Electricity in Australia

Find out about power supply and electricity providers in Australia...

Australia's standard electricity supply is 240/250 volts AC with a frequency of 50 hertz. For non-standard equipment, a transformer or adaptor is required unless the appliance has a multi-voltage option.

Many countries across the world use different supplies than Australia. For example, in America, the standard electricity supply is 120 Volts, meaning that the two power systems are not compatible. A US appliance in Australia, and vice versa, can only be used if the appliance is dual rated, or clearly marked with both 120v/60Hz and 240v/50Hz on the nameplate.

  • For more information on voltage systems around the world: Click here

Electricity Providers

Electricity supply in Australia is controlled by regional authorities, with costs varying from one state/territory to another and also between urban and rural areas.

There are a number of companies supplying electricity to homes in Australia. Energy Australia is the main supplier.

Other suppliers include:

Plugs and Sockets

Australia uses a 3-pin plug, referred to as a Type I plug. It is necessary to have a plug adapter for all appliances which do not have these plugs.

Power Outages

Power outages can occur in times of severe weather. In some urban areas, for example Sydney, blackouts can occur for several hours due to storms or heavy use of air conditioning in the summer. It is advisable to keep a supply of candles and torches in the home.