Your billing options
Quarterly
Most common- Fewer bills to deal with
- Standard on most plans
- Large winter and summer bills
- Problems take longer to spot
Best for: Households with savings to cover a big bill.
Monthly
- Smaller, more regular bills
- Spot usage changes sooner
- Not offered on every plan
- Usually needs a smart meter for monthly actual reads
Best for: Budgeting around a monthly pay cycle.
Bill smoothing
- The same amount every week, fortnight or month
- No bill shock in winter
- You may build up a credit or a debt
- Payments are reviewed and can change
Best for: Tight budgets and predictable cash flow.
What a typical bill looks like by period
A home using 4,000 kWh a year on the NSW reference price pays about $1,932 a year on the Ausgrid regulated rate. The total is the same whichever way you are billed. Only the size of each bill changes.
| Billing period | Bills a year | Average bill |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | 4 | $483 |
| Monthly | 12 | $161 |
| Fortnightly smoothing | 26 | $74 |
Check what a typical bill is in your state on our average bills page.
The rules on billing frequency and due dates
| Where | How often | Time to pay |
|---|---|---|
| NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, ACTNational Energy Retail Rules | At least every 3 months on a standard contract. Market contracts set their own terms. | At least 13 business days from the bill date |
| VictoriaEnergy Retail Code of Practice | At least every 3 months unless you agree otherwise | At least 13 business days from the bill date |
| Western AustraliaCode of Conduct | At least every 100 days for electricity | At least 12 business days |
If you cannot pay by the due date
Call your retailer before the due date. You can ask for an extension or a payment plan, and if you are struggling, your retailer must tell you about its hardship program. See our hardship guide.
How to change your billing period
Ask your retailer. Many let you switch to monthly billing or set up bill smoothing in their app. Monthly bills based on actual reads need a smart meter. Without one, monthly bills may be estimated in between quarterly reads. Paying by direct debit often goes hand in hand with smoothing.
Questions about billing periods
Most households are billed quarterly. On a standard retail contract, retailers must bill at least every 3 months. Many retailers also offer monthly billing, and bill smoothing lets you pay a fixed amount weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
At least 13 business days from the date the bill is issued in the National Energy Retail Rules states and Victoria. In Western Australia it is at least 12 business days. Your due date is printed on the bill.
No. The rates are the same. Monthly billing makes each bill smaller and helps you spot changes in usage sooner, but the total over a year does not change.
An arrangement where you pay an equal amount every week, fortnight or month, based on your expected yearly cost. Your retailer reviews it regularly. If your usage changes, you may build up a credit or owe a balance, and the payment can be adjusted.
Some retailers let you choose a due date or move it to suit your pay cycle. Ask your retailer. If you need more time on a particular bill, ask for an extension before the due date.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.