{"id":99524,"date":"2026-05-25T12:11:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T02:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=99524"},"modified":"2026-05-25T12:03:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T02:33:41","slug":"aer-network-costs-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/aer-network-costs-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Power Network Costs To Rise Nationally, With One Exception"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AERThe Australian Energy Regulator has completed its annual round of electricity network pricing approvals across most of the country, with one state defying the national trend for higher costs.The national picture is fairly clear: most regions across the National Electricity Market are facing higher network costs in 2026\u201327, although the size of the increases varies significantly depending on where you live. Victoria\u2019s network results were more mixed than most other jurisdictions, highlighting how differently electricity pricing can move between states and distributors.<\/p>\n

These network charges don\u2019t determine your final power bill on their own, but they are a major component of the electricity prices retailers eventually pass on to households. Network charges cover the cost of building, maintaining and operating the poles-and-wires infrastructure that delivers electricity to homes and businesses.<\/p>\n

Which Networks Are Seeing The Biggest Changes?<\/h2>\n

The AER\u2019s pricing data shows a broad upward trend across NSW and Queensland in particular, with several networks recording sizeable increases in the network portion of household electricity bills.<\/p>\n

Among the largest increases:<\/p>\n

Endeavour Energy (NSW):<\/strong> up around 11%
\nEnergex (QLD):<\/strong> up around 12%
\nSA Power Networks:<\/strong> up around 10%
\nAusgrid (NSW):<\/strong> up around 10%<\/p>\n

More moderate increases include:<\/p>\n

Essential Energy (NSW):<\/strong> up around 6%
\nTasNetworks:<\/strong> up around 5%
\nUnited Energy (VIC):<\/strong> smaller increases<\/p>\n

Victoria is the main outlier nationally, with two distributors recording decreases:<\/p>\n

AusNet Services:<\/strong> down around 9%
\nJemena:<\/strong> slight decrease<\/p>\n

These figures reflect estimated changes in the network portion of household electricity bills, not total retail bill increases.<\/p>\n

Not all networks appear in the list above because some operate under government-regulated retail pricing (such as Ergon Energy and Power and Water Corporation) or have tariff structures that don\u2019t produce a comparable residential percentage in the AER\u2019s model.<\/p>\n

Victorians Secure Lower Electricity Bills<\/h2>\n

After the AER’s decision, Victoria’s Essential Services Commission announced it would cut the cap on standard electricity offers, with bills set to drop by around 5%, or $84, for the average household on the Victorian Default Offer.<\/p>\n

The savings are even larger for small businesses, which will save around 6% on average, or $241.<\/p>\n

What About WA?<\/h2>\n

WA is not part of the AER\u2019s annual network pricing process because electricity pricing there is handled separately through the WA State Budget.<\/p>\n

For 2026\u201327, the WA Government confirmed a 2.75% increase to the fixed residential electricity charge for households on Synergy\u2019s A1 home plan. That\u2019s a separate pricing decision to the network cost changes being approved by the AER across the eastern states and territories.<\/p>\n

Why Are Network Costs Rising?<\/h2>\n

The drivers vary slightly between states, but the broader pattern is consistent.<\/p>\n

The AER says several themes appear repeatedly across the country, including:<\/p>\n