Home / Power and gas / Default Market Offer / NSW
Utilities · Updated 21 October 2026
Default Market Offer NSW 2026–27: prices by network area
The AER's 2026–27 safety-net prices for the Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy areas, and a 3-step way to check your own plan. No ranked plans. No sales call.
NSW DMO prices for 2026–27 (residential, incl. GST)
| Network | Benchmark usage | Flat rate | Time of use / Solar Sharer | Flat rate vs 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | 3,900 kWh/yr | $1,899 | $1,893 | −$66 (−3.4%) |
| Endeavour Energy | 4,900 kWh/yr | $2,328 | $2,320 | −$83 (−3.4%) |
| Essential Energy | 4,600 kWh/yr | $2,604 | $2,530 | −$137 (−5.0%) |
Source: AER Default Market Offer page and the AER DMO 2026–27 final determination (PDF), released 26 May 2026. Checked 21 Oct 2026.
Flat-rate tariff caps (residential, incl. GST)
These are the most a retailer can charge on a residential flat-rate standing offer in 2026–27.
| Network | Supply charge (c/day) | Usage charge (c/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | 166.2289 | 33.1372 |
| Endeavour Energy | 185.1350 | 33.7273 |
| Essential Energy | 272.2168 | 35.0054 |
Source: AER DMO 2026–27 final determination (PDF), Appendix C, clause 9(1). Checked 21 Oct 2026. Time-of-use, controlled-load and Solar Sharer tariff caps are set out in the same appendix. Read them there; we don't restate them here.
What these numbers mean
- The DMO is the maximum a retailer can charge on a standing offer (default plan). It applies from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 and does not change in between. Checked 21 Oct 2026 (AER).
- It is also the reference price: retailers must show how their plan compares with it as a percentage. Checked 21 Oct 2026 (AER).
- It is not a cap on your bill. Your bill depends on your usage and how your retailer sets its rates. Checked 21 Oct 2026 (AER).
- NSW residential prices are 3.4% to 5.0% lower than 2025–26. Checked 21 Oct 2026 (AER final determination).
Which network am I in?
- Ausgrid: Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter. Checked 21 Oct 2026 (ausgrid.com.au).
- Endeavour Energy: Greater Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands, the Illawarra and the South Coast, extending to central NSW. Checked 21 Oct 2026 (endeavourenergy.com.au).
- Essential Energy: about 95% of NSW (regional and rural areas) plus parts of southern Queensland. Checked 21 Oct 2026 (essentialenergy.com.au).
Boundaries are not exact. Your distributor's name is printed on your bill, or use Ausgrid's postcode checker or the AER's Who is your distributor? page.
Check your plan in 3 steps
- Get your last bill. Note your yearly usage (kWh), your distributor and your plan's reference-price percentage.
- Compare it with the table. "10% below the reference price" is measured against the figure for your network at benchmark usage. Your own usage changes the dollar result.
- Run it on Energy Made Easy, the free government comparison site, then ask your retailer whether a cheaper plan is available. For a walkthrough, use our bill check.
Solar Sharer
The AER sets the Solar Sharer Offer annual price at the same figure as time of use in each NSW network for 2026–27. Checked 21 Oct 2026 (AER). See who can get Solar Sharer.
Before you act
- Check the live AER page for updates. A new determination will set prices from 1 July 2027.
- Other states: South Australia or the main Default Market Offer checklist. Victoria uses the Victorian Default Offer instead.
General information only, not financial advice. SavySaver is an independent, anonymous Australian site.