Average gas use and bills in New South Wales by household size
| Household | MJ a year | Typical plan a year | Per quarter | Cheapest plan a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 9,835 | $746 | $187 | $550 |
| 3 people | 19,978 | $1,098 | $275 | $838 |
| 5 or more people | 28,799 | $1,389 | $347 | $1,084 |
Gas use through the year
| Household | Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1,340 | 2,168 | 4,033 | 2,294 |
| 2 people | 2,219 | 3,901 | 6,990 | 3,835 |
| 3 people | 2,841 | 4,636 | 7,858 | 4,643 |
| 4 people | 3,538 | 5,593 | 9,172 | 5,857 |
| 5+ people | 4,117 | 6,727 | 11,055 | 6,900 |
NSW gas use rises steadily with household size. Winter is highest, but at a little under three times summer it is less seasonal than Victoria or the ACT.
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 New South Wales.
Common questions
For a three-person home on the AER benchmark of 19,978 MJ a year, a typical market plan costs about $1,098 a year, or $275 a quarter, as at 14 October 2026.
About 9,835 MJ a year on the AER benchmark, costing about $746 a year on a typical plan.
Heating. On the AER benchmark, winter makes up 39% of a three-person home's gas use in New South Wales.
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.