A power bill says far more than the amount due. Here is what our team checks in a bill audit, from tariff type, supply charge and controlled load to feed-in rates, billing errors and usage patterns, and what the $99 audit includes. A bill audit reads your recent electricity bills line by line to answer three questions. Are you on a tariff that suits how and when you use power? Are you being billed correctly? And what does your usage pattern say about changes worth considering, such as shifting loads, solar, a battery or more efficient appliances? Most of what we check is already printed on your bills. The value is in knowing which lines matter and comparing them across seasons.
Tariff type: flat, time-of-use or demand
The tariff name and the usage charges section tell us how you are charged:
- Flat rate: the same price per kWh at any time of day.
- Time-of-use: different prices for peak, shoulder and off-peak periods, with windows set by your network and retailer.
- Demand-based: usage charges plus a charge based on your highest level of demand in a set window.
No structure is cheapest for everyone. A household that uses a lot of power in the late afternoon and evening can pay more on time-of-use pricing, while one that runs its big loads in the middle of the day or has a battery may pay less. We check whether your tariff matches your pattern, and whether it changed without you noticing, which can happen after a meter replacement. On a demand-based tariff, a single hot afternoon with the air-conditioning, oven and pool pump running together can set the demand charge for the whole billing period, so we look at which large appliances tend to overlap.
The daily supply charge
The supply charge is a fixed amount for every day of the billing period, whether you use any electricity or not. It varies considerably between plans. For homes with low grid usage, such as those with solar and a battery, it can be a large share of the total bill, so a plan with a lower supply charge and slightly higher usage rates may work out cheaper. For high-usage homes, the reverse is often true. We also check the number of days billed, because longer periods make bills look worse than they are.
Controlled load
A controlled load is a separately metered circuit, usually for electric storage hot water, supplied at a lower rate during hours set by the network. We check:
- whether the controlled load is still in use, or is a leftover from an old hot water system;
- whether a separate daily charge applies to it on your plan;
- how much it uses across seasons compared with the general usage lines;
- whether running hot water on solar, using a timer, a diverter or a heat pump, could reduce costs further.
Feed-in rate and exports
If you have solar, we confirm the feed-in rate on the bill matches your plan and that exports are recorded at all. Feed-in tariffs in NSW have fallen and are commonly a few cents per kWh, while grid electricity commonly costs 30-45 c/kWh. Some plans pair a higher feed-in rate with higher usage or supply charges, so we compare the total cost for your usage rather than the headline feed-in rate. High exports combined with heavy evening imports suggest a home that could use more of its own solar. Our feed-in tariff comparison is a good way to explore that trade-off.
Billing errors worth catching
A billing mistake that nobody spots can repeat on bill after bill. We look for:
- estimated reads on several consecutive bills, which can hide real usage and lead to catch-up charges;
- rates that do not match your plan or the latest price change notice;
- discounts or benefit periods that have quietly expired;
- a wrong tariff after a meter change, or a controlled load billed at the general rate;
- solar exports showing as zero while the system is producing;
- overlapping billing periods, duplicate charges or a meter number that does not match your meter;
- a government energy rebate or concession you receive that is missing from a bill.
If we find an error, the first step is raising it with your retailer, with the bill details noted in our report. If it cannot be resolved, the NSW energy ombudsman scheme offers an independent way to escalate a dispute.
Usage patterns
Comparing several bills shows how your use changes through the year. Average daily kWh across seasons reveals heating and cooling loads. The split between time bands shows when you use power. Where interval data from a smart meter is available, overnight baseload, the power drawn while the house is asleep, often points to old fridges, pool pumps on the wrong timer or equipment left on standby. Seasonal swings also help with future planning: a large winter peak favours efficient reverse-cycle heating and enough solar for short days, while a summer peak lines up well with solar production.
| Bill line | What we check | What it can point to |
|---|---|---|
| Tariff name | Flat, time-of-use or demand | A better-matched tariff or load shifting |
| Supply charge | Cents per day and days billed | Plans with a lower fixed cost |
| Usage by time band | Peak, shoulder and off-peak split | Evening loads suited to a battery |
| Controlled load | Rate, usage and daily charge | Hot water on solar or a heat pump |
| Feed-in credit | Rate and exported kWh | Higher self-consumption |
| Meter reads | Actual or estimated | Billing accuracy |
What the $99 audit includes
Our Electricity Bill Audit is listed in the energy market at $99 and covers up to four bills. You receive a plain-English digital report covering tariff type, supply charge, usage pattern, feed-in rate and any errors found. If you also want market offers compared against your usage and solar exports, the Retail Electricity Tariff Comparison is $79 per property, and it involves no retailer commissions. Prices are indicative, and any installation work suggested by the audit is quoted separately and confirmed after a site assessment.
Next steps
Gather your last four bills as complete PDFs and order the audit through the energy market. If the report shows that solar, a battery or both would make sense, try the solar and battery calculator, then request a quote and we will design around the usage pattern the audit uncovered.
Frequently asked questions
Which bills should I send for an audit?
Send your four most recent bills as complete PDFs, including every page, because tariff details and meter reads are often on the back pages. If your bills are quarterly, four cover a full year of seasons. If you can download interval data from your retailer's online account, include it as well, since it shows exactly when you use power rather than just how much.
Will switching retailers fix a high bill?
Sometimes, but not always. A better-matched plan can lower costs, particularly if your current discounts have expired. However, a new plan does not change how much electricity you use or when you use it, and for many homes those factors matter more. An audit shows which lever makes the biggest difference for your household, so you can decide whether to switch, shift usage or invest in equipment.
Can a bill audit tell me what size solar system I need?
It gives a strong starting point. Daily usage, seasonal changes and the split between daytime and evening use all shape system size and whether a battery is worthwhile. Final sizing still depends on roof space, orientation, shading and your switchboard, which is why we confirm the design with an in-person site assessment before any quote is finalised.
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