Electricity prices by state: Australia 2026
Residential electricity reference prices across Australian states, with the cheapest qualifying market plan we track in each. Reference prices are the AER Default Market Offer and ESC Victorian Default Offer benchmarks; plan figures come from Consumer Data Right plan data. See our methodology for how we calculate these figures. With rates still biting household budgets, it also helps to know the cheapest heater to run in each state this winter.
State-by-state electricity prices
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| State | Reference price (avg) | Reference range by zone | Cheapest market plan | Max saving vs reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $2,277/yr | $1,899–$2,604 | from $1,309/yr | 31% below |
| VictoriaLowest | $1,591/yr | $1,481–$1,748 | from $1,021/yr | 32% below |
| Queensland | $1,988/yr | $1,988 | from $1,415/yr | 29% below |
| South AustraliaHighest | $2,334/yr | $2,334 | from $1,716/yr | 26% below |
| Western Australia | No DMO/VDO reference price — regulated market | N/A | ||
| Tasmania | No DMO/VDO reference price — regulated market | N/A | ||
| ACT | No DMO/VDO reference price — ACT retail prices are regulated separately | N/A | ||
Rates current as at 4 September 2026; reference prices effective 1 July 2026 (AER DMO 2026-27 & ESC VDO 2026-27). Reference prices are annual benchmarks at each zone's regulated representative usage; the cheapest market plan is the lowest-cost qualifying single-rate plan we track in the state at that usage.
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