The main types of network tariff
- Flat or anytime: one rate per kWh whenever you use it. Still common for homes with older accumulation meters.
- Time-of-use: higher rates in the evening peak, lower rates overnight and, increasingly, cheap rates in the middle of the day when solar is abundant.
- Demand: a charge based on your highest use in a short window, usually in the evening peak, on top of usage charges.
- Controlled load: a separate, cheaper tariff for hot water or pool heating on its own circuit. See our controlled load guide.
- Two-way or export: newer tariffs that charge or reward solar exports depending on the time of day. See solar export charges.
Network tariff versus your retail plan
The network tariff is a bill between your distributor and your retailer. Your retailer chooses how to price your plan, and may offer a flat rate even if it pays the network on time-of-use. Some retailers pass the structure through closely, which is how wholesale and time-of-use plans are built.
If your bill changed after a smart meter
Ask your retailer which retail tariff you are on and whether a different one suits your usage better. Our guide to bills after a smart meter covers the usual causes, and the time-of-use guide shows how to check.
Common questions
A network tariff that charges more when the network is busiest, usually weekday evenings, through time-of-use rates or a demand charge. The idea is that prices reflect the cost of building the network for peak demand.
No. The network tariff is what your retailer pays. The retailer sets your retail tariff and can choose a different structure, such as a flat rate.
Evoenergy in the ACT, at about 52.6% of residential customers in 2024, according to the AER. United Energy in Melbourne had the lowest share.
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.