Watts & Bills
What electricity costs in South Australia
The dearest rate, and the most free electricity.
41.91c/kWh
180.05c/day
$657a year
+50%
The dearest rate, and the most free electricity
South Australia has the highest usage rate in the country at nearly 42c, roughly 50 per cent above Tasmania's. It also has the most solar per person anywhere in the world, and the two facts are related: on a mild sunny day the state regularly generates more than it can use, wholesale prices fall below zero, and generators pay to keep running. None of that reaches a household on a flat retail rate - but it is why South Australia is the state where shifting load into the middle of the day, or putting panels on the roof, pays back fastest. The expensive rate is exactly what makes avoiding it worth so much.
What each appliance costs in South Australia
| Appliance | Each use | A year here | Cheapest state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging an electric car at home7kW wallbox taking a battery from near-empty to full | $17.60 | $1,760 | $1,174Tasmania |
| Electric storage hot water systemFamily-sized tank heating on a controlled-load tariff | $3.92 | $1,432 | $955Tasmania |
| Ducted reverse-cycle air conditioningWhole-house ducted system on a hot summer day | $14.08 | $1,267 | $845Tasmania |
| Swimming pool pumpSingle-speed filtration pump on a daily timer | $3.23 | $1,178 | $786Tasmania |
| Electric column heaterPortable oil column heater on full in one room | $5.03 | $503 | $335Tasmania |
| Outdoor spaHeater and pump keeping a four-seater spa warm | $3.35 | $503 | $335Tasmania |
| Split-system air conditionerOne 2.5kW-cooling bedroom or living-room unit | $2.85 | $342 | $228Tasmania |
| Second fridge in the garageOlder beer fridge working harder in an unairconditioned garage | 75c | $275 | $184Tasmania |
| DishwasherNormal cycle with internal water heating | 88c | $264 | $176Tasmania |
| Vented clothes dryerStandard vented dryer, one full load | $1.51 | $226 | $151Tasmania |
| Fridge-freezerAverage draw of a 400L fridge-freezer over a full day | 58c | $213 | $142Tasmania |
| Gaming PCMid-to-high-end desktop under load plus monitor | 67c | $201 | $134Tasmania |
| Electric ovenStandard 60cm oven at roasting temperature | $1.01 | $151 | $101Tasmania |
| Heat-pump clothes dryerCondenser heat-pump dryer, one full load | 84c | $126 | $84Tasmania |
| Washing machineFront loader on a warm wash | 38c | $106 | $70Tasmania |
| Television55-inch LED set, five hours of viewing | 21c | $76 | $51Tasmania |
| Electric kettleBoiling enough for two mugs, three minutes | 5c | $73 | $49Tasmania |
| Air fryerMid-sized basket air fryer, 20 minutes | 21c | $41 | $28Tasmania |
| Electric blanketDouble-bed underblanket on a medium setting | 30c | $36 | $24Tasmania |
| Ceiling fanStandard four-blade fan on medium | 23c | $35 | $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.