Electricity prices in New South Wales — 2026–27
AER Default Market Offer · effective 1 July 2026
Average bill: $2,342–$2,715/year for a 2–3 person household (derived estimate — AER benchmark usage × the Ausgrid rate). Rates moved −3.4% at 1 July 2026.
Source: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8)
| Zone | Covers | Usage c/kWh | Supply c/day | Typical annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | Sydney, Newcastle & the Central Coast | 33.1c | 166.2c | $1,899 |
| Endeavour Energy | Greater Western Sydney & the Illawarra | 33.7c | 185.1c | $2,328 |
| Essential Energy | Regional New South Wales | 35.0c | 272.2c | $2,604 |
NSW at the 1 July 2026 reset
- At the 1 July 2026 reset every NSW network's reference price fell: Essential Energy −5.0%, Endeavour Energy −3.4% and Ausgrid −3.4%. The biggest fall nationally was AusNet Services (−8.4%).
- On the same 4,000 kWh a year, NSW's networks run from $1,932 (Ausgrid) to $2,394 (Essential Energy), a gap of $462.
- Ausgrid, the network used for NSW averages on this site, ranks 12th of 16 networks nationally at 4,000 kWh (1st is cheapest; CitiPower at $1,481).
| Network | Usage c/kWh | Supply c/day | Reference bill a year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Energy NSW | 35.0c | 272.2c | $2,741 → $2,604 at 4,600 kWh | −5.0% (−$137) |
| Endeavour Energy NSW | 33.7c | 185.1c | $2,411 → $2,328 at 4,900 kWh | −3.4% (−$83) |
| Ausgrid NSW | 33.1c | 166.2c | $1,965 → $1,899 at 3,900 kWh | −3.4% (−$66) |
AER Default Market Offer networks: the AER’s published annual reference prices at each network’s model usage (the 2025–26 offer was set as an annual price, so it has no separate supply and usage rates). Arrows run from 2025–26 to 2026–27; GST included.
Electricity bill estimator
AusgridA 2-person household uses roughly 4,000–5,500 kWh a year.
- Supply charge (166.2c/day × 365)
- $606.74
- Usage (33.1c/kWh × 3,900 kWh)
- $1,292.35
Rates: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8), effective 1 July 2026 (GST inclusive). This is the government reference/standing rate for Sydney, Newcastle & the Central Coast — market offers can sit below it. Full Ausgrid price breakdown →
Everything NSW on one page
- Average bill$2,342/yr2-person household, derived from the AER benchmark
- Feed-in tariffIPART benchmark (voluntary)
- Is solar worth it?Payback calculator pre-set for NSW
- Solar rebatesSTC discount + NSW schemes
Frequently asked questions
- Who sets electricity prices in NSW?
- AER Default Market Offer sets the reference/standing rates shown here (AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8)). Retail market offers price against that benchmark — they can be cheaper, and the reference figure is what your plan should beat.
- What does electricity cost per kWh in NSW?
- It depends on your distribution zone — usage rates run from 33.1c to 35.0c/kWh across NSW's 3 networks (table above).
- When do these prices change?
- Every 1 July. The 2026–27 rates apply 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027; this page re-verifies against each new determination.
Related
- Australian Energy Regulator — DMO 2026–27 final determinationverified
- AER residential consumption benchmarks 2020verified
Average-bill figures are derived estimates (benchmark kWh × the Ausgrid reference rate) — labelled, never presented as a survey.