Your Electricity Bill

Ausgrid network charges are changing

Your electricity bill will be changing on July 1, 2023. Ausgrid network charges will increase by 4.6%* in accordance with the Australian Energy Regulator’s determination for the 2019-24 period. This increase includes a number of factors outside Ausgrid’s control including CPI impacts and government schemes. 

Ausgrid network charges are cheaper than they were in 2014

Our share of customers’ bills remains $228 less than it was in 2014.

(Based on 5,000 kWh per annum on a flat tariff structure. Excludes metering charges and controlled load usage. Ex GST.)

Ausgrid has worked hard to put downward pressure on prices over the past five years without compromising safety or reliability. This has helped keep Ausgrid’s network charges among the lowest in Australia at a time where the cost of living is in focus for many families. In addition to the reduction in costs, Ausgrid customers today also experience a more reliable electricity supply with the average customer experiencing fewer than 75 minutes* per year without power.

*(Source: AER)

What makes up your electricity bill?

Your electricity bill is made up of several different parts. Each part represents an essential link in the supply chain which enables electricity to be provided to your home or business.

Ausgrid is responsible for the safe and reliable distribution of electricity to more than 4.5 million customers. The Ausgrid network charges for distribution of your electricity and maintenance of the network represent 23% of the average residential customer bill.

The following graphic breaks down the average residential electricity bill for Ausgrid customers effective July 1, 2023.

Notes:

+ Retail includes metering charges.
^ Government environments schemes.
1. Amounts exclude GST.
2. Average residential bill for customer using demand tariff
3. Ausgrid total network charges include distribution pass through of transmission costs, NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap and the NSW Climate Change Fund.

Average Residential Customer Bill (ex GST, based on 5,000 kWh per annum demand tariff)

Other parts of your bill

While Ausgrid represents just one section of the electricity supply chain, there are numerous other parts which go into your total electricity bill. These other parts include: Generation (the cost of generating electricity), Transmission (the cost of transferring electricity from the point of generation to your distribution network), Retail (the cost of establishing and maintaining your electricity account) and Environment (the cost of other government environmental schemes which are added to your bill).

NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap

The New South Wales Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap scheme is a comprehensive strategy to guide the State’s transition to a clean, reliable, and affordable energy future. The roadmap includes initiatives to support renewable energy, energy efficiency, new energy technologies, and better energy management. The roadmap also includes measures to reduce emissions and increase energy affordability, as well as investment in infrastructure, including the establishment of new energy hubs and the modernisation of the grid.

Some of the costs incurred in relation to the scheme are passed on to electricity customers via your electricity bill. These costs represent 0.7% of your total bill and make up part of the ‘Network costs’ section. Without the introduction of the government’s NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap our network charge increase would be 1.3%*.

*(Nominal)

NSW Climate Change Fund

Ausgrid is also required to pass on the cost of the NSW Climate Change Fund, a NSW Government fund which invests in initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, generate clean energy, lower energy bills and make NSW communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

How to save money on your electricity bill

There are many tips for reducing your electricity bill. Ausgrid has a dedicated page giving you all the information you need to save energy at home.