Queensland electricity bills by household size 2026
What a Queensland household can expect to pay for electricity in a year, by how many people live there and which climate zone the suburb is in, on the 2026-27 regulated flat rate.
A two person house in Brisbane and most of south east Queensland is estimated at $2,135 a year for electricity in 2026-27, and a four person house at $2,850. In Townsville, Cairns and the tropical north the same households are estimated at $2,373 and $3,265, because a hotter, more humid climate uses more power. These are estimates on the regulated flat rate with no solar, not bills.
Key statistics
- Two people, south east
- $2,135
- Two people, tropical north
- $2,373
- Four people, lowest zone
- $2,845
- Four people, highest zone
- $3,265
- Supply charge, south east
- $701 a year
- Suburbs covered
- 1,615
Estimated annual bill by household size and climate zone
House, 2026-27, regulated flat rate including GST. Every Queensland suburb SuburbCost holds falls into one of these 6 rows, because the estimate depends only on the climate zone and the tariff area.
| Climate zone | Tariff area | Places | Suburbs | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 or more people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, high humidity summer, warm winter | Regional Queensland | Townsville, Cairns, Tablelands, Mareeba, Douglas and Cassowary Coast, plus 41 other localities | 327 | $1,745 | $2,373 | $2,501 | $3,265 | $3,466 |
| 2, warm humid summer, mild winter | South east Queensland | Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Scenic Rim, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Noosa and Redland, plus 2 other localities | 905 | $1,655 | $2,135 | $2,426 | $2,850 | $3,164 |
| 2, warm humid summer, mild winter | Regional Queensland | Mackay, South Burnett and Toowoomba, plus 4 other localities | 98 | $1,644 | $2,140 | $2,441 | $2,879 | $3,203 |
| 3, hot dry summer, warm winter | Regional Queensland | Western Downs, plus 3 other localities | 41 | $1,745 | $2,373 | $2,501 | $3,265 | $3,466 |
| 5, warm temperate | South east Queensland | Lockyer Valley | 9 | $1,670 | $2,265 | $2,579 | $2,845 | $3,320 |
| 5, warm temperate | Regional Queensland | Toowoomba and Southern Downs, plus 4 other localities | 235 | $1,659 | $2,274 | $2,599 | $2,874 | $3,364 |
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Household size matters more than the suburb
In south east Queensland the estimate runs from $1,655 for one person to $3,164 for five or more, a difference of $1,509. Across all 6 climate and tariff combinations, a four person house ranges from $2,845 to $3,265, a spread of $420. Who lives in the house moves the bill further than where it is.
Bills do not rise in proportion to people, because part of every bill is fixed. The daily supply charge in the south east comes to $701 a year whatever you use, about 42% of a one person bill and 22% of a five person one.
The usage behind those figures is the AER's benchmark for each household size and climate zone:
| Climate zone | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, high humidity summer, warm winter | 3,759 kWh | 5,933 kWh | 6,375 kWh | 9,019 kWh | 9,715 kWh |
| 2, warm humid summer, mild winter | 3,411 kWh | 5,126 kWh | 6,168 kWh | 7,682 kWh | 8,804 kWh |
| 3, hot dry summer, warm winter | 3,759 kWh | 5,933 kWh | 6,375 kWh | 9,019 kWh | 9,715 kWh |
| 5, warm temperate | 3,463 kWh | 5,591 kWh | 6,715 kWh | 7,665 kWh | 9,362 kWh |
Zones 1 and 3 share one set of benchmarks because the AER modelled them together. They differ on this page only where the tariff area differs.
Two regulated prices, two regulators
South east Queensland's price is capped by the Australian Energy Regulator's Default Market Offer. Regional Queensland is not covered by it, and its price is set by the Queensland Competition Authority instead.
| Tariff area | Usage, per kWh | Supply, per day | Supply, per year | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South east Queensland | 27.97c | 192.02c | $701 | AER Default Market Offer, 2026-27 |
| Regional Queensland | 28.89c | 180.51c | $659 | QCA notified price, 2026-27 |
Regional Queensland pays a little more per kWh and a little less per day. For most households the usage difference between climate zones is larger than either.
Units
A unit is estimated at 75% of a house's usage, for a smaller area to heat and cool. The supply charge does not shrink, so a unit's bill falls by less than a quarter.
| Climate zone | Tariff area | House | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regional Queensland | $2,373 | $1,945 |
| 2 | South east Queensland | $2,135 | $1,776 |
| 2 | Regional Queensland | $2,140 | $1,770 |
| 3 | Regional Queensland | $2,373 | $1,945 |
| 5 | South east Queensland | $2,265 | $1,874 |
| 5 | Regional Queensland | $2,274 | $1,870 |
Methodology
Usage. AER Simple electricity benchmarks, published December 2020 and updated June 2021: seasonal kWh by household size for each climate zone, summed to a year. Each suburb takes its climate zone from its postcode. Households of five or more use the 5+ benchmark. A unit is 75% of a house.
Price. South east Queensland: the AER's Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination, residential flat rate tariff caps, GST inclusive. Regional Queensland: the QCA's 2026-27 notified prices, Tariff 11, Queensland Government Gazette No. 29 of 5 June 2026, which are published exclusive of GST and have 10% added here. Both confirmed current at source in October 2026, and both apply from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Each suburb takes the tariff area of its council.
Bill. Annual usage times the usage rate, plus 365 days of supply charge. This is the same calculation, run from the same code, as the electricity bill calculator and the SuburbCost report.
Not included. Solar and feed-in credits, controlled load tariffs, time of use pricing, concessions and rebates, and market offers below the regulated price. Pools and ducted air conditioning are not modelled because the benchmarks do not separate them.
SuburbCost names no retailer and recommends no plan. It does not publish property prices, medians or capital growth.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the average electricity bill in Queensland
It depends mostly on how many people live in the home and where. SuburbCost's estimate for a two person house is $2,135 a year in Brisbane and most of the south east, and $2,373 in Townsville, Cairns and the far north. For four people it is $2,850 and $3,265. These are estimates on the regulated flat rate, not bills.
Why do larger households pay less per person
Because part of every bill is a fixed daily supply charge. In south east Queensland that is $701 a year whatever you use, about 42% of a one person bill and 22% of a five person one.
Why is north Queensland dearer
Two reasons that pull in different directions. The tropical north uses more electricity at every household size, mostly for cooling. Regional Queensland's regulated usage rate is slightly higher too, though its daily supply charge is lower. Usage wins: a four person house is $415 a year dearer in the north than in Brisbane on these estimates.
Does this include solar
No. The estimate has no solar, no feed-in credit, no controlled load such as off-peak hot water and no time of use pricing. A home with rooftop solar will usually pay less, and a home with a pool or ducted air conditioning more. The benchmarks behind it do not support adjusting for those, so the site does not guess.
Is this what I will pay
No. It is the regulated flat rate applied to typical usage for a household of your size in your climate zone. Many market offers are cheaper than the regulated price, and your own use can be well above or below the benchmark. Use it to compare places and household sizes, and check your own bills for the real figure.
Cite this data
SuburbCost data is free to cite with attribution. Please link to this page as the source.
Related studies
- Electricity bill calculator, the same estimate for one suburb and your household.
- Queensland home insurance, north vs south, the other bill that rises as you go north.
- Moving to Queensland, the full running cost across the state.
- Cost of living calculator, electricity alongside rates, water, insurance and the commute.