The average household electricity usage in Australia is 15.31 kWh per day. Usage ranges from 8.65 kWh for a single-occupant household to 22.98 kWh+ for a five-person household.
Average daily household kWh usage figures are influenced by the number of household occupants and the location of the property. When comparing your average electricity bill in Australia, it’s best to compare it against average bills in your state and, the number of people in your home.
Other factors also impact how much electricity is used in your use on a daily basis, these include:
- Heating a swimming pool
- A gas connection
- Charging electric cars
- Household electrification
- A home solar system
Average daily household electricity (kWh) use in Australia
The average household kWh usage per day in Australia is tied to the size and location of the property. For the purpose of coming up with a sole average figure, if we take the average household size of 2.6 people from the latest Census data, we can calculate the average usage figure from the Australian Energy Regulator’s benchmark data. The average daily electricity usage in Australia is 15.31 kWh per day.
The table below shows the average electricity kWh usage for a 2.6 occupant household in Australia:
| Period | Electricity use |
|---|---|
| Daily | 15.31 kWh |
| Period | Electricity use |
|---|---|
| Monthly | 465.58 kWh |
| Period | Electricity use |
|---|---|
| Quarterly | 1,396 kWh |
| Period | Electricity use |
|---|---|
| Annually | 5,586 kWh |
Average daily kWh usage for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5+ person households in Australia
However, no one lives in a 2.6-person household! For more comparable figures, we break down the average household kWh electricity consumption across three major Australian cities with different climates: Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. For greater accuracy, the figures are displayed per the number of people in each household.
The table below shows average daily kWh electricity usage in Australia per the occupancy size of the household:
| Household | Daily electricity use |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | 8.65 kWh |
| Household | Daily electricity use |
|---|---|
| 2 Person | 13.88 kWh |
| Household | Daily electricity use |
|---|---|
| 3 Person | 16.08 kWh |
| Household | Daily electricity use |
|---|---|
| 4 Person | 18.99 kWh |
| Household | Daily electricity use |
|---|---|
| 5 Person | 22.98 kWh |
Average daily kWh usage for a single-occupant household
Single-person households in Australia use an average of 8.65 kWh of electricity per day. Daily ranges typically fall between 8 – 9.5 kWh of electricity per day, depending on the location of the household.
| City | Household | Daily usage (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 1 Person | 8.52 |
| Melbourne | 1 Person | 8.09 |
| Brisbane | 1 Person | 9.35 |
| Average | 1 Person | 8.65 |
Average daily electricity use for a 2-person household in Australia
Daily kWh usage jumps from 8.65 kWh for single occupancy homes to 13.88 kWh of electricity for 2-person households in Australia. The daily kWh use is similar across the three major cities as highlighted in the table below:
| City | Household | Daily usage (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 2 Person | 14.35 |
| Melbourne | 2 Person | 13.26 |
| Brisbane | 2 Person | 14.04 |
| Average | 2 Person | 13.88 |
Average daily kWh usage for a 3-person household
The average 3-person household in Australia uses 16.08 kWh of electricity per day. Daily use ranges fall between 14 and 17 kWh per day depending on the location of the house.
| City | Household | Daily usage (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 3 Person | 17.43 |
| Melbourne | 3 Person | 13.91 |
| Brisbane | 3 Person | 16.9 |
| Average | 3 Person | 16.08 |
4-Person household – average Daily kWh usage
Larger households with four occupants consume on average 19 kWh per day. For four-person households in Sydney and Brisbane, electricity consumption is higher than Melbourne – which has a higher proportion of gas usage.
The table below shows the daily kWh usage for 4-person households in Australia:
| City | Household | Daily usage (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 4 Person | 20.03 |
| Melbourne | 4 Person | 15.9 |
| Brisbane | 4 Person | 21.05 |
| Average | 4 Person | 18.99 |
Average electricity usage for a 5+ person household
Larger, 5+ person households consume on average 23 kWh of electricity per day.
Daily energy usage of 4.6 kWh per occupant in a 5+ person household is much lower than for a single-occupant household (8.65 kWh per day) – highlighting the relative efficiency with which larger households spread their energy use across more people.
| City | Household | Daily usage (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 5+ Person | 24.68 |
| Melbourne | 5+ Person | 20.14 |
| Brisbane | 5+ Person | 24.12 |
| Average | 5+ Person | 22.98 |
Factors that impact household kWh usage in Australia
A number of factors influence daily household electricity usage figures in Australia.
Gas supply
Victoria has a higher number of homes connected to gas compared to other Australian states. It is estimated that 88% 1 of all Victorian homes have at least one appliance that is powered by gas. By comparison, Victoria has lower electricity usage figures as a higher proportion of energy usage is powered by gas.
Property size
Larger properties typically use more electricity, as there are typically more occupants and, more space to heat and cool.
As a general rule, larger homes will use more energy each day. As highlighted in the numbers above, there is a clear discrepancy between the total consumption of a single-person household (8.65 kWh per day) and the much lower per-person usage (4.6 kWh per day) recorded in a five-person household.
The correlation between energy usage and property size doesn’t always apply: efficiency factors such as thermal insulation (AKA: home energy rating), building orientation relative to sunlight and the overall design of the house can have a positive or negative impact on energy consumption.
Household appliance usage
Household appliances are a key driver of average daily household kWh consumption in Australia.
Households with more appliances typically use more energy. A heated pool, electric car or full household electrification, will lead to higher electricity usage. However, newer more efficient appliances can comparatively lower a household’s daily energy usage and reduce electricity bills.
Home construction and insulation
The quality of a home’s construction and thermal insulation properties play a key role in reducing household energy consumption. The Australian government has developed the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) to set higher energy efficiency standards and aid in reducing household energy consumption. In almost all cases, newer properties which now meet the 7-star NatHERS thermal star rating are likely to consume less power than an older, less efficient home.
Location & seasonality
The time of year, and season, also impacts electricity use. Households in warmer climates, such as Brisbane, Darwin, and Cairns, invariably have higher average kWh usage in summer and the surrounding months due to increased reliance on air conditioning and cooling systems.
Conversely, homes located in cooler climates like Melbourne, Hobart, and Canberra, which may save on summer kWh usage, will typically record higher electricity usage during cooler months due to increased heating demands and longer periods of low natural light.
Household solar panels
A household with solar panels will use far less electricity than a comparative home without solar. While savings vary according to location, property characteristics, consumption habits and how many panels are installed, a typical home can reduce the electricity consumption from the grid by upwards of 60%.
Installing a solar battery can further decrease electricity consumption and increase savings.
Sources:
1 Sustainability report on Victorian homes
The data gap when reporting average kWh usage figures
The last major update to the Residential Energy Consumption Benchmarks was released by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) back in December 2020.
In August 2023, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) removed the AER’s requirement to complete the energy consumption benchmark report and the requirement for energy retailers to include it on all bills.
As a result, an official government-funded report into the average household kWh usage per day in Australia has not been released in 4+ years. Whilst we do get bits and pieces from different energy retailers, an updated nationwide report has yet to be released.
Houeshold electrification is likely to push up electricity usage nationwide in years to come. Programs like the Solar Sharer scheme attempt to shift electricity usage to different times of the day, but do little to reduce usage.
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