Energy Plans WA 2026

Western Australia's electricity works differently.

WA isn't on the National Electricity Market. Synergy is the residential retailer for Perth and the South West. Horizon Power covers the rest. Tariffs are set by the WA Government. The way you save money is different here, and the WA Battery Scheme is the most generous in Australia.

32.4c/kWh

Synergy A1 standard rate

$1,880/yr

Typical Perth bill

$7,500battery

Up to in WA rebates

SynergySWIS network

32.4c/kWh A1

Perth metro, South West (Kalbarri to Albany east to Kalgoorlie). 80% of WA's population.

What you control: tariff choice, solar, concessions

Horizon PowerRegional WA

Set by WA Govtvaries by region

Pilbara, Kimberley, Gascoyne, Mid-West, Esperance. Vast geographic area, smaller customer base.

Best battery rebate in Australia: $3,800

The short answer

Western Australia isn't on the National Electricity Market. Residential customers in the Perth area and South West use Synergy; regional/remote WA uses Horizon Power. Tariffs are set by the WA Government, not market competition. The standard Synergy A1 rate is 32.37 c/kWh with 116.05 c/day supply, making a typical bill around $1,880/yr. The $400 WA Household Electricity Credit was scrapped from 1 July 2025. The ways to save in WA are: choose the right tariff (Midday Saver or EV Add-On if your usage suits), claim eligible concessions, and use the WA Battery Scheme (up to $7,500 in combined rebates for Horizon Power customers, $6,320 for Synergy) which is the most generous battery rebate in Australia.

How WA's market works

Three things to know about WA electricity in 2026

WA's electricity market differs from every other Australian state. There's no Default Market Offer (DMO) or Victorian Default Offer (VDO) here because there's no NEM and no retail competition for residential customers. Instead, the WA Government sets standard tariffs annually, and two state-owned retailers (Synergy and Horizon Power) serve the entire residential market.

WA market structure

How WA differs from the NEM states

The good news is that this structure produces relatively stable, transparent pricing without the standing-offer trap that catches around 10% of households in NSW, SE QLD, SA, and VIC. The catch is that residential households don't have the option of switching to a cheaper market offer. Tariff choice, concessions, and solar are how WA residents save.

Market type

Regulated

Tariffs set annually by WA Government, not market competition

Retailers

2 state-owned

Synergy (SWIS) + Horizon Power (regional). Both owned by WA Govt

Grid

SWIS + isolated

South West Interconnected System + smaller regional grids run by Horizon

Synergy plans

Four Synergy residential plans to choose from

If you're a Synergy customer in the SWIS, you can choose between four residential plans. Switching between Synergy plans is free and doesn't change your account. The right plan depends on your usage pattern: when you use electricity matters more than how much.

Default

Home Plan A1

32.37 c/kWh flat + 116.05 c/day supply

The standard residential tariff. Single rate regardless of time. Best if you have steady usage across the day or your usage timing varies. The default plan for new connections.

TOU saver

Midday Saver Plan

Cheaper rate 9am-3pm peak solar

Time-of-use plan with discounted electricity during midday peak solar hours. Best for daytime users, work-from-home households, or homes with solar that want to use battery power outside midday.

EV optimised

EV Add-On Plan

Lower overnight rates 11pm-5am

Add-on to Home Plan A1 for EV households. Offers reduced rates for overnight EV charging. Best for EV owners who charge between 11pm and 5am. Pairs well with solar + battery.

Smart meter

SmartHome Plan

TOU variant for smart meters

Time-of-use plan for households with a SmartMeter installed. Peak/off-peak/shoulder rates. Best for engaged users who can actively shift consumption to off-peak windows.

Right tariff + solar + concessions

Three steps to cut your WA electricity bill in 2026

Since residential customers can't switch retailers in WA, the path to lower bills is different. Start by checking you're on the right Synergy plan for your usage. Then claim every eligible concession. Then look at solar with the WA Battery Scheme, which is the most generous in Australia.

See WA energy options

WA's best opportunity

Solar + battery in WA: best rebate stack in Australia

WA Battery Scheme combined with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate creates the largest battery savings stack in the country. Synergy customers can save up to $6,320 on a 10 kWh battery install; Horizon Power customers up to $7,500. Combined with a 6.6 kW solar system, typical Perth households save $1,200-2,000/yr on grid electricity. The $10,000 no-interest Plenti loan covers the remaining gap for eligible households.

WA Battery Scheme (Synergy) $1,300

Federal Cheaper Home Batteries ~$2,520

Federal STCs (6.6 kW solar) ~$1,600

Plenti no-interest loan Up to $10K

Total Synergy savings ~$5,400

See WA solar and battery deals

Active rebates and concessions

Every WA energy rebate available in 2026

Concessions and rebates make a significant difference to WA bills, especially with the $400 Household Electricity Credit no longer in place. These rebates are applied automatically by Synergy or Horizon Power once you provide eligible concession card details. Apartments, retirement villages, and embedded networks should register through the Energy Concession Extension Scheme (ECES) to ensure payments flow through.

Energy Assistance Payment Ongoing bill rebate for concession card holders

Auto-applied
Dependent Child Rebate Per eligible child for concession card families

Per child
WA Cost of Living Rebate (Seniors Card) For WA Seniors Card holders, no concession card required

$104.90/yr
Federal Energy Bill Relief Fund Quarterly $75 instalments applied automatically

$150/yr
WA Battery Scheme (Synergy) 10 kWh battery, Synergy customers only

$1,300
WA Battery Scheme (Horizon Power) 10 kWh battery, Horizon Power customers, larger rebate reflects regional costs

$3,800
Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Stackable with WA Battery Scheme, dropped from 1 May 2026

~$2,520
Plenti no-interest battery loan 0% interest finance for the remaining battery cost, income capped at $210K

Up to $10K
DEBS solar feed-in tariff Time-varying, 2.25 to 10 c/kWh based on export time

2.25-10 c/kWh

Practical rules for WA

Six rules for getting the best WA energy deal

Confirm which retailer applies to you (Synergy or Horizon Power). Your address determines this. SWIS customers (Perth metro, Peel, South West, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, Kalgoorlie) are on Synergy. Pilbara, Kimberley, Gascoyne, Mid-West outside SWIS, and Esperance are on Horizon Power. You can confirm by checking your existing bill or by postcode lookup on either retailer's website. Battery rebate amounts differ between the two.
Match your Synergy plan to your usage pattern. Home Plan A1 (flat rate) is the default but not always cheapest. If you mostly use electricity during midday (work from home, daytime household), Midday Saver Plan can cut your bill 5-15%. If you charge an EV overnight, EV Add-On Plan reduces overnight rates. SmartHome plan suits engaged TOU users with SmartMeter access. Switching between Synergy plans is free and doesn't change your account.
Claim every eligible concession by 30 June. The WA Government applies concessions automatically once you provide your card details, but you must register them with Synergy or Horizon Power. Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, and DVA Gold Card holders should ensure the Energy Assistance Payment and Dependent Child Rebate are active on their account. Seniors Card holders should ensure the $104.90 Cost of Living Rebate is being paid. Embedded network customers (apartments, villages, parks) need ECES registration.
The WA Battery Scheme is the standout opportunity for 2026. Synergy customers get $1,300 + ~$2,520 federal = ~$3,820 in combined battery rebates. Horizon Power customers get $3,800 + ~$2,520 = ~$6,320. Combined with the $10K no-interest Plenti loan, a typical 10 kWh battery install moves from a $14-16K to a $5-8K out-of-pocket cost. Note: the federal rebate dropped on 1 May 2026, so 2026 installations save less than installations completed before that date.
Self-consumption matters more than DEBS feed-in tariff. DEBS pays 2.25-10 c/kWh for solar exports. Every kWh you self-consume avoids the 32.37 c/kWh grid rate. That makes self-consumption 3-15 times more valuable than export. Size your solar system to match daytime usage, and add a battery to capture excess generation for evening use. Solar without a battery can produce a 20-30% bill reduction; solar with battery can produce 50-70%.
Check your bill carefully after the $400 credit removal. The $400 Household Electricity Credit was scrapped from 1 July 2025. Combined with the 2.5% tariff increase, most WA bills rose several hundred dollars in 2025-26. If your bill seems higher than expected, the credit removal is likely why. The eligible concessions remain in place and are now more important than ever; ensure all your concessions are correctly applied to offset the impact.

FAQ

Common questions about WA energy plans

What is the standard electricity rate in WA in 2026?

The standard residential electricity tariff in Western Australia in 2026 is the Synergy Home Plan A1 tariff, set by the WA Government. As of 1 July 2025, the A1 supply charge is 116.05 cents per day (approximately $423 per year just for supply) and the usage rate is 32.37 cents per kWh. A typical Perth household using 4,500 kWh per year pays around $1,880 annually on the standard A1 tariff. These rates apply to residential Synergy customers connected to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), which covers Perth, the South West, and surrounds. Regional WA customers on Horizon Power pay similar standard rates set by the WA Government and adjusted annually. The WA Government scrapped the $400 annual Household Electricity Credit from 1 July 2025, which had been paid automatically since 2020.

Can I switch electricity retailers in Western Australia?

Residential electricity customers in Western Australia cannot freely switch retailers like customers in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, or South Australia. WA's residential retail market is regulated, not deregulated. If you live in the Perth metropolitan area or the South West (the SWIS network), Synergy is your retailer. If you live in regional or remote WA, Horizon Power is your retailer. Both are state-owned by the WA Government. Business customers in the SWIS with annual consumption above 50 MWh per year can switch to alternative retailers including Alinta Energy, Kleenheat (gas), and a small number of others. For residential households, instead of switching retailers, you save money by choosing the right Synergy tariff (Home Plan A1, Midday Saver, or EV Add-On), claiming all eligible concessions, and installing solar with the WA Battery Scheme rebate.

What is the difference between Synergy and Horizon Power?

Synergy and Horizon Power are Western Australia's two main electricity retailers, both owned by the WA Government. Synergy is the retailer for the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), which serves Perth, the Peel region, the South West (Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River), the Great Southern (Albany), the Wheatbelt, and as far east as Kalgoorlie. The SWIS covers roughly 80% of WA's population. Western Power operates the SWIS distribution network (the poles and wires) for Synergy. Horizon Power is the retailer AND distributor for regional and remote Western Australia, covering the Pilbara, Kimberley, Gascoyne, Mid-West (outside the SWIS), and Esperance. Horizon Power operates its own grids in these areas. Tariffs are similar between Synergy and Horizon Power, with the WA Government setting both annually. WA Battery Scheme rebates differ: Synergy customers receive $1,300 per 10 kWh battery, Horizon Power customers receive $3,800 to reflect higher regional costs.

What Synergy electricity plans are available in 2026?

Synergy offers several residential electricity plans in 2026, all on the regulated tariff structure set by the WA Government. The Home Plan A1 is the standard flat-rate plan with a single rate (32.37 cents per kWh) regardless of time. The Midday Saver Plan is a time-of-use option offering cheaper electricity during peak solar hours (typically 9am to 3pm), encouraging households to shift consumption to midday when solar generation is strongest; this benefits households with daytime energy use. The EV Add-On Plan offers lower overnight rates for electric vehicle charging, beneficial for households charging EVs between 11pm and 5am. The SmartHome plan is a time-of-use variant for SmartMeter households. To switch between Synergy plans, contact Synergy directly; switching between Synergy plans is free and does not change your underlying account.

What WA energy concessions and rebates are available in 2026?

Several Western Australian energy concessions and rebates are active in 2026. The Energy Assistance Payment provides ongoing electricity bill support for Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, and DVA Gold Card holders. The Dependent Child Rebate provides additional support per eligible child. The WA Cost of Living Rebate provides $104.90 per year for WA Seniors Card holders (no concession card required). The Federal Energy Bill Relief Fund provides $150 per year automatically (paid quarterly as $75 instalments). The WA Battery Scheme is the standout: $1,300 rebate per 10 kWh battery for Synergy customers, or $3,800 for Horizon Power customers, stackable with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate of approximately $2,520. Combined, WA households can claim up to $6,320 (Synergy) or $7,500 (Horizon) in battery rebates in 2026. A no-interest loan of up to $10,000 is also available through Plenti for eligible households.

Is solar still worth installing in Western Australia in 2026?

Yes, solar remains a strong investment in Western Australia in 2026. Perth gets exceptional sun (Zone 2 of Australia's solar zones), making solar generation higher than most of the country. A typical 6.6 kW system in Perth saves $1,200 to $2,000 per year, with payback in 5 to 7 years. The DEBS (Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme) is WA's solar feed-in tariff, paying SWIS customers 2.25 to 10 cents per kWh for excess solar exported to the grid (rates vary by time of day, with higher payments during peak demand periods). DEBS rates are lower than feed-in tariffs in some eastern states, but self-consumption is where solar pays off in WA: every kWh of solar consumed directly is worth around 32 cents (the A1 usage rate). The WA Battery Scheme transforms solar economics: a battery installed with solar can store daytime generation for evening use, capturing the full 32 c/kWh value rather than the much lower DEBS export rate.

Why did my Synergy electricity bill increase in 2025-26?

Synergy electricity bills increased significantly from 1 July 2025 for two reasons. First, the WA Government scrapped the $400 Household Electricity Credit that had been paid automatically to all Synergy and Horizon Power residential customers since 2020. This credit was removed as part of the 2025-26 WA State Budget. Second, the Home Plan A1 tariff itself increased by 2.5%: the daily supply charge rose from 113.22 cents to 116.05 cents, and the per-kWh rate rose from 31.58 cents to 32.3719 cents. For a typical Perth household, the combined impact added several hundred dollars to annual electricity costs. The good news is that WA Battery Scheme rebates remained generous in 2026, and households can offset the increase by switching to a time-of-use Synergy plan (Midday Saver or EV Add-On) if their usage patterns suit, claiming all eligible concessions, and considering solar with battery storage.

How do I lower my electricity bill in Western Australia?

Since residential customers in Western Australia cannot freely switch retailers, the most effective ways to lower your WA electricity bill in 2026 are: First, ensure you're on the right Synergy plan for your usage pattern; the Midday Saver Plan suits households with daytime usage, the EV Add-On Plan suits households charging EVs overnight. Second, claim every eligible concession and rebate, including the WA Energy Assistance Payment, Dependent Child Rebate, WA Cost of Living Rebate (Seniors), and federal $150 Energy Bill Relief Fund. Third, consider solar with battery storage; the 2026 WA Battery Scheme combined with federal rebates can save $5,000 to $7,500 on a 10 kWh battery install, with payback often achieved in 5 to 7 years. Fourth, reduce overall consumption through energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, hot water timing, and air-conditioning management. Bills can typically be reduced by 30 to 60% through these measures combined.

WA's electricity savings live in three places

Right tariff, claimed concessions, and the country's best battery rebates. Solar with battery storage transforms WA bills more than anything else available to residential customers.

See WA solar and battery deals