How ACT electricity prices are set
Every home in the ACT sits on one network, run by Evoenergy. Households can buy from any retailer that sells in Canberra, but ActewAGL is the incumbent, and its standing offer prices are regulated by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission.
For 2026-27 the ICRC allowed ActewAGL's regulated tariffs to rise by 2.73% on average. The Commission noted that is a small fall in real terms once inflation is taken into account, and estimated it adds about $64 a year to the bill of an average household using 6,500 kWh.
Fewer than one in five ACT households are on that regulated standing offer. Everyone else is on a market offer from ActewAGL or another retailer, which is usually where the better prices are.
ACT electricity rates for 2026-27
| Network | Usage | Supply | At 4,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evoenergy network, ActewAGL standard planAll of the ACT | 36.95c/kWh | $1.34/day | $1,968/yr |
The ActewAGL standard plan charges 36.95c/kWh at all times plus $1.34 a day, including GST. The usage rate is the second highest regulated rate in the country after South Australia, but the supply charge is modest. The ICRC bases its average ACT household on 6,500 kWh a year, well above the 4,000 kWh we use to compare states, so the usage rate drives most of a Canberra bill.
Why the ACT number looks high
The ActewAGL standard plan is a standing offer that few households actually pay. Market offers on the same Evoenergy network are generally cheaper, so treat 36.95c as the upper limit when comparing plans.
Time-of-use plans in the ACT
ActewAGL also sells a time-of-use plan with peak periods from 7am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm every day. All other hours are off-peak. Those peak windows line up with breakfast and dinner, the times when heating and cooking push demand up in a Canberra winter.
A time-of-use plan can work well if you heat the house before 5pm, run the dishwasher overnight and charge an EV after 8pm. Our time-of-use guide explains how to check whether your usage pattern suits one.
Solar feed-in tariffs in the ACT
The ACT has no regulated minimum feed-in tariff for new customers, so retailers set their own rates. Compare the feed-in rate alongside the usage rate, because a plan that pays more for exports often charges more for the power you buy.
The ACT Government also offers zero-interest loans for rooftop solar, batteries and electric heating through its Sustainable Household Scheme. Check eligibility with the ACT Government before you get quotes.
ACT energy rebates
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program: About 30% off the first 14kWh. Homes and small businesses installing a battery with solar. Official details
- ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate: $800 a year. Eligible concession card holders. Official details
- Electricity concessions in every state and how to claim
The Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate, which used to be called the Utilities Concession, is worth $800 a year in 2026-27. It covers electricity, gas and water together and is credited to your energy account.
Questions about ACT electricity rates
The regulated ActewAGL standard plan charges 36.95c/kWh at all times plus a supply charge of $1.34 a day, including GST, from 1 July 2026. That is a standing offer, and most Canberra households are on market offers, which are usually cheaper. Use the standing offer as the ceiling when you compare plans.
The ICRC allowed ActewAGL to raise its regulated tariffs by 2.73% on average from 1 July 2026. The Commission estimated that adds about $64 a year for an average household using 6,500 kWh, and noted it is a small fall in real terms after inflation. Market offers changed by different amounts.
Evoenergy owns and runs the electricity network across the whole ACT, so every Canberra home is on the same network whichever retailer it uses. Call Evoenergy for faults and outages. Your retailer, such as ActewAGL, handles billing and your plan.
No. The ACT has no regulated minimum feed-in tariff for new customers, so each retailer sets its own rate. Compare feed-in rates together with usage rates, because plans that pay more for exports often charge more for the power you buy from the grid.
The Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate is worth $800 a year in 2026-27 for eligible concession card holders. It used to be called the Utilities Concession. It is credited to your energy bill, so register your card with your retailer or the ACT Revenue Office.
Peak runs from 7am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm every day, and all other hours are off-peak. Those windows cover breakfast and dinner, when heating and cooking push usage up. Moving washing, dishwashing and EV charging outside them is the key to saving on this kind of plan.
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.