796 kWh and are marked with a dagger (†).

**Source:** ACT ICRC, Figure ES0.1, as at 1 July 2026. Tasmanian Economic Regulator, November 2025.

Why WA and NT are different

WA and NT use a different benchmark and are not directly comparable with the 6,500 kWh ICRC state comparison. WA and NT are not included in the ICRC state comparison. Western Australia uses Synergy state tariffs, while the Northern Territory operates outside the National Electricity Market. WA and NT tariff information is published separately by Synergy and Jacana Energy.

### How network charges affect electricity bills

One major factor is network charges, which cover poles, wires and metering. These charges make up **39% to 54%** of the standing-offer reference price, depending on the region. They are set by regulators, not retailers, **so switching plans does not remove this part of the bill**. Network tariff estimates increased for most customers in 2025–26.

Each state also runs a different pricing framework. NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia use the AER's Default Market Offer. Victoria has its own Victorian Default Offer. The ACT has a regulated standing offer set by the ICRC. Western Australia uses state-approved tariffs. As a result, the same household using the same amount of electricity can face a structurally different bill depending on **where it lives**.

What does the $1,170 gap between South Australia and Tasmania actually mean for a household? + 

A South Australian household on a standing offer using 6,500 kWh a year pays $3,357. A Tasmanian household using the same amount pays $2,187. The difference is $1,170 a year, or about $22 a week and $97 a month, on the same usage and plan type. Both figures are standing-offer benchmarks. Households on market offers, concessions or solar may pay different amounts.

How much of an electricity bill is made up of network costs? + 

Network charges, covering poles, wires and metering, make up **39% to 54%** of the standing-offer reference price in AER regions. The exact share varies by distributor and tariff type. Switching retailer may reduce the retail part of a bill, but it does not remove regulated network charges.

Section 03 Electricity use by household size and location 

## Electricity use rises with household size and colder climates

Household size is one of the main drivers of electricity consumption in the AER benchmark framework. A one-person household in Sydney uses around **3,109 kWh a year.** A four-person household in the same area uses around **7,311 kWh,** more than double.

The AER benchmarks are based on household size and climate zone; they do not publish separate electricity-use figures by dwelling type.

Climate zone is also a significant factor. A two-person household uses **4,840 kWh a year** in Melbourne, which is Climate Zone 6, compared with **8,784 kWh** in Tasmania, which is Climate Zone 7. That is an 82% difference and may reflect higher heating demand in colder months.

About this data

The figures in this section are from the AER's residential consumption benchmarks, published in December 2020 and based on 2019 consumption data. They measure electricity consumed from the grid only; self-consumed solar is not included. The benchmarks are stratified by household size and climate zone, not dwelling type. No official electricity-only breakdown by house or apartment type was identified in the reviewed official sources.  
  
**Climate zones** are the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) thermal zones used across the National Electricity Market:

-   **Zone 1 and 3:** Tropical and hot-dry inland (far north QLD)
-   **Zone 2:** Brisbane, Gold Coast; hot humid summers, mild winters
-   **Zone 4:** Hot-dry inland belt (parts of NSW, SA, VIC); hot summers, cool winters
-   **Zone 5:** Sydney, Adelaide; warm summers, cool winters
-   **Zone 6:** Melbourne; mild summers, cool winters, high gas penetration
-   **Zone 7:** ACT, Tasmania, sub-alpine NSW and Victoria, and other colder southern areas; cold winters and high benchmark electricity consumption

1-person household · Sydney

3,109

kWh/year · Climate Zone 5 (NSW)

2-person household · Sydney

5,237

kWh/year · Climate Zone 5 (NSW)

4-person household · Sydney

7,311

kWh/year · Climate Zone 5 (NSW)

Climate comparison

2-person household · Tasmania

8,784

kWh/year · Climate Zone 7 (TAS)

AER benchmarks show annual grid electricity use across representative locations, household sizes and climate zones.

### Consumption by household size and location

The table below shows annual electricity consumption benchmarks across representative locations and household sizes. These figures come from the AER's December 2020 benchmark report and are the most detailed official breakdown available at this level.

Annual electricity consumption by household size and climate zone · kWh/year

Location

Climate zone

1 person

2 people

3 people

4 people

**Brisbane / Gold Coast**

Zone 2 (QLD)

3,412

5,126

6,169

7,682

**Sydney / NSW Climate Zone 5**

Zone 5 (NSW)

3,109

5,237

6,361

7,311

**Melbourne**

Zone 6 (VIC)

2,953

4,840

5,077

5,805

**Canberra / ACT**

Zone 7 (ACT)

4,360

6,107

7,722

9,542

**Tasmania**

Zone 7 (TAS)

6,003

8,784

9,475

10,820

Annual totals are the sum of the four quarterly seasonal benchmarks. Figures are electricity consumed from the grid only; self-consumed solar is not included. These are benchmarks for households without controlled load. In the AER benchmark report, households with controlled load typically consume about 25% to 45% more electricity than households without controlled load. **Source:** AER, Residential Energy Consumption Benchmarks, December 2020 (Frontier Economics), Tables 13–18.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

### What the data shows about dwelling type

The AER benchmarks do not publish separate figures for houses and apartments. The data is stratified by household size and climate zone only. A **1-person household** in Sydney uses around **3,109 kWh** a year, while a **4-person household** in the same area uses around **7,311 kWh**. The 135% difference reflects the number of occupants, not the building type. The benchmark data does not distinguish between a 4-person apartment and a 4-person house in the same climate zone.

Climate zone is also a major driver. A 2-person household in Tasmania uses 8,784 kWh a year, substantially more than a 4-person household in Melbourne, at 5,805 kWh a year. This comparison reflects climate zone and household size differences, not dwelling type.

Why do the AER benchmarks not break down by dwelling type? + 

The 2020 benchmarks were developed under the former National Energy Retail Rules framework, which required them to be based on household size and localised climate zones, not dwelling structure. The AER's obligation to develop and update electricity consumption benchmarks, and the retailer requirement to display them on bills, were both removed in 2023. The benchmark framework used location and household-size categories as its main variables. Dwelling type was collected in the underlying survey, but the published benchmark tables were not stratified by dwelling type.

Why does Tasmania use so much more electricity than Melbourne? + 

Tasmania sits within Climate Zone 7 in the AER benchmark data, where colder winters are associated with higher electricity use for heating. A 2-person Tasmanian household uses 2,950 kWh in winter, compared with 1,581 kWh in summer. Melbourne sits in Climate Zone 6, which has milder winters and higher mains gas use in the benchmark context, reducing benchmark electricity consumption compared with colder, more electricity-dependent areas. The AER benchmarks show that Climate Zone 7 households consume 7,229 kWh a year on average, 46% more than the 4,953 kWh average in Climate Zone 6.

Section 04 When the bill peaks 

## When are electricity bills highest in Australia?

Electricity bills are usually highest in summer in warmer climates and in winter in colder climates. Electricity prices rose by **22.5%** in the 12 months to April 2026, primarily because government rebates that had reduced bills in 2024–25 ended. Excluding that rebate effect, underlying prices rose **3.1%**, reflecting annual retailer reviews in July 2025.

No official source publishes a national table of household electricity bills by season. However, the AER's climate zone consumption benchmarks show when electricity use peaks across different parts of Australia.

-   **Warm climates (Brisbane, Gold Coast):** Summer is the peak season. Air conditioning drives the highest electricity consumption in these zones.
-   **Cold climates (ACT, Tasmania, alpine NSW and VIC):** Winter is the peak season. Climate Zone 7 records the highest total electricity consumption of any zone in Australia.

According to AER residential benchmark data, a two-person Hobart household uses an estimated 2,950 kWh in winter, compared with 1,581 kWh in summer. In Canberra, a two-person household uses 2,042 kWh in winter, about **70% higher** than its summer figure of 1,200 kWh.

+$359

Per winter quarter · Hobart

Hobart's winter electricity premium

A two-person Hobart household uses 2,950 kWh in winter, compared with 1,581 kWh in summer. That is a seasonal gap of 1,369 kWh. At an assumed usage rate of 26.2c/kWh, the difference is worth about **$359 more in the winter quarter**.

Summer vs winter electricity use: Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart

Quarterly kWh consumption · AER residential usage benchmarks

-   Summer seasonal benchmark 
-   Winter seasonal benchmark 

The chart compares seasonal electricity use across three climate zones. Brisbane's usage is relatively stable between summer and winter, while Hobart has a clear winter peak. Canberra sits between the two.

**Source:** AER residential electricity consumption benchmark data by climate zone, 2020.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

### Summer electricity use peaks in warm climates

For households in Queensland and warmer parts of NSW, summer is the peak season for electricity use. Air conditioning is the key driver of higher summer consumption in these areas. Spring and autumn are typically the lowest-consumption seasons in warm climates.

### Winter electricity use can nearly double in cold climates

For Tasmanians, ACT residents and those in alpine or inland southern regions, winter is the highest-consumption season by a significant margin. A two-person Hobart household's winter consumption of 2,950 kWh is **87% higher** than its summer figure, with heating likely to be a major factor.

### Time-of-use tariffs can widen seasonal bill differences

Where time-of-use tariffs apply, the seasonal difference in bills can widen further. Households with heavy evening loads such as air conditioning, EV charging, electric heating or cooking may face higher bills if more of their usage falls during peak-priced periods. The key variable is not just how much electricity a household uses, but when it uses it.

What is the dollar value of Hobart's seasonal electricity swing? + 

A two-person Hobart household uses 2,950 kWh in winter and 1,581 kWh in summer, a gap of **1,369 kWh**. At an assumed usage rate of 26.2c/kWh, that difference is worth approximately **$359 for the winter quarter**.

How does seasonal electricity variation in Brisbane compare to Hobart? + 

A three-person Brisbane household uses **1,644 kWh in summer** and **1,545 kWh in winter**, a difference of just 6.4%. Hobart's equivalent seasonal swing is 87%, making its seasonal gap roughly **14 times larger** in percentage terms.

Section 05 Affordability and financial pressure 

## How electricity bills affect household budgets

Electricity costs take up a larger share of income for low-income households than for average-income households. As at 31 March 2025, after eligible concessions and rebates, low-income households spent **1.8% to 5.1% of income on electricity**, compared with **1.0% to 2.7%** for average-income households. This shows how electricity costs can fall unevenly across the income distribution.

On a broader spending basis, domestic fuel and power costs averaged **$41 per week** in the ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2015–16. This represented 2.9% of average weekly household spending. The ABS data is older than the AER income-share figures, but it provides a broad household spending benchmark.

The AER's State of the Energy Market 2025 also points to wider financial pressure among energy customers. In AER-commissioned research, **37%** of surveyed energy customers were experiencing financial stress, and more than a third of financially stressed customers had been unable to pay an energy or water bill on time in the previous 12 months.

Customers with energy debt

3.1% 

Of residential customers with energy debt as at 31 March 2025.

Average debt per customer

$1,415

Average balance per residential customer with energy debt as at 31 March 2025, up from $1,106 a year earlier.

Customers in debt (count)

215,637

Residential customers with outstanding energy debt as at 31 Mar 2025

On hardship programs

1.6% 

Of residential electricity customers enrolled in retailer hardship programs

**Source:** Australian Energy Regulator, State of the Energy Market 2025, Chapter 6, customer debt and hardship data, 12 months to 31 March 2025.

$305M 

Estimated total energy debt

Australia's outstanding residential energy debt, March 2025

With **215,637 residential customers** carrying an average balance of **$1,415**, estimated outstanding residential energy debt was approximately **$305 million** as at 31 March 2025. The average balance rose 27.9%, from $1,106 a year earlier.

As at 31 March 2025, **3.1%** of residential customers had outstanding energy debt. The average balance per indebted customer rose from $1,106 to $1,415 over the same period.

Disconnection rates remain below pre-COVID levels, but energy debt and partial payments can continue to build for customers already in arrears.

### Government rebates

Several rebates reduced out-of-pocket electricity costs in 2024–25, although they did not change underlying electricity tariffs. These include:

-   **Commonwealth Energy Bill Relief Fund:** up to $300 in 2024–25, then a further $150 from 1 July 2025
-   **Queensland:** additional $1,000 cost-of-living rebate in 2024–25
-   **Western Australia:** separate $400 household rebate in 2024–25

Concessions, hardship programs and default offers

Most state governments and the Commonwealth offer electricity concessions for eligible households, including pensioners, Health Care Card holders and low-income earners. Retailers are required to offer support to customers experiencing payment difficulty before pursuing disconnection. This support may include hardship programs, payment plans or referrals to other assistance. Around 90 to 95% of competitive market offers are priced below the default standing-offer price, meaning standing-offer customers can face higher prices than customers on lower-priced market offers in the same region.

### Renters, older households and younger households

Electricity bill pressure does not fall evenly across households. Age, tenure, income, eligibility for concessions and access to solar or efficient appliances all affect how much a household pays relative to its income.

-   **Older households** may report lower bills in some datasets, partly due to concessions, smaller household sizes and higher rates of rooftop solar ownership.
-   **Younger renters** may have less access to efficiency upgrades, solar or batteries, and less control over insulation or heating systems.
-   **Renters** may also live in embedded networks, which can limit access to competitive retail offers.

Combined with generally lower incomes, younger renters may be more exposed to electricity bill pressure than national averages suggest.

What is the estimated total value of outstanding residential energy debt in Australia? + 

With **215,637 residential customers** carrying an average outstanding balance of **$1,415** as at March 2025, estimated outstanding residential energy debt across Australia was approximately **$305 million**. The share of customers in debt was 3.1% as at 31 March 2025.

By how much has average energy debt per customer grown in one year? + 

The average outstanding balance per customer in arrears rose from **$1,106 to $1,415** in a single year, an increase of **$309 or 27.9%**. Over the same period, the share of residential customers with outstanding debt also increased to 3.1%.

General information only

This article is based on publicly available official data from the ABS, the Australian Energy Regulator, state energy regulators and the ACT ICRC. It is general information only and does not constitute financial or consumer advice. Figures use different source definitions and reporting periods. Consumption benchmarks are not survey averages of what all households used or paid. Standing-offer price figures are based on regulated tariffs and fixed consumption assumptions, which may not reflect individual household bills.

References

1.  1. [Australian Bureau of Statistics, Household solar electricity generation in the Australian national accounts](https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/household-solar-electricity-generation-australian-national-accounts): 2024–25. 
2.  2. [ABS: Consumer Price Index, Australia](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/consumer-price-index-australia/latest-release), April 2026. 
3.  3. [ABS: Household Expenditure Survey,](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/finance/household-expenditure-survey-australia-summary-results/2015-16) summary of results, 2015–16. 
4.  4. [Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission](https://www.icrc.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/3072781/Report-Retail-electricity-price-recalibration-2026-27.pdf): retail electricity price recalibration 2026–27, May 2026. 
5.  5. [Tasmanian Economic Regulator: Comparison of electricity and gas prices for small customers in Australia, November 2025](https://www.economicregulator.tas.gov.au/Documents/25%204189%20Comparison%20of%20Electricity%20and%20Gas%20prices%20available%20to%20small%20customers%20in%20Australia%202025.PDF). 
6.  6. [Australian Energy Regulator: Default Market Offer 2026–27](https://www.aer.gov.au/industry/registers/resources/reviews/default-market-offer-prices-2026-27): Final Determination, 26 May 2026. 
7.  7. [Essential Services Commission Victoria: Victorian Default Offer price review 2026–27](https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas/prices-tariffs-and-benchmarks/victorian-default-offer). 
8.  8. [Australian Energy Regulator: State of the Energy Market 2025](https://www.aer.gov.au/system/files/2025-08/State%20of%20the%20energy%20market%202025%20-%20Chapter%206%20-%20Retail%20energy%20markets%20and%20energy%20consumers.pdf): Chapter 6: Retail energy markets and energy consumers. 
9.  9. [Australian Energy Regulator: Annual retail markets report 2024–25](https://www.aer.gov.au/system/files/2025-12/Annual%20Retail%20Markets%20Report%202024%E2%80%9325%20-%2030%20November%202025.pdf): Retail energy markets and energy consumers. 
10.  10. [Australian Energy Regulator, Residential Energy Consumption Benchmarks, December 2020](https://www.aer.gov.au/documents/frontier-economics-residential-energy-consumption-benchmarks-9-december-2020), prepared by Frontier Economics. 

Methodology note

This article uses only official ABS, AER, state regulator and ACT ICRC sources. No commercial consumer surveys are cited. Standing-offer price figures are based on regulated tariffs and fixed annual usage assumptions. They are not survey-based averages of what all households paid. AER consumption benchmarks are separate usage benchmarks based on household size and climate zone, and measure grid electricity consumption rather than household bills. The most recent official survey-based national household electricity spending figure is from the ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2015–16. A current official state-by-state electricity-only average bill series was not identified in the reviewed sources. The NT is excluded from AER and ICRC standing-offer comparisons because it is outside the National Electricity Market.

## Data Snapshots

![annual standing offer bill by state](https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/snapshots/03e517d2-481e-4723-8c56-1d8b1b238848/annual-standing-offer-bill-by-state-2e1s.jpg)

Annual Standing-Offer Bill by State

![retail electricity price index](https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/snapshots/03e517d2-481e-4723-8c56-1d8b1b238848/retail-electricity-price-index-9msl.jpg)

Retail Electricity Price Index

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21 July 2026 · 10 min read 

### Average contents and landlord insurance costs in Australia

The average home contents insurance premium reached $531 a year in 2024-25, up 20.1% from 2021-22, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Combined home and contents cover averaged $2,360, while home building cover averaged $1,852.





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![Pet insurance statistics Australia 2026: household spending and uptake](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583337130417-3346a1be7dee?auto=format&fit=crop&w=2000&q=80)

insurance 

20 July 2026 · 9 min read 

### Pet insurance statistics Australia 2026: household spending and uptake

Australian households reported average annual pet insurance spending of $145 for dogs and $70 for cats in the year to March 2025. These population-wide averages include households without insurance and are not average policy premiums. About 24% of dog owners and 14% of cat owners reported having insurance.





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![How much have insurance premiums increased in Australia?](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1637763723578-79a4ca9225f7?q=80&w=871&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D)

Spending 

20 July 2026 · 11 min read 

### How much have insurance premiums increased in Australia?

Insurance prices rose 5.5% in the year to May 2026 and are now 52.7% higher than at the end of 2019, roughly double the rise in headline inflation. Data from the ABS, APRA, the ACCC and the Department of Health.





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![Average insurance cost in Australia in 2026](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1450101499163-c8848c66ca85?auto=format&fit=crop&w=2000&q=80)

Spending 

17 July 2026 · 12 min read 

### Average insurance cost in Australia in 2026

Australian households paid an average of $16.74 a week for house and contents insurance and $38.56 a week for accident and health insurance in the ABS's 2015–16 Household Expenditure Survey. These remain the latest official ABS figures for household insurance spending. They are averages across all households, not average premiums paid by insured policyholders.





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