Billing7 min read
Understanding Your Australian Electricity Bill
Decode every section of your electricity bill so you know exactly what you're paying for.
Anatomy of an Australian Electricity Bill
Account Details & NMI
Your NMI (National Metering Identifier) is a unique 10-11 digit number identifying your connection point. You need this when switching providers.
Supply Charge
A fixed daily charge (80c-$1.50/day) for being connected to the network, regardless of usage.
Usage Charges
Variable charges based on consumption in kWh. Rates depend on your tariff type: single rate, time-of-use, or block/tiered.
Average Daily Usage
The Australian average is approximately 16-18 kWh per day. Compare this across bills to track trends.
Solar Feed-in Credits
If you have solar, this shows electricity exported to the grid and credits received (typically 5-12c/kWh).
Discounts
Many plans offer conditional discounts (5-25%). Verify these are applied each bill.
What to Check Every Bill
- Correct tariff type for your meter
- Applied discounts showing correctly
- Estimated vs actual meter reads
- Year-on-year comparison
- Concession cards applied