Watts & Bills
What electricity costs in Victoria
The only state that sets its own price.
28.2c/kWh
126.74c/day
$463a year
level
The only state that sets its own price
Victoria left the national default behind. Instead of the AER's Default Market Offer, its own Essential Services Commission sets the Victorian Default Offer, across five distribution zones, and it has consistently landed lower than the national equivalent. Victorians also sit on the country's most competitive retail market, which is why the gap between the default and a sharp market offer is worth more here than almost anywhere else: the default is a safety net, not a good deal. If you have not looked at your plan since you moved in, this is the state where that costs you the most.
What each appliance costs in Victoria
| Appliance | Each use | A year here | Cheapest state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging an electric car at home7kW wallbox taking a battery from near-empty to full | $11.84 | $1,184 | $1,174Tasmania |
| Electric storage hot water systemFamily-sized tank heating on a controlled-load tariff | $2.64 | $963 | $955Tasmania |
| Ducted reverse-cycle air conditioningWhole-house ducted system on a hot summer day | $9.48 | $853 | $845Tasmania |
| Swimming pool pumpSingle-speed filtration pump on a daily timer | $2.17 | $793 | $786Tasmania |
| Electric column heaterPortable oil column heater on full in one room | $3.38 | $338 | $335Tasmania |
| Outdoor spaHeater and pump keeping a four-seater spa warm | $2.26 | $338 | $335Tasmania |
| Split-system air conditionerOne 2.5kW-cooling bedroom or living-room unit | $1.92 | $230 | $228Tasmania |
| Second fridge in the garageOlder beer fridge working harder in an unairconditioned garage | 51c | $185 | $184Tasmania |
| DishwasherNormal cycle with internal water heating | 59c | $178 | $176Tasmania |
| Vented clothes dryerStandard vented dryer, one full load | $1.02 | $152 | $151Tasmania |
| Fridge-freezerAverage draw of a 400L fridge-freezer over a full day | 39c | $143 | $142Tasmania |
| Gaming PCMid-to-high-end desktop under load plus monitor | 45c | $135 | $134Tasmania |
| Electric ovenStandard 60cm oven at roasting temperature | 68c | $102 | $101Tasmania |
| Heat-pump clothes dryerCondenser heat-pump dryer, one full load | 56c | $85 | $84Tasmania |
| Washing machineFront loader on a warm wash | 25c | $71 | $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 | $24 | $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.