EnergyAustralia and Alinta reveal electricity bill increases for 2025-26

Two of the biggest power retailers have disclosed details of their next round of electricity price hikes, with big hits for hundreds of thousands of households. Find out what you’ll pay.

Annual power bills will rise by more than $200 for NSW customers with two of Australia’s biggest electricity retailers.

The sixth-largest provider, Alinta, will increase its household rates in NSW by 11 per cent, it can be revealed.

This masthead has also learned that industry no.3 EnergyAustralia will raise its prices in NSW by 8.7 per cent.

Alinta did not disclose small business pricing or estimated bill impacts. But based on its current pricing, a household with medium usage could expect an increase of between $236 in the Ausgrid distribution area, $268 in the Endeavour zone and $320 in the Essential patch.

The Ausgrid area covers eastern Sydney, the Central Coast, Hunter and Wollongong.

Power bills are set to rise again, in some cases by hundreds of dollars.

The Endeavour zone includes western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands.

Essential’s patch is the rest of the state.

The increases dwarf the $150 rebate on offer from the Albanese government for the new financial year.

For much of NSW, household bills – before rebates – will end up being about $1000 more than in December 2021 when Anthony Albanese promised to cut power costs by $275 a year by 2025.

Shadow Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Dan Tehan told this masthead: “Chris Bowen has failed dismally as Australia’s energy minister and he should apologise to the people of NSW for his gross incompetence.

“He promised that by the end of this year power bills would go down by $275 but this confirms they will go up by $1000. He should hang his head in shame,” Mr Tehan said.

Mr Bowen responded that “it’s clear energy bills for Australians remain too high, and we’re providing help for people doing it tough as we deliver longer term reform,” including to the retail market.

Alinta will increase its Qld prices by 5.2 per cent, adding $92 to bills; in South Australia, it’s hiking charges by 6.5 per cent, which will increase annual costs by $171. Alinta has yet to say what is happening to its Victorian prices, but the increase is likely to be fairly small.

EnergyAustralia said its 8.7 per cent increase to annual bills in NSW would add an average of $215 to costs for NSW households. For small businesses, the jump would be eight per cent or $565.

In Queensland, EnergyAustralia’s residential prices will go up by 2.1 per cent, adding $53 to yearly bills; in SA, the hit is 2.9 per cent, with a $73 annual impact.

In Victoria, EnergyAustralia will impose a 2.3 per cent increase, which raising annualised charges by $47. Its gas customers in Victoria face a 6.9 per cent price rise, adding $132 to yearly costs.

There will be a hefty blow for ACT households with EnergyAustralia for electricity, with charges set to rise by 11.6 per cent — that’s $231 a year.

The Opposition’s Dan Tehan criticised Chris Bowen over the increases. Picture: NewsWire’s David Beach

EnergyAustralia Chief Customer Officer Kate Gibson said “we encourage any customers experiencing difficulty paying their energy bill to please contact us as early as possible.

“Through our EnergyAssist program, support can cover payment plans, staying-connected guarantees, energy efficiency advice, and, for small businesses, cashflow assistance is available,” Ms Gibson said.

Earlier this month this masthead revealed the second-largest energy retailer AGL was lifting annual bills in NSW by 13.5 per cent or about $300 and that the biggest player, Origin, was raising its prices by 9.1 per cent.

Both were imposing small but still significant increases elsewhere.

Across all retailers selling in the national energy market, the proportion of household unable to pay their bills has nearly doubled since 20202 to 1.9 per cent.

Originally published as EnergyAustralia and Alinta reveal electricity bill increases for 2025-26