20 March 2025
We released our draft determinations of regulated retail electricity prices and the solar feed-in tariff for regional Queensland in 2025–26.
QCA Chair Professor Flavio Menezes said this year’s draft determination forecasts an increase in prices for most customers in regional Queensland. This may be somewhat offset for customers on secondary load control tariffs, which are forecast to decrease.
For instance, based on the draft notified prices, typical residential customers can expect an increase of:
- 5.2% (or $100) for customers on flat-rate tariff 11
- 3.9% (or $81) for customers on a combination of flat-rate tariff 11 and controlled load tariff 33.
“For typical small business customers, the draft prices would result in a 6.8% (or $171) increase for those on flat-rate tariff 20.
“The increase is mainly due to higher network costs this year, which have been partly offset by a decrease in energy costs,” Professor Menezes said.
Importantly, these bill impacts are indicative only — a customer’s actual bill will depend on how much energy they use and whether any government rebates/concessions apply.
The draft prices reflect the Queensland Government’s longstanding uniform tariff policy, meaning most regional customers continue to pay less than the actual cost of supply. Additionally, this year draft prices have been capped by the Australian Energy Regulator’s default market offer for south-east Queensland, which has further lowered notified prices for small business customers.
We have also released the draft determination of the regional solar feed-in tariff, which is the amount customers in regional Queensland will receive for exporting electricity to the grid. The draft determination forecasts a feed-in tariff for 2025–26 of 8.69 cents per kilowatt hour, representing a 30% decrease from last year. This decrease is due to the decrease in energy costs and, more significantly, the reduced value of solar export energy during the day.
Professor Menezes noted that price estimates are likely to change in the final determination to reflect updated data and feedback from stakeholders.
The final determinations are due to be published by 7 June 2025.
Media enquiries: Cole Lawson Communications, 07 3221 2220.
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