What a heated towel rail costs to run in each state
The table assumes a 100 W rail on for eight hours a day, every day.
| State | Rate | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| TasmaniaAurora Energy | 24.75c | $6.02 | $72 |
| QueenslandEnergex | 27.97c | $6.81 | $82 |
| Victoriaaverage of five networks | 28.2c | $6.86 | $82 |
| Northern TerritoryJacana Energy | 31.68c | $7.71 | $93 |
| New South WalesAusgrid | 33.14c | $8.06 | $97 |
| Western AustraliaSynergy | 33.26c | $8.09 | $97 |
| Australian Capital TerritoryEvoenergy network | 36.95c | $8.99 | $108 |
| South AustraliaSA Power Networks | 41.91c | $10.20 | $122 |
Running costs by rail size
| Type | Power | Cost an hour | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small towel rail | 60 W | 2c | $58 |
| Medium towel rail | 100 W | 3c | $97 |
| Large towel rail | 150 W | 5c | $145 |
The cost of leaving it on all the time
A towel rail draws little power, but it draws it every hour it is on. Eight hours a day is about a third of the cost of running it continuously. Over a year, the difference between 24 hours and eight hours a day for a 100 W rail is around $194 on the Ausgrid reference rate.
Add a timer
A licensed electrician can fit a timer switch to a hard-wired rail. Plug-in rails can use a plug-in timer.
Run it when you need it
An hour or two after showers is enough to dry towels on most rails.
Turn it off in summer
Towels dry on their own in warm months. Switching off from spring to autumn removes most of the yearly cost.
Check your wall switch
Many hard-wired rails have a separate switch outside the bathroom or inside a cupboard. If your bill seems high and you have a rail, check whether it has been on since you moved in.
Questions about heated towel rail running costs
A 100 W rail costs about 3c an hour on the Ausgrid reference rate. Eight hours a day is about $97 a year, and 24 hours a day is about $290.
Most are designed to run safely for long periods, but leaving one on around the clock costs about three times as much as running it eight hours a day. A timer is the easiest fix.
Most household rails sit between about 60 W and 150 W. The figure is printed on the rail or in the installation guide.
Yes, but a hard-wired rail must be fitted with a timer by a licensed electrician. Plug-in rails can use an ordinary plug-in timer.
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.