Watts & Bills
What electricity costs in Queensland (south-east)
Cheap power, the country's dearest connection.
27.97c/kWh
192.02c/day
$701a year
level
Cheap power, the country's dearest connection
South-east Queensland has nearly the cheapest electricity in Australia to use and the most expensive connection to have. The usage rate is a shade under 28c, second only to Tasmania - but the daily supply charge is the highest in the country at $1.92 a day, which is $701 a year before a single light goes on. That combination changes which plan is right for you. A household that uses little electricity is paying mostly for the privilege of being connected, and comparing plans on cents per kilowatt-hour alone will reliably pick the wrong one here. Regional Queensland is different again: Ergon's tariffs are set by the state, not the AER.
What each appliance costs in Queensland
| Appliance | Each use | A year here | Cheapest state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging an electric car at home7kW wallbox taking a battery from near-empty to full | $11.75 | $1,175 | $1,174Tasmania |
| Electric storage hot water systemFamily-sized tank heating on a controlled-load tariff | $2.62 | $956 | $955Tasmania |
| Ducted reverse-cycle air conditioningWhole-house ducted system on a hot summer day | $9.40 | $846 | $845Tasmania |
| Swimming pool pumpSingle-speed filtration pump on a daily timer | $2.15 | $786 | $786Tasmania |
| Electric column heaterPortable oil column heater on full in one room | $3.36 | $336 | $335Tasmania |
| Outdoor spaHeater and pump keeping a four-seater spa warm | $2.24 | $336 | $335Tasmania |
| Split-system air conditionerOne 2.5kW-cooling bedroom or living-room unit | $1.90 | $228 | $228Tasmania |
| Second fridge in the garageOlder beer fridge working harder in an unairconditioned garage | 50c | $184 | $184Tasmania |
| DishwasherNormal cycle with internal water heating | 59c | $176 | $176Tasmania |
| Vented clothes dryerStandard vented dryer, one full load | $1.01 | $151 | $151Tasmania |
| Fridge-freezerAverage draw of a 400L fridge-freezer over a full day | 39c | $142 | $142Tasmania |
| Gaming PCMid-to-high-end desktop under load plus monitor | 45c | $134 | $134Tasmania |
| Electric ovenStandard 60cm oven at roasting temperature | 67c | $101 | $101Tasmania |
| Heat-pump clothes dryerCondenser heat-pump dryer, one full load | 56c | $84 | $84Tasmania |
| Washing machineFront loader on a warm wash | 25c | $70 | $70Tasmania |
| Television55-inch LED set, five hours of viewing | 14c | $51 | $51Tasmania |
| Electric kettleBoiling enough for two mugs, three minutes | 3c | $49 | $49Tasmania |
| Air fryerMid-sized basket air fryer, 20 minutes | 14c | $28 | $28Tasmania |
| Electric blanketDouble-bed underblanket on a medium setting | 20c | $24 | $24Tasmania |
| Ceiling fanStandard four-blade fan on medium | 16c | $23 | $23Tasmania |
Worth reading next
Sources
- AER - Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination
- Reference plan rates by state, 2026-27
- Appliance wattages are typical mid-range values for common Australian models. The label on your own unit beats our figure.
Reference prices last checked 2026-10-26. New regulated prices apply from 1 July each year. Spotted something wrong?Tell us — corrections go out the same week.