Electricity prices in Cairns for 2026-27
| Network area | Usage rate | Supply charge | At 4,000 kWh a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ergon Energy | 28.89c | $1.81/day | $1,815 |
Prices are set by network area, not by town, so every home on Ergon's network faces the same regulated price as Cairns. South East Queensland has a competitive market capped by the DMO. In regional Queensland, Ergon Retail sells at QCA-set prices subsidised by the state government.
Full state detail: Queensland electricity rates.
Who sells electricity in Cairns
In regional Queensland, Ergon Retail sells to almost all homes at the QCA's notified prices, which the state government subsidises so they stay close to South East Queensland's. Few other retailers offer plans on the Ergon network, so shopping around saves less here than in Brisbane. All electricity retailers.
Average electricity bill in Cairns
| Household | kWh a year | kWh a day | Per quarter | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3,759 | 10.3 | $436 | $1,745 |
| 2 people | 5,933 | 16.3 | $593 | $2,373 |
| 3 people | 6,376 | 17.5 | $625 | $2,501 |
| 4 people | 9,019 | 24.7 | $816 | $3,265 |
| 5 or more people | 9,715 | 26.6 | $866 | $3,466 |
In the AER benchmark for a three-person home here, summer is the highest-use season and winter the lowest. Homes with gas heating or hot water, or with solar, will use less from the grid than these figures.
- The AER uses Cairns as an example of climate zone 1: high humidity summers and warm winters.
- Cairns households use the most power in summer and the least in winter, the reverse of southern cities.
More on usage: average bills in Queensland and why a bill can be high.
Solar panels in Cairns
| Rooftop solar systems installed | 34,234 |
|---|---|
| Total solar capacity | 274 MW |
| Average system size | 8.0 kW |
| Solar systems in the past 12 months | 2,813 |
| Home batteries since July 2025 | 2,662 |
| Heat pump water heaters | 2,185 |
Postcode 4870 is in CER solar zone 3, rated at 1.382 MWh per kW a year. A 6.6 kW system here is deemed to make about 9,121 kWh a year, or 25.0 kWh a day, and earns 45 STCs if installed in 2026. See the solar calculator to estimate savings.
The regulated feed-in tariff is 6.006c per kWh: Regulated rate for regional Queensland (Ergon area), down 31%. In South East Queensland retailers set their own rate.
Rebates: solar rebates and battery rebates.
Power outages in Cairns
Your network, not your retailer, fixes outages. Check Ergon's outage map first, then report it if your home is not listed. More: power outages in Queensland and the Ergon network guide.
Rebates and bill help in Cairns
Cairns households can get Queensland concessions and rebates, as well as federal programs. The main ones:
- Queensland Electricity Rebate: $399.47 a year
Every program: Queensland energy rebates, or use the rebate finder.
Questions about electricity in Cairns
On the QCA notified price for Ergon Energy in 2026-27, power costs 28.89c per kWh plus $1.81 a day, including GST.
Using the AER consumption benchmark for climate zones 1 and 3 (QLD), a three-person household uses about 6,376 kWh a year. On the QCA notified price that is about $2,501 a year, or $625 a quarter.
Ergon Energy Network. It owns the poles and wires and handles outages. For faults call 13 22 96.
Postcode 4870 is in Clean Energy Regulator solar zone 3. A 6.6 kW system there is deemed to produce about 9,121 kWh a year, or 25.0 kWh a day on average.
Sources
Prices come from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Usage benchmarks, climate zones, solar zones and installation counts come from the AER, ABCB and Clean Energy Regulator. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.
- AER, Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination
- QCA, regulated electricity prices for regional Queensland 2026-27
- AER, residential energy consumption benchmarks (Frontier Economics), December 2020
- Australian Building Codes Board, climate zone maps by local government area
- Clean Energy Regulator, postcode zone ratings and zones for solar panel systems
- Clean Energy Regulator, small-scale installation postcode data (to August 2026)
- Clean Energy Regulator, calculate small-scale technology certificate entitlements