Typical information found in your energy bill
Your energy bill may look slightly different depending on your energy retailer (the company that sends you your energy bills).
All bills should include these details:
On the first page of your bill
Your details
Name, address and bill date.
Your retailer details
Name, contact information and ABN.
Amount to pay and when it’s due
This includes fixed charges, supply charges, any credits or discounts, and any other charges, such as money owed from a previous bill. Learn more about the charges on your bill.
Your unique National Meter Identifier (NMI)
Check it matches the number on your meter.
On the second page of your bill or beyond
Billing period
This shows the dates you've used the energy you're paying for.
Meter readings
This shows how much energy you’ve used during the billing period. It may be based on an estimate, which must clearly be marked on your bill. Learn more about estimated meter readings.
Energy usage charges
You will find your electricity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh) and your gas is measured in megajoules (MJ). Learn more about kWh and MJ.
Your energy distributor details
This is the company that owns and maintains the power lines, power poles, and pipelines that carry electricity and natural gas to your home or small business (not required for embedded network customers). You can find more details about NSW distributors on the Australian Energy Regulators website.
Your energy bill may also show you how much energy you used compared to other houses in your area. This is usually shown in a graph or table.
You can download an example bill on the Energy Made Easy website.
Understand your billing cycle
Most households and small businesses in NSW get their electricity bills quarterly or monthly. Legally, all retail customers must get a bill at least once every 100 days.
Your billing cycle will depend on your energy retailer, meter type and the energy plan you have chosen.
Some energy retailers offer what’s known as bill smoothing options, where your annual energy costs are estimated and divided into regular weekly, fortnightly, or monthly payments.
Check you’re on the best billing cycle
Talk to your energy retailer about the right billing cycle for you. It may be quarterly, monthly or even more frequently.
Smaller, more frequent payments can make budgeting easier than larger, less frequent bills. You are also less likely to be surprised by a large energy bill.
More support
If you need help understanding or paying your energy bill, contact your retailer directly. They can help you:
- understand what’s in your bill
- get support to help pay your bill
- let you know if there is a better energy plan for you. This should also be written on your bill under the heading 'Could you save money on another plan?'
You can also check if you’re eligible for government support to help you pay your bill.
Next article
Learn more about how your energy use gets calculated, and the different types of charges and fees on your bill.