It's hardly new news that energy bills are creeping up - or some might say they're soaring beyond control!

But what should you expect as a reasonable average for your electricity bill?

And while we're at it, are there ways you can avoid bill shock?

Let's take a look.

How much is the average electricity bill?

In basic terms, the average Australian electricity bill is $1,645 per year.

That's according to the AEMC (Australian Energy Market Commission) and it's very important to note that this figure was as of December 2021.

Why?

This date is well before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and many countries - including Australia - stopped buying Russian energy, therefore resulting in a shortage of such energy as well as rising prices.

As a side note, here's the odd thing: in November 2021, the AEMC essentially congratulated south-east Queensland, with an energy forecast predicting the region's residents would enjoy $126 cheaper electricity - or a decrease of 10% - by 2024. 

"The annual bill paid by a typical household in South-East Queensland is likely to be $1,100 by June 2024," said AEMC, with this trend being due to "falling wholesale and environmental costs".

Switch forward six months and we find this region, along with eastern Australia as a whole, experienced "unprecedented" and "all-time high" electricity and gas levels in the 2022 second quarter, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

How much is the average electricity bill for different people?

With people living in different-sized properties and family units, we wanted to divide the initial question further into families, couples and singles.

We talked to our family and friends in different areas of Australia and here are our findings.

Single person living in two-bedroom unit in Brisbane

$1,400 annually (with budget provider Powershop)

No increase in past year

Couple living in four-bedroom home in regional NSW

$2,000 annually (with major provider)

Increase has been noticed as of recent quarterly bill ie. an extra $100 per bill

Family (three children) living in four-bedroom home in Melbourne

$4,000 annually (with budget provider Globird Energy)

Recent increases definitely noted

What can I do if my bill is higher than the average?

Firstly, it might make you feel better - or not! - to know that even if you lived in candlelight and never used any appliance in your house again, you'd still need to pay for electricity.

This is because there's always a set minimum for your bill, which itself is divided into usage and supply charges, with the latter being an unchanging amount regardless of what appliances and switches are on or off.

As well, larger families living in larger homes will always need to pay more than a single living in a small unit - and will also be more subject to recent increases.

But as we recently discussed, there are ways to bring down your bill figure, so think about the following:

1. Keep a regular check on your electricity meter and send readings to your energy provider to ensure you're only paying for what you use
2. With appliances using an average of 25% of total household energy, smart usage can really save on electricity. Set your heaters and air conditioners to energy-saving temperatures; don't keep fridge doors open when you're not using them, or oven doors open when they're on; only use a dishwasher with a full load inside; use cold instead of hot water for clothes washing, and use the clothes dryer as little as possible.
3. It's also not a myth that turning off appliances at the switch and turning off switches that aren't being used, can save on energy as will insulating your home and sealing gaps and draughts.
4. Finally, there's the growing trend of renewable energy including solar panels, or you may even want to consider going off-grid and not having to pay for energy ever again!

We're here to help

So, how much is the average electricity bill? It all depends on your situation however there are always better deals out there. Moving Loop are pros when it comes to comparing plans from Australia's leading energy providers and never has there been a better time to keep more money in your pocket. 

We can also help you get the power turned on if you're moving house as well as help you find a removalist.

Our comparison service is free - and it only takes a couple of minutes.

Visit Moving Loop to compare, switch and start saving.