South Australia has a single electricity distribution network (SA Power Networks) covering the entire state, which simplifies comparison: every address in SA is on the same network with access to the same retailers. However, SA also has the highest electricity prices of any DMO-regulated state, making comparison particularly worthwhile.
From 1 July 2026, SA is the only DMO region where flat rate residential prices increased, rising 1.4% ($33 per year). Time-of-use prices dropped 1.1%, so TOU customers fared better. The new Solar Sharer Offer (12pm to 3pm free window) is also available for households with smart meters.
Current reference prices in South Australia (2026-27)
| Tariff type | DMO annual reference | Change from 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Flat rate | $2,398/year | Up $33 (+1.4%) |
| Time of use | $2,317/year | Down $26 (-1.1%) |
SA's flat rate DMO is $654 per year higher than NSW's cheapest network (Ausgrid) and $723 higher than Victoria's cheapest (CitiPower). This gap is real and structural: SA has higher network costs, higher wholesale costs due to its generation mix, and higher exposure to gas prices in the wholesale market.
The silver lining is that the competitive market in SA is aggressive. The most competitive market offers sit 18% to 25% below the DMO reference price, which means savings of $430 to $600 per year for a household switching from a standing offer.
Source: AER Default Market Offer 2026-27 (DMO 8), published 26 May 2026.
Our take on electricity in South Australia
SA has the highest electricity prices in Australia, and they just went up again on flat rate plans from 1 July 2026. But this makes comparing plans more valuable here than anywhere else. The savings from switching off a standing offer are typically $430 to $600 per year, the largest absolute savings of any DMO region.
If you are still on a standing offer, the single most impactful thing you can do for your electricity costs is to compare plans today. It is genuinely worth 5 minutes of your time to save $500.
South Australia also has the highest rooftop solar output per panel in the country, thanks to high irradiance levels. If you have solar and are not on a plan with a competitive feed-in tariff, you are leaving money on the table. And if you do not have solar, SA is the state where the payback period on a rooftop system is the shortest.
TOU pricing is worth considering in SA. The 2026-27 TOU DMO actually dropped while the flat rate rose. If you can shift usage away from the 7am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm peak windows, TOU could save you money compared to flat rate.
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Compare plans nowSA Power Networks: one network, one set of charges
Unlike NSW and Victoria, which each have multiple distribution networks, South Australia has a single network operator: SA Power Networks. This means every residential address in the state, from Adelaide to Coober Pedy, is on the same network with the same regulated network charges.
This simplifies comparison. You do not need to know which network you are on (it is always SA Power Networks), and every retailer that operates in SA can serve your address. Major retailers active in SA include AGL, Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia, Alinta Energy, Simply Energy, Red Energy, OVO Energy, 1st Energy, Lumo Energy, and several smaller providers.
Network charges make up roughly 40% of a typical SA electricity bill. While you cannot negotiate or avoid network charges by switching retailers, the retailer's margin on top of those charges varies significantly, which is where the savings come from.
Average electricity bills by city in South Australia
Because SA Power Networks covers the entire state, this is the one place in Australia where your city does not change your network charges. Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Port Augusta, and Whyalla all sit on the same reference price.
| City / area | Network | DMO reference (flat, annual) | Typical cheapest market offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide (metro) | SA Power Networks | $2,398/year | $1,800 to $1,970/year |
| Adelaide Hills | SA Power Networks | $2,398/year | $1,800 to $1,970/year |
| Mount Gambier | SA Power Networks | $2,398/year | $1,800 to $1,970/year |
| Port Augusta, Whyalla | SA Power Networks | $2,398/year | $1,800 to $1,970/year |
Since the reference price is identical everywhere in the state, the only thing that changes your bill from one SA city to another is your own usage and which retailer and plan you choose. This makes SA one of the simplest states to compare, since you do not need to identify a network before comparing retailers, but also one where the savings from comparing are the largest in the country: $430 to $600 per year for a typical household moving off a standing offer, wherever in SA you live.
What would you pay? Real scenarios for SA households
Couple in an Adelaide unit (3,500 kWh/year, reverse cycle air con, no solar)
On the DMO standing offer: approximately $2,095 per year. On the cheapest market offer: approximately $1,580 to $1,720 per year. Potential saving: $375 to $515 per year.
Family of four in Adelaide's suburbs (6,000 kWh/year, ducted air con, gas hot water, no solar)
On the DMO standing offer: approximately $3,590 per year. On the cheapest market offer: approximately $2,690 to $2,950 per year. Potential saving: $640 to $900 per year. This is the highest potential saving of any comparable household in Australia.
Retiree in the Adelaide Hills (4,500 kWh/year, 6.6kW solar with battery)
On a standing offer with a low feed-in rate: approximately $1,450 per year after solar credits. On a competitive market offer with a strong feed-in tariff and TOU pricing to maximise battery value: approximately $850 to $1,050 per year. Potential saving: $400 to $600 per year. The battery makes TOU pricing particularly powerful in SA because of the large peak-to-off-peak price gap.
Tariff types in South Australia
Flat rate: One price per kWh at all times. The DMO flat rate reference is $2,398 per year. Simple but more expensive than TOU for households that can shift usage.
Time of use: SA has a split peak structure with peak periods in the morning (7am to 9am) and evening (5pm to 8pm) on weekdays. Off-peak is 9pm to 7am daily plus all weekend. Shoulder fills the gaps. The TOU DMO is $81 per year cheaper than flat rate at reference usage, and the gap widens on market offers.
Controlled load: A separate circuit for electric hot water or slab heating, charged at a much lower rate. If your home has a controlled load circuit, make sure your plan includes a competitive controlled load rate. In SA, where overall prices are high, the saving from an efficient controlled load tariff is proportionally larger than in other states.
Solar Sharer Offer (new from July 2026): Three hours of free electricity daily from 12pm to 3pm (SA's free window is one hour later than NSW and QLD, reflecting SA's slightly later solar peak). Up to 24 kWh per day free. Available to all smart meter households, no solar required.
Tips for comparing electricity in South Australia
SA has the most to save. The gap between the standing offer and the best market offer is the largest in Australia, typically $430 to $600 per year. If you have never compared, start today.
Consider time-of-use pricing seriously. SA's TOU DMO is $81 cheaper than flat rate at reference usage. On a market offer, the gap can be larger. The morning and evening peak windows are relatively narrow (7am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm), so if you can avoid running major appliances during those four hours on weekdays, TOU will save you money.
Solar payback is fastest in SA. High irradiance levels combined with the highest electricity prices in the country mean rooftop solar pays back faster here than anywhere else. If you are considering solar, SA is the best state in Australia to install it.
Battery storage makes sense in SA. The large gap between peak and off-peak TOU rates (often 30 to 40 cents per kWh difference) means home batteries can save significant money by storing solar or off-peak power and discharging during peak hours. SA also has state government battery rebates through the Home Battery Scheme.