Ways to split an electricity bill
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Equal shares | Total divided by the number of people, about $189 each. | Similar lifestyles and rooms. |
| Supply equal, usage by days home | Everyone pays a quarter of the supply charge, about $38, then usage in proportion to nights at home. | People who travel or work away. |
| Room-based weighting | A bigger room or ensuite pays a larger share. | Uneven rooms or a heater in one room. |
| Measured use | Plug-in meters on personal heaters, air conditioners or gaming PCs, charged to the user. | One person with a big personal load. |
Whose name goes on the account
- One account holder. Retailers usually allow one or two account holders. They are responsible for the whole bill, so agree the split in writing.
- Authorised contacts. Many retailers let the account holder add other people who can talk to them about the account.
- Concessions. An eligible card holder must be named on the account. See concessions.
- Life support. Register any life support equipment with the retailer whoever holds the account.
Protect the account holder
Unpaid shares become the account holder's debt, and repeated late payments can lead to fees or collection. A shared bank account or a payment app that collects shares before the due date avoids that.
When someone moves in or out
Read the meter on the day
Take a dated photo. Work out usage before and after from the reading.
Split the supply charge by days
Each person pays the supply charge for the days they lived there.
Change the account if the holder leaves
The new account holder opens an account and the old one is closed with a final read. See moving house.
Living with a granny flat or separate dwelling on one meter? See our granny flat electricity guide.
Questions about splitting electricity bills
An equal split works for similar housemates. Splitting the supply charge equally and usage by days at home, or charging big personal loads to the person using them, is fairer when lifestyles differ.
The account holder. The retailer can only pursue the person named on the account, so agree the split in writing and collect shares before the due date.
Many retailers allow joint account holders or authorised contacts. Ask your retailer what it offers.
Take a meter reading on the day they leave. Split usage before and after that reading, and split the supply charge by the days each person lived there.
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.