How much more power homes use in summer
The AER's 2020 benchmarks show seasonal usage for each household size. The table shows two-person homes, the most common household size in the AER's sample, with the highest season for each city in bold.
| City | Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 1,278 | 1,232 | 1,565 | 1,162 |
| Melbourne | 1,112 | 1,125 | 1,493 | 1,110 |
| Brisbane | 1,393 | 1,281 | 1,250 | 1,202 |
| Adelaide | 1,225 | 1,188 | 1,526 | 1,107 |
| Canberra | 1,200 | 1,468 | 2,042 | 1,397 |
| Hobart | 1,581 | 2,109 | 2,950 | 2,144 |
Summer is the peak in Brisbane and much of Queensland, where cooling runs for months. In Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, summer bills rise during heatwaves but winter heating usually costs more over a full season.
What cooling costs per hour
| Cooling | Cost an hour |
|---|---|
| Ceiling fan, 60 W | 2c |
| Small split system, 0.75 kW | 25c |
| Medium split system, 1.5 kW | 50c |
| Ducted system, 4.3 kW | 142c |
Six hours a day of a medium split system for 90 summer days is about 810 kWh, roughly $268 on the Ausgrid reference rate. Our cheapest way to cool a home guide compares every option.
How to keep summer bills down
Shade before the heat arrives
Close blinds on north and west windows in the morning. It is far cheaper to keep heat out than to pump it out.
Set the thermostat to 24°C to 27°C
The SA Government recommends this range for cooling.
Use fans with or instead of air con
A fan makes a room feel about 3°C cooler for a few cents an hour. See fan vs air conditioner.
Pre-cool before the peak
On a time-of-use plan, cool the house before 4pm and let it coast through the expensive hours.
Open up at night
When it is cooler outside, turn the air conditioner off and let the breeze in.
Questions about summer electricity bills
Mostly air conditioning, plus fridges and pool pumps working harder in the heat. In Brisbane, the AER benchmarks show summer as the highest-use season for every household size.
A medium split system drawing 1.5 kW for six hours a day over 90 days costs about $268 on the Ausgrid reference rate. Larger or ducted systems cost more.
The SA Government recommends 24°C to 27°C. Each degree cooler adds roughly 5% to 10% to energy use, according to energy.gov.au.
It depends on where you live. The AER benchmarks show winter as the biggest season in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart, and summer in Brisbane.
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.