What ten LED downlights cost in each state
The table assumes ten LED downlights drawing 90 W in total, on for five hours a day.
| State | Rate | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| TasmaniaAurora Energy | 24.75c | $3.39 | $41 |
| QueenslandEnergex | 27.97c | $3.83 | $46 |
| Victoriaaverage of five networks | 28.2c | $3.86 | $46 |
| Northern TerritoryJacana Energy | 31.68c | $4.34 | $52 |
| New South WalesAusgrid | 33.14c | $4.54 | $54 |
| Western AustraliaSynergy | 33.26c | $4.55 | $55 |
| Australian Capital TerritoryEvoenergy network | 36.95c | $5.06 | $61 |
| South AustraliaSA Power Networks | 41.91c | $5.74 | $69 |
LED vs halogen running costs
| Type | Power | Cost an hour | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| One LED globe, 9 W | 9 W | 0.3c | $5 |
| Ten LED downlights | 90 W | 3c | $54 |
| Ten halogen downlights with transformers | 550 W | 18c | $333 |
| One halogen downlight with transformer | 55 W | 2c | $33 |
The SA Government says an average halogen downlight uses 35 W to 50 W, plus about 10 W for its transformer. Ten of them in a room can draw 450 W to 600 W, which is why swapping to LED is one of the quickest savings in an older home.
Choosing the right LED globe
| Incandescent | Compact fluorescent | LED |
|---|---|---|
| 25 W | 4-6 W | 3-4 W |
| 40 W | 7-9 W | 5-8 W |
| 60 W | 11-14 W | 8-12 W |
| 75 W | 14-17 W | 11-17 W |
| 100 W | 19-23 W | 15-23 W |
Replace the most-used lights first
Kitchen, living room and outdoor lights left on for hours pay back fastest.
Check the fitting
Halogen downlights often need a matching LED or a new driver. An electrician can replace transformers where needed.
Watch smart globe standby
Smart LEDs draw power even when off. energy.gov.au suggests looking for 0.5 W or less in standby.
Outdoor and security lights
Lights left on all night add up. Sensor lights or a timer cut the hours. Our Christmas lights guide covers seasonal lighting.
Questions about lighting running costs
A 9 W LED globe costs about 0.3c an hour on the Ausgrid reference rate. Five hours a day all year is roughly $5.
Ten halogen downlights with transformers draw around 550 W against about 90 W for ten LEDs. At five hours a day on the Ausgrid reference rate, that is about $278 a year saved.
Turn them off. Switching LEDs on and off does not use a surge of extra power or meaningfully shorten their life.
energy.gov.au puts lighting at around 5% to 10% of the average household electricity budget.
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.