Electricity and Gas consumption benchmarks for residential customers 2020

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) commissioned Frontier Economics to update the AER’s Electricity and Gas consumption benchmarks for 2020.

The electricity consumption benchmarks are graphs or tables that appear on electricity bills in relevant jurisdictions. Their purpose is to allow consumers to compare their household usage with other households in their area, with the intent of helping consumers make more informed choices about their energy use. 

Under the National Energy Retail Rules, the AER must update the benchmarks at least every three years. 

Retailers have until 31 March 2021 to publish the updated electricity benchmarks on residential customers’ bills. Retailers will continue to include the current (2017) electricity benchmarks on customers’ bills until then.

Published below is:

• Residential energy consumption benchmarks 2020 report (Frontier Economics)
• Seasonal electricity and gas benchmarks in an excel spreadsheet, for each climate zone (electricity) or state (gas) by household size
• Updated guidance to assist retailers to understand the consumption benchmark requirements under the National Energy Retail Law and Retail Rules.

The AER Simple electricity and gas benchmarks spreadsheet 2020

The spreadsheet containing the seasonal electricity and gas benchmarks by climate zone is available below. Daily benchmarks can be generated by dividing the seasonal figure by the number of days in the season (between 90 and 92 days). To generate benchmarks for bills that cross over sections, multiply each daily seasonal benchmarks by the number of days in the billing period in that season.