Bill Checker

Average electricity bill for 1 person

Across the four cities below, a one-person household uses between 8.0 and 9.3 kWh a day. Where you live moves that figure more than almost anything else you can control.

Benchmark electricity use for 1 person, by city
City kWh a daykWh a yearEstimated yearly bill
Adelaide 8.02,936$1,713
Sydney 8.53,109$1,493
Melbourne 8.12,953$1,175
Brisbane 9.33,412$1,475

Benchmark source published: December 2020 How we work this out

What is different about a one-person household

A person living alone uses about 3,100 kWh a year. Each person in a four-person house uses closer to 1,700. A fridge, a hot water system and a heated room cost the same whether one person or four are using them.

The daily supply charge makes up a larger share of a low-usage bill. It is the same fixed amount every day regardless of how little you use, so cutting usage will not change that part of the bill.

Season by season

Kilowatt hours per quarter for 1 person.

Benchmark electricity use for 1 person in kWh per quarter
City SummerAutumnWinterSpring
Adelaide 687704894651
Sydney 732745927705
Melbourne 674684927668
Brisbane 908857848799

Check your own bill

We use this to compare you with households in your area.
How many people live in your home?
The total amount, including any daily supply charge.
How long was this bill for?
Only needed if you chose "Something else". Your bill usually prints the dates it covers.
days
If you can see "kWh" on your bill, enter it here. Otherwise, leave this blank. Filling it in gives you a much more accurate answer.
kWh
Electricity use changes a lot between summer and winter, so we compare you with the same time of year. Leave it blank if this is your latest bill.

Other household sizes