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Electricity costs in Queensland

Queensland electricity costs vary significantly depending on whether you live in south-east Queensland or regional Queensland. The average household in south-east QLD pays between $1,500 and $2,100 per year, while regional customers often pay more due to higher network charges. Air conditioning is a major driver of bills across the state, with summer cooling loads pushing consumption well above the national average for many households.

Price regulation in Queensland

The Default Market Offer (DMO), set by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), applies to south-east Queensland customers on the Energex distribution network. The DMO caps what retailers can charge on standing offers and serves as the reference price that all market offers are compared against. In regional Queensland, where Ergon Energy distributes power, prices are regulated by the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) and set under a separate framework. Regional customers generally have fewer retail options but benefit from state government subsidies that keep prices closer to south-east QLD levels.

Common retailers in Queensland

In south-east Queensland, the major retailers include AGL, Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia, Alinta Energy, and ReAmped Energy. Smaller retailers like Energy Locals and Amber Electric also compete in the Energex area. In regional Queensland, Ergon Energy Retail is the dominant retailer and for many customers the only realistic option, although Origin and AGL have entered some regional zones. The distribution network — Energex for the south-east or Ergon for the rest of the state — determines which retailers and offers are available to you.

Common tariff types

Queensland households are commonly on flat rate (tariff 11), controlled load (tariff 31 or 33 for hot water and pool pumps), or time of use tariffs. Controlled load tariffs provide cheap off-peak electricity for specific appliances and can significantly reduce hot water heating costs. If your bill shows a controlled load component, make sure it is correctly assigned — some households miss out on savings because their hot water system is wired to the wrong tariff. Time of use pricing is less common in QLD than in southern states but is growing as smart meter rollouts accelerate.

Queensland-specific tips

Queensland has the highest rooftop solar penetration in Australia, so if you have panels, pay close attention to your feed-in tariff rate and your self-consumption ratio. Many early solar adopters are still on generous legacy feed-in tariffs — check whether your current plan preserves that rate. If you are in south-east QLD and have not compared plans recently, switching from a standing offer to the best market offer could save $300 or more per year. Regional customers should check whether they are receiving the Queensland Government electricity rebate, which helps offset higher regional costs.

State energy market information is general guidance current as of March 2026. Verify specific rates and regulations with the AER or the QCA.