Perth electricity price history: how Synergy rates have changed since 2007

Perth households pay among the highest residential electricity prices in Australia — a dramatic change from the early 2000s when WA electricity was subsidised below cost. Understanding the trajectory of Perth electricity prices explains why solar economics work so strongly in WA, and whether further rises are likely.

Perth electricity price history: A1 rate by year

| Financial year | Synergy A1 rate (c/kWh, approx.) | Change from prior year | |---|---|---| | 2007–08 | ~13.5c | — | | 2009–10 | ~16.5c | +22% | | 2010–11 | ~19.2c | +16% | | 2011–12 | ~22.5c | +17% | | 2012–13 | ~26.0c | +16% | | 2013–14 | ~26.3c | +1% | | 2014–15 | ~26.4c | flat | | 2015–16 | ~26.6c | flat | | 2016–17 | ~27.5c | +3% | | 2019–20 | ~28.0c | gradual rise | | 2022–23 | ~29.5c | +2–3% | | 2023–24 | ~31.5c | +7% | | 2024–25 | ~32.1c | +2% | | 2025–26 | ~33.3c | +3.7% | | 2026–27 (from 1 Jul 2026) | 33.2621c | ~flat (regulatory rebalancing) |

Figures are approximate from published Synergy tariff schedules. Exact rates vary by year and rate review timing.

Why Perth electricity was so cheap before 2007

Western Australia had one of the most heavily subsidised electricity prices in Australia through the early 2000s. The State Government subsidised Synergy (then Western Power) to keep household tariffs below cost recovery. At peak subsidy, Synergy was recovering approximately 65–70% of the cost of generation and distribution through retail tariffs — the rest was taxpayer-funded.

This was a deliberate policy choice: in a resource economy with many fly-in fly-out workers, cheap residential power was seen as a quality-of-life offset. It also reflected WA's relatively cheap coal and gas generation from SWIS assets.

The 2009–2013 price surge: ending the subsidy

The Barnett Government (2008–2017) committed to moving WA electricity prices to cost-reflective levels — eliminating the subsidy through a series of above-CPI annual increases. From 2009 to 2013, Perth electricity prices increased approximately 90% in nominal terms — one of the largest sustained residential electricity price rises in Australian history.

The reasoning was sound from a budget perspective: the subsidy was costing the State hundreds of millions of dollars per year and suppressing energy efficiency incentives. The social impact was significant for lower-income households.

By 2013, WA electricity prices had moved closer to (though not exactly at) cost-recovery levels. Subsequent rises moderated.

2013–2020: the plateau period

After the surge, price rises moderated significantly — typically 1–3% per year, roughly in line with CPI. This reflected:

• Completion of the subsidy removal program
• Declining gas generation costs
• Political sensitivity after the 2009–2013 experience

Solar's rapid price falls during this period (combined with the now-higher electricity tariff) made solar economics increasingly attractive from around 2011 onwards.

2020–2026: inflation-driven rises

From 2020, global energy market pressures (LNG price spikes, gas contract rollovers at higher rates, transmission network upgrade costs) began pushing Synergy's costs up again. The SWIS network has significant infrastructure investment requirements, and Synergy's supply contract renewals were occurring at higher LNG prices.

The result: above-CPI rises returned, with 2023–24 and 2024–25 seeing 5–8% annual increases.

What happens from 1 July 2026

The 2026–27 tariff year brought a relatively modest increase — the 33.2621c/kWh A1 rate represents less than 1% change from 2025–26. This reflects:

• Some moderation in wholesale gas prices
• Political pressure following years of above-CPI rises
• Ongoing Synergy financial performance review

Implications for solar economics

The cumulative rise from 13.5c (2007) to 33.26c (2026–27) is approximately 146% in nominal terms — roughly 60–70% in real (inflation-adjusted) terms. This is the primary driver of why Perth solar economics improved so dramatically from 2011 to 2026.

Key relationship: every 1c/kWh increase in the A1 tariff improves solar payback by approximately 0.3–0.5 years for a typical 10kW Perth system. A tariff at 40c/kWh would reduce payback periods by 2–3 years compared to current rates.

Will prices keep rising? The trajectory is generally upward, driven by:

• Ongoing SWIS network upgrade costs
• WA's transition away from coal (Muja power station closure)
• Higher gas prices as legacy contracts expire
• Capital investment in battery and demand-response assets

Perth electricity prices are unlikely to fall significantly in the medium term. Further rises of 2–5% per year are the base expectation from most WA energy analysts.

Perth electricity prices have risen approximately 146% in nominal terms since 2007 — from ~13.5c/kWh (subsidised) to 33.26c/kWh in 2026–27. The largest increases occurred 2009–2013 as the Barnett Government removed below-cost subsidies. Subsequent rises have been more moderate. The long-run trajectory is upward, driven by SWIS network costs and gas price exposure — which means solar economics will continue to improve over time.