Calculate how much any appliance costs to run based on Australian electricity rates.
Power bills have a habit of arriving with a number on them that seems impossible to trace back to anything you actually did. This calculator helps bridge that gap — enter the wattage of any appliance and how many hours you run it and it'll tell you exactly what it costs to run per day, week, and year based on your electricity rate.
It's useful for working out which appliances are the biggest contributors to your bill (the answer is often electric hot water systems, pool pumps, air conditioners, and clothes dryers — not the phone charger everyone worries about), for comparing energy-efficient models before you buy, and for deciding whether solar panels or a different tariff structure would make sense for your household.
Electricity rates in Australia vary significantly by state, retailer, and tariff type. Check your latest power bill for your actual rate — the default in this calculator is an approximation.
Rates vary significantly by state and retailer. As a rough guide in 2024: NSW around 30-35c/kWh, Victoria 28-33c/kWh, Queensland 27-32c/kWh, South Australia 40-50c/kWh, and WA 30-35c/kWh. Always check your latest bill for your actual rate.
In a typical Australian home, the biggest consumers are electric hot water systems (25-35% of bill), heating and cooling (20-40% depending on climate), refrigerators (7-13%), and clothes dryers (7-10%). Lighting and entertainment devices are much smaller contributors than most people expect.
Look for a label on the appliance itself — usually on the back or bottom. It'll list a wattage (W) or a current draw in amps (A) with voltage (V), which you multiply together to get watts. Alternatively, a plug-in power meter (available from hardware stores for $20-30) will measure actual consumption including standby draw.
In most of Australia, yes — especially with good north-facing roof space and reasonable usage during daylight hours. The payback period on a standard system is now typically 4-7 years. Use this calculator to understand your current appliance costs, then get quotes from a couple of CEC-accredited installers to model the saving.