How much does it cost to run a electric radiant cooktop (per element)? (2026–27)

At typical draw · official state tariffs

$0.49$0.75 per hour at 1,800 W

Typical household use — 0.5 h/day, 365 days a year at 1,800 W — runs $90$138 a year depending on your state's tariff.

Wattage basis: Per-element ratings 1,200–3,000 W when active; ceramic elements commonly 1.2–2.2 kW.

Ceramic cooktop running cost by state at typical draw (2026–27 reference tariffs)
StateTariff c/kWhPer hourTypical year
New South Wales33.1c$0.60$109
Victoria27.5c$0.49$90
Queensland28.0c$0.50$92
South Australia41.9c$0.75$138
Western Australia33.3c$0.60$109
Tasmania28.0c$0.50$92
Australian Capital Territory37.0c$0.67$121
Northern Territory31.7c$0.57$104

Appliance running-cost calculator

NSW

Ceramic cooktop: 1,2003,000 W typical range.

15–45 min per session; radiant elements cycle on/off, so average draw sits below rated watts.

$0.60 per hour · $109/year at your settings
Per day (0.5 h)
$0.30
Per month
$9.07
Per year (365 days)
$108.86

Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: GloBird Energy — appliance electricity use. Full ceramic cooktop costs in NSW

Cutting the cost

Radiant and coil hobs hold their heat, so switch them off a touch before the food's done and let the warmth finish the job. Always use a lid, and match the pot base to the element so heat isn't spilling past the sides. Flat, well-fitting cookware transfers heat best. Boiling water in the kettle first and pouring it in beats heating a pot from cold.

Frequently asked questions

How is the running cost calculated?
Watts ÷ 1,000 × your electricity rate = cost per hour. A ceramic cooktop drawing 1,800 W on a 33.1c/kWh tariff costs $0.60 an hour — the calculator above lets you change every input.
Does a higher star rating cut the cost?
Yes — the star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales this page's figures directly. The low–high band in the table (1,2003,000 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
Why does the state matter?
The appliance draws the same power everywhere — but each state's reference usage rate differs, so the same hour of running costs $0.49 in the cheapest state and $0.75 in the dearest. Pick your state above for exact figures.

Related

Sources — figures current as at 17 July 2026.

Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. 15–45 min per session; radiant elements cycle on/off, so average draw sits below rated watts.