Average electricity bill for one person by city
| City | kWh a year | kWh a day | A quarter | A year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MelbourneVictoria | 2,953 | 8.1 | $324 | $1,295 |
| SydneyNSW | 3,109 | 8.5 | $409 | $1,637 |
| BrisbaneQueensland | 3,412 | 9.3 | $414 | $1,655 |
| AdelaideSA | 2,936 | 8.0 | $472 | $1,888 |
| CanberraACT | 4,360 | 11.9 | $525 | $2,101 |
| HobartTasmania | 6,003 | 16.4 | $538 | $2,150 |
Hobart and Canberra sit at the top because winter heating is often electric and winters are long. Melbourne sits low partly because many homes heat with gas, which shows up on a separate bill.
Why the supply charge matters more when you live alone
The daily supply charge is the same whether one person or six live in a home. For a single person using less power, it becomes a big slice of the bill. In Sydney on the Ausgrid reference price, the supply charge alone is about $607 a year, against about $1,030 for usage at the benchmark level.
| Charge | A year | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Daily supply | $607 | 37% |
| Usage | $1,030 | 63% |
When you compare plans, weigh the supply charge heavily. A plan with a slightly higher usage rate but a lower supply charge often works out cheaper for low-usage homes. See our supply charges guide.
Keeping a single-person bill down
Pick a plan built for low usage
Compare on Energy Made Easy or Victorian Energy Compare using your own kWh, and look closely at the supply charge.
Size your fridge to your needs
energy.gov.au suggests 250 to 380 litres for one or two people. A big family fridge or a second fridge costs more every day.
Heat yourself, not the whole home
An electric blanket or heated throw costs cents an hour.
Check standby
In a low-usage home, always-on devices are a bigger share of the bill. See standby power.
Claim concessions
If you hold an eligible card, a concession can cover a large share of a single person's bill. See concessions by state.
Questions about one-person electricity bills
Based on the AER benchmarks priced on 2026-27 regulated rates, between about $1,295 and $2,150 a year depending on the city. Market offers can be cheaper.
Between about 8 and 16 kWh a day on average across the capitals in the AER benchmarks, more in winter and less in spring.
The daily supply charge is the same for every household, so it makes up a large share of a small bill, about 37% for a one-person Sydney home on the Ausgrid reference price. Heating and a large or second fridge are the next things to check.
Usually one with a low daily supply charge. Compare on the government comparison sites using your own kWh rather than an average household.
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.