The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has published the approved electricity distributors’ annual pricing proposals and network charges for 2026–27 for the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australian, and Tasmania.
This follows an assessment by the AER of each of the proposals and proposed drivers to ensure they are consistent with the National Electricity Rules and each distributor’s five-year regulatory revenue determination.
In 2026–27 network charges are mostly increasing, the main drivers being the revenue paths set in the applicable determinations, increasing transmission costs, inflation, and the recovery of previously under-recovered revenue. For NSW networks increases are also driven by increased costs related to the NSW Roadmap. For SA increasing transmission costs also include the recovery of costs related to the Firm Energy Reliability Mechanism.
Our Statement of Reasons for each electricity distributor provide a summary of the changes in network charges and demand forecasts.
These network charges will be incorporated into retail electricity prices for the upcoming 2026–27 year. Retailers ultimately determine how these underlying network charges are reflected in the retail prices offered to customers. The AER acknowledges that electricity bills are a concern to many households and businesses. We encourage consumers to use the AER’s Energy Made Easy website, our free and independent price comparison tool, to find the best offer to suit their needs.
The AER will also use the approved network charges for New South Wales, South Australia, and South-East Queensland (Energex) in the final 2026–27 Default Market Offer that will be published by 26 May.
We will receive and assess pricing proposals for Victorian electricity distributors in May, following the release of the final determinations for the 2026–31 regulatory period.
A copy of all the approved network charges can be accessed here.
View the approved proposals and our Statement of Reasons for each distributor here: