Queensland is the state that has the second-highest electricity consumption in Australia. Tariffs are essentially the rates at which you are charged for the electricity you consume. Hence, it’s vital to find the right plan for your home or business if you wish to minimise your electricity bills.
Websites specialising in electricity comparison QLD list the best electricity providers and plans in the state and help you make meaningful comparisons in a few simple steps.
To ensure you pick the right electricity plan, you should first understand how tariffs work in QLD. It is vital to note that electricity tariffs are different from and are hence, not related to solar-feed-in-tariffs in QLD.
Single Rate Tariff
Single rate electricity tariffs are standard residential tariffs that are available to all QLD customers. There are over 1.6 million households in QLD, and single-rate tariffs apply to all of them. These rates remain the same regardless of what time of the day it is.
Standard single rate tariffs in QLD are between 17 and 25 cents per kWh. This tariff is also called domestic, standard or peak tariff. Check the standard electricity tariffs charged by different suppliers in your location. However, don’t base your decision to choose electricity plans and suppliers on this figure alone.
Compare the single-rate tariff with the reference price offered by the government. Online services that facilitate electricity comparison in QLD will give you information on the difference between the rates charged by the supplier and the government reference price.
Time Of Use Tariff
Households that are on this tariff are charged different rates at different times of the day. The time is divided into three parts, namely, peak, off-peak and shoulder. The “peak” time is between 4 pm and 8 pm, and the off-peak time is between 10 pm and 7 am in Queensland. All hours in between these time slots fall under the category of “shoulder” time.
The rates at peak hours are the highest, and the rates during the off-peak hours are the lowest. Time of use tariffs is also called domestic TOU in Queensland. If you choose this tariff, you will most likely need a smart meter to measure your usage at different times. If you use energy extensively during off-peak hours, then you can benefit from this tariff.
Residential Demand Tariff
Residential demand tariffs are only available to customers who have smart meters. You will enjoy low supply and usage rates in peak summer if you have this tariff. “Demand charges” basically represent the customer’s peak time in a 30-minute slot.
Night Rate Super Economy Tariff
Also called controlled tariffs, super economy, controlled load or controlled supply, this tariff is a hot water system tariff. Your hot water system will heat up only during specific hours of the day (the supplier decides the time).
Smart Control Tariff
Smart control tariffs are usually lower than standard control rates. However, this tariff is only available to customers who have smart meters.
The best tariffs for you will vary based on several factors like your electricity usage requirements, time of usage etc. Make sure to assess your usage habits and electricity bills in complete detail before you start looking for the best tariffs in QLD.
