Average gas use and bills in the ACT by household size
| Household | MJ a year | Typical plan a year | Per quarter | Cheapest plan a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 14,687 | $1,055 | $264 | $819 |
| 3 people | 36,935 | $1,892 | $473 | $1,579 |
| 5 or more people | 45,808 | $2,224 | $556 | $1,882 |
Gas use through the year
| Household | Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1,498 | 3,276 | 6,188 | 3,725 |
| 2 people | 2,189 | 8,542 | 17,918 | 8,221 |
| 3 people | 2,254 | 8,542 | 17,918 | 8,221 |
| 4 people | 3,442 | 10,100 | 20,305 | 9,711 |
| 5+ people | 3,442 | 10,100 | 22,060 | 10,206 |
The AER pooled the ACT with Tasmania for its gas benchmarks because Tasmania had too few gas homes to measure. Winter use is over six times summer, reflecting the cold climate.
Expect your winter bill to be the biggest by far. If you pay by the quarter, a smoothed monthly payment plan can spread the cost; ask your retailer.
Is your gas bill high?
- Divide the MJ on your bill by the days in the billing period to get your daily use, and compare it with the seasonal figures above.
- Ducted gas heating and gas storage hot water are the biggest users. See gas heater running costs and gas hot water costs.
- If your usage is normal but the bill is high, compare plans: see gas prices in the ACT.
Common questions
For a three-person home on the AER benchmark of 36,935 MJ a year, a typical market plan costs about $1,892 a year, or $473 a quarter, as at 14 October 2026.
About 14,687 MJ a year on the AER benchmark, costing about $1,055 a year on a typical plan.
Heating. On the AER benchmark, winter makes up 49% of a three-person home's gas use in the ACT.
Sources
Usage comes from the AER gas benchmarks. Costs come from the AER's Energy Made Easy plan data, priced by us. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.