Households in the Australian Capital Territory are paying 10 per cent more for the median annual electricity bill in 2025, but significant savings remain available by shopping around, according to the territory's economic regulator. The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission said market competition is improving.
The median annual electricity bill for the most common type of residential customer rose from $2,043 in 2024 to $2,245 in 2025. For small businesses, the median bill increased from $5,326 to $5,695 over the same period, representing a 7 per cent rise.
The commission found that only 2 per cent of ACT electricity customers pay more than the reference price set by the government. However, a 'loyalty penalty' is evident for long-term customers on legacy flat-rate plans, with the most expensive offers costing more than double the cheapest offers.
Annual bills increased across all retailers from 2024 to 2025, with price hikes ranging from about 8 per cent to 18 per cent. Origin consistently offered the lowest median annual bills, while EnergyAustralia showed the greatest year-on-year growth.
The commission's report noted that the rate of complaints is low compared to other states, and average-income households spend 1.5 per cent of their income on electricity. Time-of-use plans are becoming more popular and can provide bigger discounts for customers who shift demand to off-peak times.
The analysis covered 195,000 residential customers and around 14,000 small businesses, representing 98 per cent of the ACT's small electricity customer base. About 70 per cent of residential customers remain on flat-rate offers, but the market share of such offers declined between 2024 and 2025.
