About Ausgrid
Ausgrid is the largest electricity distribution network in the national market by customer numbers, with about 1.8 million connections. It does not sell electricity. Your retailer buys power on the wholesale market, pays Ausgrid to deliver it, and bills you for both.
The network was partly privatised in 2016, when the NSW Government leased a 50.4% interest for 99 years. Its prices are still set within limits approved by the Australian Energy Regulator for each five-year period, so the lease did not change how network charges are regulated.
About 40% of Ausgrid's lines are underground, a high share that reflects the dense inner city and newer estates. Older suburbs and the Hunter still rely on overhead lines, which are more exposed to storms and trees.
Owner: A 50.4% interest is held under a 99-year lease by a consortium of IFM Investors, APG Asset Management and AustralianSuper. The NSW Government keeps the other 49.6%.
Ausgrid in numbers
| Customers | 1,801,396 |
|---|---|
| Residential customers | 1,615,002 |
| Line length | 43,133 km |
| Overhead | 26,013 km |
| Underground | 17,120 km (40%) |
| Customers per km of line | 41.8 |
| Regulatory asset base | $18.4 billion |
| Homes on cost-reflective network tariffs | 40.2% (2024) |
| Regulatory period | 2024-29 |
Across all networks the AER regulates, the average is 14.5 customers per kilometre of line and 37.4% of homes on cost-reflective tariffs. Fewer customers per kilometre generally means higher costs per customer and longer outages. See network reliability.
Ausgrid power outages and faults
Check Ausgrid's current outages first. If your outage is not listed, report it by phone or online. If only your home is affected, check your switchboard: see power out in your house.
For planned work, Ausgrid must give you at least four business days' notice under the National Energy Retail Rules, and written notice if you are registered for life support. See planned outages.
Fallen powerlines
Treat any fallen line as live. Stay well back, call 000 if anyone is in danger, then call Ausgrid. See fallen powerline safety.
More on outages in New South Wales: power outages in New South Wales and compensation for long outages.
What Ausgrid means for your bill
Network charges are built into your retailer's usage rate and daily supply charge. The AER found network charges were up to 46% of a residential bill in 2024. On the Default Market Offer for the Ausgrid area in 2026-27, the price is 33.14c per kWh and $1.66 a day, about $1,932 a year at 4,000 kWh.
Retailers compete in this network. As at 14 October 2026, the cheapest generally available flat-rate plan was Tango Energy's Everyday Easy, at about $1,467 a year for 4,000 kWh. See the full ranking.
How network prices are decided: AER determinations and network charges explained.
Places on the Ausgrid network
City guides with local bills, solar output and installation numbers: Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast.
Connecting solar on the Ausgrid network
Ausgrid introduced a two-way network tariff for solar customers on 1 July 2025. Exports above a free daily threshold in the middle of the day attract a small network charge, while exports in the late afternoon and evening earn a credit. Whether you see either depends on how your retailer passes them through.
Ausgrid approves every new solar connection and sets the export limit for your address. Your installer applies on your behalf. Read about export limits, export charges and the emergency backstop before you buy.
Questions about Ausgrid
13 13 88 (outages, hazards and emergencies, 24/7). Call 000 first if anyone is in danger.
No. Ausgrid owns and runs the network. Your retailer sends the bill and sets your plan, and pays Ausgrid to deliver the power. Call Ausgrid about outages and faults, and your retailer about bills.
A 50.4% interest is held under a 99-year lease by a consortium of IFM Investors, APG Asset Management and AustralianSuper. The NSW Government keeps the other 49.6%.
About 1,801,396, of which 1,615,002 are homes, according to the AER as at 30 June 2024.
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.