Mon-Fri 9AM to 8PM (AEST)State vs state: compare electricity plans before you move house
If you are moving home to a new area, or even a new state, it can come as a shock to find out your utility bills will be going up!
To make sure that you are armed with knowledge, we’ve created a guide to the average electricity bills from around the country, so that you can be ready for action to keep your household budget on track.
This page will help you know what to expect, whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, moving around the corner or moving coast-to-coast.
On this page
- State vs state: the average electricity bills from around Australia
- What causes different electricity prices?
- Save on your bills: A two-pronged approach
- Use less electricity in your home
- Switch to the cheapest electricity plan
State vs state: the average electricity bills from around Australia
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) reports on the nation’s electricity usage every year in their Residential Electricity Price Trends report.
In December 2021, the average electricity bill in Australia was $1.645 per year. This is broken down by state below.
As you can see, if you are moving between Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, there is a minimal difference that you need to prepare for, whereas if you are moving from one of these states to the ACT or South Australia, you might need to start planning ways to reduce your bill.
What causes different electricity prices?
So, why do electricity bills vary between states? Some of the cost difference comes from the distributors and retailers available in the area. You can read more about those fees here.
In addition, age and household size play a big role in the cost of your bill, so it follows that the different demographics in different states will reflect this.
The below tables rank Australians by age and household size using the results of the Finder Consumer Sentiment Tracker from August 2022, showing the biggest spenders on electricity first.
| AGE | ||
| Rank | Generation | Average power bill (quarterly) |
| 1 | Gen Z (age 18–24) | $356 |
| 2 | Gen X (age 40–59) | $351 |
| 3 | Gen Y (age 25–39) | $343 |
| 4 | Baby boomers (age 60+) | $283 |
| HOUSEHOLD SIZE | ||
| Rank | Number of children | Average power bill (quarterly) |
| 1 | 3 | $440 |
| 2 | 2 | $388 |
| 3 | 1 | $357 |
| 4 | 0 | $309 |
Of course, just because you fall into a certain demographic, doesn’t mean you need to pay the average bill. There are many ways that you can be the exception to the rule by saving energy and paying less for your power.
Save on your bills: A two-prong approach
Keep reading to find out the best ways to save energy in your home and pay less for the electricity you use.
Use less electricity in your home
We don’t mean to state the obvious, but if you use less electricity then your electricity bill will be less. There are some simple things you can do around the house to make sure you are not wasting your power.
- Turn it all off
Whenever an appliance is not in use, it should be turned off. This includes trickier items such as heating and cooling systems, your water heater, underfloor heating and the swimming pool pump. You should use the in-built time on these appliances to make sure they are only running at the times you need them, and not a moment more!
Your electricity usage could be reduced by up to half, just by paying more attention to when these items are switched on and off.
For other common household items, such as computers, games consoles, TVs, office equipment and lamps, a master powerboard can be a great way to save energy. Simply plug all nearby appliances into the powerboard, then at the end of the day you simply turn off the master switch and everything will be powered down for the night.
- Protect your home from the weather
A poorly insulated home needs significantly more energy to maintain the temperature inside. If you can afford the investment, the best option is high-quality wall and ceiling insulation, as well as upgraded window and door seals.
However, if you don’t want to stump up the money, or you are in a rental property, door snakes and floor rugs can also make a big difference to the insulation of your home.
- Generate your own energy
If you are serious about using less energy from the grid, then by far the best option is to generate your own. Unfortunately, it also comes with the biggest upfront costs.
For an average-sized home, solar panel installation is around $6,500 but can be as much as $13,000 or as little as $2,500, depending on how many panels you need and where you live.
In some states, you will be able to apply for a government rebate to cover some of this cost and a lot of solar panel installers offer an interest-free payment plan so you can spread the cost to around $70 per month for 60 months.
If you opt for solar batteries as well, you will be able to use your own energy during the night, when your solar panels have stopped generating. Depending on the size of the battery you choose, this could cost between $5,000 and $19,000.
Some retailers also offer incentives to go solar, such as Origin which offers a $2,000 discount on your solar battery when you join Origin Loop.
Read more about saving electricity for your home here: Energy Saving Tips
Switch to the cheapest electricity plan
You can save a lot of money just by switching to a new electricity connection with a retailer that is better suited to your home. The table below shows the different features you should look out for to find the cheapest electricity bill to suit your unique energy needs.
| Feature | Description | Favourite plan |
| Electricity rates (peak) | This is the standard cost per kWh you will pay for energy during peak times.
It will be displayed on your plan as a percentage of your state’s reference price, to make it easy to compare electricity providers. |
Ovo Energy’s The One Plan has electricity rates at 9% less than the reference price, making it some of the cheapest electricity in Victoria. |
| Off-peak rates | Retailers and distributors have ‘off-peak’ periods when demand for electricity is lowest. To incentivise customers to use energy during these times, off-peak rates are significantly lower.
If you can change your usage habits to take advantage of off-peak rates you could dramatically reduce your bill. |
Origin energy’s Flexi Rate ePlus Plan includes off-peak rates for usage between 12am – 3pm and 9pm – 12am.
You will pay just 16.66c/kWh for electricity during these times, compared to 29.01c/kWh for peak periods. |
| Controlled load tariff | To be eligible for a controlled load tariff you will need a separate meter installed for heavy use items such as your swimming pool or hot water system.
By accessing low ‘controlled load’ tariffs for these energy suckers, you can make a big dint in the amount you pay. |
Lumo Energy’s controlled load plans offer a low rate of 18.05c/kWh for your heavy-use items, compared to 29c.kWh for peak rates. |
| Discounts | Retailers use discounts to incentivise you to choose them above their competitors.
There are several types of discounts, including discounts on your usage charge, total bill or limited-time discounts, such as reduced rates for the first 6 months for new customers. |
EnergyAustralia’s Flexi Plan comes with a guaranteed 11% discount on your total electricity bill and 18% on your total gas bill, plus a $25 sign-up credit for new customers. |
| Special offers | Alongside discounts, you will find an array of special offers included with plans to win you over.
This could be rewards points, deals with partner customers, sign-up credits, pay-on-time rewards or loyalty rewards (among other things). |
Alinta Energy’s HomeDeal Plan includes access to their Rewards Shop, where you can earn points to redeem with over 100 Australian retailers, including retail, electronics, dining, movies and theme parks. |
| Solar rates | Your solar panels will be doing the hard work to save you money, but not all solar plans are made equal.
Look for a plan with a high FiT to maximise your solar panel’s worth and/or a retailer offering credits or incentives for solar customers. |
Simply Energy’s “Simply Energy Solar” Plan offers a bonus solar feed-in tariff plus up to $1,500 in credit over 5 years for eligible customers who join their Virtual Power Plant (VPP).
ActewAGL’s eVolve Plan includes electricity rates of 5% less than the reference price, equal to 4000km of free electric car charging each year for customers in the Canberra region. |
| Bundles | Generally, the more services you sign up for with the same retailer, the bigger discounts you can access. Some retailers offer electricity, gas, internet, Pay TV Australia, mobile and water.
Choosing to bundle your services can not only save you money but also save you the hassle of paying individual bills to a different provider for each service. |
AGL Energy offers up to $210 off your NBN plan when you also have an energy account with them.
Foxtel entertainment and NBN bundles include 2 months of free high-speed broadband, plus some plans also include a discounted Netflix subscription to increase your savings. |
Information is correct in September 2022.
Next steps
Call a Move-In Connect expert today to start saving on your bills. Whether you are moving home electricity to a new state or just around the corner, or even if you just want to save money in your current home, our moving utilities services will do all the hard work for you by reviewing your household’s energy needs and matching you with the perfect plan from our panel of preferred suppliers.
Call 1300 786 045 or enter your details online.
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