How electricity is sold in Western Australia
WA works differently from the eastern states. Perth and the South West run on their own grid, the South West Interconnected System, which is not connected to the National Electricity Market. Households on that grid cannot shop around. They buy from Synergy, the state-owned retailer, at a price the WA Government sets each year in the state budget.
Regional and remote WA is supplied by Horizon Power, another government-owned business. Under the state's uniform tariff policy, a household in Broome or Carnarvon pays the same regulated rate as one in Perth, even though supplying it costs much more.
WA electricity rates for 2026-27
| Network | Usage | Supply | At 4,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| SynergyPerth and the South West (SWIS) | 33.26c/kWh | $1.19/day | $1,766/yr |
| Horizon PowerRegional and remote WA (A2 tariff) | 33.26c/kWh | $1.19/day | $1,766/yr |
The standard residential tariff, Home Plan A1, rose 2.75% from 1 July 2026. The usage rate went from 32.37c to 33.26c/kWh and the supply charge from $1.16 to $1.19 a day. Horizon Power's equivalent A2 tariff carries the same prices.
WA's supply charge is one of the lowest in the country, so the usage rate does most of the work on your bill. A low-usage household in Perth pays relatively little, while a big house running air conditioning through a Perth summer feels the 33.26c rate quickly.
A second home on the same property
Synergy charges a lower supply charge of 47.41c a day for an additional home, such as a granny flat, on the same property.
Other Synergy plans
Because Synergy is the only retailer on the grid, choosing a better deal in WA means choosing a different Synergy plan rather than a different company. Synergy offers plans aimed at households that use more power during the day, as well as plans for electric vehicle owners. They need a smart meter and suit homes that can shift usage away from the evening.
Prices on these plans change each year, so check Synergy's current price list and run your own usage through them. A plan with cheaper daytime power only helps if you actually use power in the daytime.
Solar buyback: the DEBS
WA does not use the term feed-in tariff. Synergy pays for exported solar under the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme, or DEBS, which pays differently depending on when you export.
| Export window | Rate |
|---|---|
| 3pm to 9pm | 10c/kWh |
| All other times | 2c/kWh |
At 2c for midday exports against 33.26c to buy power back at night, exporting is a poor trade. That gap is the main reason home batteries pay back faster in WA than in many other states, especially with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
WA energy rebates
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program: About 30% off the first 14kWh. Homes and small businesses installing a battery with solar. Official details
- WA Energy Assistance Payment: $377.14 a year. Pensioner Concession, Health Care, Commonwealth Seniors Health and DVA Gold Card holders. Official details
- Electricity concessions in every state and how to claim
The 2026-27 WA Budget lifted the Energy Assistance Payment by about 10%, to $377.14 a year. It is credited to Synergy and Horizon Power accounts once your concession card is registered with them, so call your retailer if you hold an eligible card and do not see it on your bill.
Electricity rates by city in WA
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 WA electricity rates
The Synergy Home Plan A1 tariff is 33.26c/kWh plus a supply charge of $1.19 a day, including GST, from 1 July 2026. That is a 2.75% rise on 2025-26. Horizon Power charges the same rates in regional WA under the state's uniform tariff policy.
Not as a household. On the South West Interconnected System, which covers Perth and the South West, residential customers can only buy from Synergy. You can still save by choosing a different Synergy plan, such as one with cheaper daytime power if you use electricity during the day.
Distance. The WA grid is thousands of kilometres from the eastern states and has never been physically connected to them. WA runs its own wholesale market and sets residential prices through the state government rather than through the AER or a state regulator.
Under the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme, Synergy pays 10c/kWh for power exported between 3pm and 9pm and 2c/kWh at all other times, based on the rates last confirmed by Energy Policy WA. Most rooftop solar exports at midday, so most households earn close to the 2c rate unless they have a battery or west-facing panels.
Yes. The Home Plan A1 tariff rose 2.75%, with the usage rate moving from 32.37c to 33.26c/kWh and the supply charge from $1.16 to $1.19 a day. The 2026-27 Budget also lifted the Energy Assistance Payment for concession card holders by about 10%, to $377.14 a year.
Holders of a Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card who have an electricity account with Synergy or Horizon Power. The payment is $377.14 a year for 2026-27, credited to your bill once your card is registered with your retailer. Some other cards and situations also qualify, so check with your retailer if you hold a different card.
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.