Electricity guides
Plain-language guides to bills, tariffs, prices and switching. No ads, no signup, and no lead-selling, same as the calculator.
Electricity concessions: how they work and how to check what you can get
How energy concessions and rebates work in each State and Territory, who typically qualifies, how to apply through your retailer, and the checks that stop you missing money you are entitled to.
Supply charges explained: the bill you pay before using any power
What the daily supply charge covers, why it varies so much between plans and regions, and how to weigh a high supply charge against a low usage rate for your home.
Average electricity usage in Australia: is your home normal?
What typical Australian households use per day, why the averages vary so much by household size and climate, how to find your own exact figure, and what to do if yours is high.
What uses the most electricity in your home (and what it costs to run)
A formula-first guide to appliance running costs: how to work out what any appliance costs from its wattage and your rate, and which household loads actually dominate the bill.
Smart meters explained: the 2030 rollout and what it means for your bill
What a smart meter actually does, the national plan to have one in every home by 2030, the protections around installation, and how to use the meter's data to pay less.
Time-of-use vs single rate: which electricity tariff suits you?
How time-of-use tariffs work, who actually saves on them, who is better off on a flat rate, and how to compare the two fairly using your own usage pattern.
Solar feed-in tariffs explained: why the highest rate rarely wins
How feed-in tariffs work in 2026, why Victoria's regulated minimum is gone, and how to weigh a feed-in rate against usage rates so a shiny headline number does not cost you money.
Moving house? Your electricity checklist (and a chance to save)
What to do about electricity when you move: when to book the connection, what happens at the old place, the traps in "same day" promises, and why a move is the best moment to compare plans.
Why is my electricity bill so high? A practical checklist
A step-by-step checklist for a surprisingly high electricity bill: estimated reads, billing days, price changes, seasonal usage, hot water, and the plan problems that quietly cost you money.
How to switch electricity providers in Australia (step by step)
When switching electricity retailers is worth it, how the process actually works, the ten business day cooling-off period, exit fees to check for, and the traps to avoid.
The reference price explained: DMO, VDO and how to tell if a plan is good
What the Default Market Offer and Victorian Default Offer actually are, the 2026-27 prices that took effect on 1 July 2026, and how to use the reference price as a yardstick when comparing electricity plans.
Controlled load explained: cheap hot water, CL1 vs CL2 and Tariff 41
What a controlled load is, why it is cheaper, what it is called in each State and Territory, and how to include it when you compare electricity plans.
How to read your electricity bill (and find the numbers that matter)
A plain-language walkthrough of an Australian electricity bill: the supply charge, usage rates, controlled load lines and the better offer box, plus the four numbers you need to compare plans properly.