Two markets in one state
Queensland runs two electricity markets side by side. In South East Queensland, from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast and west to Ipswich, households choose between dozens of retailers on the Energex network, and the federal Default Market Offer caps standing offers.
Everywhere else is the Ergon Energy area, and the rules change. Retail competition has never taken hold there, so most regional homes buy from Ergon Retail at prices set by the Queensland Competition Authority. The state government keeps those prices in line with the south-east under its Uniform Tariff Policy and pays Ergon the difference, which the QCA put at around $604 million in 2025-26.
Queensland electricity rates for 2026-27
| Network | Usage | Supply | DMO annual cap | At 4,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EnergexSouth East Queensland, including Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast | 27.97c/kWh | $1.92/day | $1,988 at 4,600 kWh | $1,820/yr |
| Ergon EnergyRegional Queensland (Tariff 11, QCA notified price) | 28.89c/kWh | $1.81/day | Not a DMO area | $1,815/yr |
Energex: South East Queensland
The 2026-27 DMO reference price for Energex is 27.97c/kWh with a supply charge of $1.92 a day. The cap fell 7.2% to $1,988 a year for a household using 4,600 kWh, the biggest cut of any DMO region this year. The usage rate is one of the lowest in the country, but the supply charge is one of the highest outside regional NSW, so low-usage homes do not benefit as much as the headline rate suggests.
Ergon Energy: regional Queensland
The main residential tariff in the Ergon area is Tariff 11. For 2026-27 the QCA set it at about 28.89c/kWh with a supply charge of about $1.81 a day, both including GST. Regional households pay close to what someone in Brisbane pays, even though supplying a home in Mount Isa costs far more.
Flat rate, time of use and controlled load
Most Queensland homes are on a flat rate, where every kWh costs the same. Time-of-use plans charge more in the evening and less overnight and in the middle of the day, and they need a smart meter. In the south-east, retailers set their own time-of-use prices, so compare them plan by plan.
Many Queensland homes also have a controlled load circuit for an electric hot water system or pool pump, known as Tariff 31 or Tariff 33. These circuits only run at set times, which is why they are cheaper than your general usage rate. If your bill shows two meters or two usage lines, one of them is probably controlled load. Our controlled load guide explains how to use it well.
Solar feed-in tariffs and the Solar Sharer Offer
In regional Queensland the QCA sets a feed-in tariff that Ergon Retail must pay. For 2026-27 it is 6.006c/kWh, a 31% fall from 8.66c the year before. The QCA put the drop down to lower energy costs and better data on exports from smart meters.
In South East Queensland there is no regulated rate, so each retailer chooses its own. Compare feed-in rates as carefully as usage rates if you export a lot.
Free power from 11am to 2pm
Since 1 July 2026 retailers with more than 1,000 customers in South East Queensland must offer a Solar Sharer plan with free power from 11am to 2pm, up to 24 kWh a day. The QCA also introduced a Solar Sharer tariff for regional Queensland from the same date. You need a smart meter, not solar panels.
Queensland energy rebates
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program: About 30% off the first 14kWh. Homes and small businesses installing a battery with solar. Official details
- Queensland Electricity Rebate: $399.47 a year. Pensioner, Health Care, Queensland Seniors or DVA Gold Card holders. Official details
- Electricity concessions in every state and how to claim
The $1,000 Cost of Living Rebate paid on 2024-25 bills was a one-off and has ended. The Queensland Electricity Rebate is the ongoing concession, rising to $399.47 a year for 2026-27.
Getting a better deal
In South East Queensland, start with the DMO as your ceiling and compare offers on Energy Made Easy. Every offer must say how far it sits above or below the reference price.
In regional Queensland there is far less to compare, so focus on the tariff instead. Moving hot water onto a controlled load circuit, or shifting usage to the cheap parts of a time-of-use tariff, usually saves more than changing retailer. Our Queensland bill calculator handles both areas.
Electricity rates by city in Queensland
Each city page shows the network price, the cheapest plans, typical bills for the local climate zone, solar output for the postcode and who to call in an outage.
Questions about Queensland electricity rates
In South East Queensland the Default Market Offer reference price for Energex is 27.97c/kWh plus $1.92 a day. In regional Queensland the main residential tariff, Tariff 11, is about 28.89c/kWh plus $1.81 a day. Both include GST. Market offers in the south-east are often cheaper than the DMO, while regional households mostly pay the regulated price.
They technically can, but almost no retailer competes in the Ergon area. The Uniform Tariff Policy keeps regional prices close to the south-east even though supply costs far more, and the state government pays Ergon Retail the difference. A private retailer would have to match those subsidised prices without the subsidy, so very few try.
In the south-east, yes. The Energex Default Market Offer fell 7.2% to $1,988 a year for a household using 4,600 kWh, the biggest cut of any DMO region. Regional prices are set separately by the QCA. Whether your own bill falls depends on your plan, so check the price change notice from your retailer.
In regional Queensland the QCA-set rate for 2026-27 is 6.006c/kWh, down 31% from 8.66c. In South East Queensland there is no regulated rate and each retailer sets its own, so it pays to compare. Some plans pay more for exports in the late afternoon and evening, when the grid needs power most.
No. The $1,000 Cost of Living Rebate applied to 2024-25 bills only and has ended. The ongoing support is the Queensland Electricity Rebate for eligible card holders, worth $399.47 a year for 2026-27 and applied as a daily credit on your bill.
They are controlled load tariffs. Appliances such as electric hot water systems and pool pumps are wired to a separate circuit that only switches on at certain times, in exchange for a lower rate than your general usage. Tariff 31 is available for fewer hours than Tariff 33. If you have an electric storage hot water system, being on one of these usually saves money.
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.