How to read your electricity bill

Your electricity bill contains a lot of information. You might not understand some of the terms in it. This page will help you understand the most important parts of your electricity bill.

Account summary

Your account summary contains a summary of your electricity charges. It can include:

• the amount you owe
• amounts you have recently paid
• overdue amounts
• adjustments, and
• discounts and rebates.

National Metering Identifier (NMI)

Your electricity meter has its own National Metering Identifier (NMI) number. The NMI number identifies your property.

If you have more than one meter at your home (for example, if you have controlled load supply for hot water), there will be more than one NMI number listed on your bill.

Retailer contact details

Your retailer is the company that bills you for your electricity. If you have a question about your electricity bill or contract, you should contact your retailer.

Distributor contact details

Some retailers show the distributor’s name and contact details separately. Other retailers show the distributor’s phone number as the ‘Faults and emergencies’ contact number.

When you look at the front page of your bill, your distributor’s contact details are generally on the right hand side. Look just below your retailer’s contact details.

Your distributor owns the poles, wires and meter that connect you to the electricity network. Contact your distributor for faults or emergencies with your electricity.

Next scheduled reading

Your next meter read will occur on or around this date.

Last meter reading

This is the date the meter was last read.

Actual or estimated meter readings

Your bill will state if your usage was based on an actual or an estimated reading of your meter.

An ‘A’ or the word ‘actual’ next to your usage means that your usage is based on an actual reading of your meter.

An ‘E’ or the word ‘estimated’ next to your usage means that:

• your meter was not read during this billing period, and
• your usage has been estimated.

If the estimate is too high or too low, your next bill will include a credit or an additional amount to pay. This means you only pay for the electricity you use.

Tariff name

This is the name of the tariff or plan you are on. If your plan name is shown on your bill, it will probably be on the front page. If you can’t find this on your bill, contact your retailer.

Usage and supply charges

Depending on your tariff type, you may not see all of these types of charges on your bill.

Billing period

The billing period shows the start and end date for your bill.

Kilowatt hours (kWh)

Kilowatt hours (kWh) are the measure that is used on your electricity bill. Your total kWh usage shows the total amount of electricity you have used over the billing period.

To compare offers on the Energy Made Easy site using your usage information from a recent bill, enter the billing period.

Peak usage

The term ‘peak’ means:

• the period where the demand for electricity is greatest, and
• the usage charges are highest.

If you are on a single rate tariff, you pay the same rate for all the electricity you use. This means all your usage will be under the section for peak usage.

Peak usage is sometimes called:

• anytime, or
• flat rate usage.

Check with your retailer for their peak times.

Off peak usage

’Off-peak’ is when:

• there is less demand for electricity, and
• the usage charges are lower.

Off-peak is usually:

• from late evening to early morning during the week, and
• weekends.

Check with your retailer for their off-peak times.

You will see off-peak usage on your bill if you have a:

• time of use tariff, or
• single rate tariff with controlled load

Shoulder usage

'Shoulder' usage may be on your bill if you are on a time of use tariff.

Shoulder period is the time between:

• peak, and
• off-peak.

The rate you get charged is somewhere between the two. Your electricity contract might have more than one shoulder period.

Check with your retailer for their shoulder times.

For more information on tariff types, see our Which type of tariff is right for you? page.

Controlled load

For some appliances, you can be charged a controlled load tariff like:

• slab or underfloor heating, or
• electric hot water systems.

This means that the retailer charges a rate just for that appliance and the energy it uses.

It is usually only for appliances that run overnight or in off-peak times. So controlled load rates are usually lower.

Controlled load is sometimes called:

• dedicated circuit consumption, or
• off-peak.

Daily supply charge

This is the cost of getting electricity to your place, even if you don’t use any. It is a fixed amount.

The daily supply charge is also known as the:

• service charge (or service to property charge), or
• fixed charge.

Solar feed in tariffs

If you have solar power and are on a solar offer, you might see a credit on your bill.

The bill will show you what you received from:

• government solar feed-in schemes, and
• retailer schemes.

Government energy concessions

If you receive a a government energy concession, you will see a credit on your bill.

Electricity usage comparison

You will see a graph or table on your bill if you live in:

• the Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Queensland
• South Australia, or
• Tasmania.

They show your electricity usage compared to similar sized households in your area.

Some bills have information about greenhouse gas emissions.