How to read your Synergy electricity bill

Most Perth households receive a Synergy electricity bill every two months and glance at the total before paying it. If you've ever wanted to understand the individual line items — or verify that the bill looks right — this guide breaks down every section.

The bill overview section

At the top of your Synergy bill you'll find:

Account number and NMI — Your account number identifies you as a customer. The NMI (National Meter Identifier) is the unique 11-digit identifier for your meter point — it stays with the property even if you move. You'll need the NMI if you apply for solar or storage connections.

Billing period — The start and end dates of the period this bill covers. Synergy issues bills every two months (quarterly billing is also available on request).

Amount due and due date — The total and payment deadline. Direct debit customers will see when the amount debits.

The charges breakdown

This is the core of the bill. For A1 tariff customers:

Supply charge (service to property charge) — A daily fixed charge that applies regardless of how much electricity you use. From 1 July 2026 on the A1 tariff, this is 119.24c/day ($1.19/day). Over a 61-day billing period that's approximately $72.69 in supply charges alone.

This charge covers the cost of maintaining the network connection to your property — poles, wires, meters, billing systems. It applies even if you generate more solar than you use and have a net-zero usage bill.

Usage charges — Electricity consumed from the grid, charged at the tariff rate. On A1 from 1 July 2026, all usage charges are 33.26c/kWh regardless of time of day.

If you're on Midday Saver, you'll see three usage line items — one for super off-peak (9am–3pm at 8.85c/kWh), one for off-peak (9pm–9am at 24.34c/kWh), and one for peak (3pm–9pm at 55.33c/kWh).

Total charges — Supply charge + usage charges for the period.

Solar credits (DEBS households)

If you have solar panels connected to the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme, you'll see export credits on the bill. These reduce your total charges:

Received (kWh) — Electricity imported from the Synergy grid during the billing period.

Sent (kWh) — Electricity exported from your solar panels to the grid during the billing period.

Export credits — The value of electricity you sent to the grid. From 1 July 2026, the DEBS rates are 10c/kWh for peak exports (3pm–9pm) and 2c/kWh for off-peak exports (all other times). The credit appears as a negative amount that reduces your bill.

Net charges — Your usage charges minus export credits. If your credits exceed your usage charges, the net figure is negative (a credit). Note: the supply charge still applies regardless, so a net-zero usage household still pays the supply charge.

If you have a significant credit balance, it carries forward to your next bill. Synergy does not pay out cash credits to residential customers — the balance offsets future bills.

Meter read type

Look for the letter next to the meter read figures:

A (Actual) — A meter reader physically visited your property and read the meter. This is an accurate reading.

E (Estimated) — Synergy estimated your usage based on historical patterns. This happens when the meter reader couldn't access your meter (locked gate, aggressive dog, access issues). Estimates are reconciled against the next actual reading.

C (Customer-provided) — You submitted a meter reading via the My Synergy app or website.

S (Smart meter) — Your meter uploads readings automatically. Smart (interval) meters are increasingly common in Perth and eliminate the estimated-vs-actual reconciliation issue.

If you see estimated reads repeatedly, check that your meter box is accessible or submit your own readings via My Synergy.

The usage comparison graph

Most Synergy bills include a bar chart showing your electricity usage over several billing periods — typically the current period compared to the same period last year and the prior period.

This is useful for spotting patterns:

• Consistent seasonal increases in summer (air conditioning) or winter (heating) are normal
• A spike above historical patterns for the same season suggests a new load (a new appliance, a change in occupancy) or a problem (hot water system element failing to a constant-on state, or a newly underperforming solar system)
• A drop compared to prior years often reflects a solar or solar+battery installation

If your bill has no graph (some bill formats don't), you can view your full usage history in My Synergy.

Tariff code

Your bill shows the tariff you're currently on. The common residential tariffs are:

| Tariff code | Tariff name | |---|---| | A1 | Home Plan (flat rate) | | A5 | Midday Saver | | A6 / A8 | EV Add-On (varies by configuration) | | D1 | Residential dual-fuel (bundled gas + electricity, older accounts) |

If your tariff code doesn't match what you think you're on, contact Synergy or switch via My Synergy.

GST

Australian GST (10%) applies to electricity charges. Synergy bills show charges inclusive of GST, with the GST component itemised separately. The rates quoted throughout this guide (33.26c/kWh, etc.) are GST-inclusive.

Concession credits

If you're eligible for the Synergy Hardship Assistance or a government-issued concession, the credit appears as a line item on your bill before the total. Common credits include:

• Energy Assistance Payment (EAP) — WA state government credit for eligible low-income households
• Seniors electricity concession — Applied via the Seniors Card / Centrelink
• Life support rebate — Available if a household member uses approved life support equipment

Concession credits are applied each billing period automatically once you're registered. If a concession you're entitled to isn't appearing, contact Synergy with your concession card details.

Reading your bill with BillWise

Parsing the bill manually works, but BillWise can do it faster. Upload your Synergy bill to /analyze and BillWise reads the billing period, usage data, and tariff information automatically. It then:

• Calculates your effective cost per kWh (usage + supply, annualised)
• Compares what you're paying on A1 against Midday Saver for your usage pattern
• Identifies whether a tariff switch would save you money
• Flags anomalies against Perth seasonal norms (a usage spike you might not have noticed)

For solar households, BillWise also reads the DEBS export data from your bill to model whether time-shifting heavy loads to the Midday Saver super off-peak window would improve your economics.

Synergy bill formats and rate schedules are subject to change. The rates quoted in this guide reflect the A1 and Midday Saver tariffs effective 1 July 2026. Always refer to your current Synergy bill for the rates applicable to your account.