Canberra households on regulated electricity tariffs will pay more for power from July 1, with the ACT’s independent regulator approving an average 2.7 per cent increase in standing offer prices.

The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission said the rise would add about $64 a year to the bill of an average residential customer using 6500 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

For a typical small business customer using 25,000 kilowatt-hours a year, bills are expected to rise by about $245 annually.

Senior Commissioner Richard Owens said falling wholesale electricity costs had been outweighed by higher network charges and increased costs linked to government policies.

“Wholesale electricity purchase costs decreased for 2026-27, but this was offset by an increase in network costs and costs associated with government policies,” Mr Owens said.

Wholesale electricity costs fell from $163 per megawatt-hour this financial year to $143 per megawatt-hour for 2026-27, which the commission said reflected improved supply conditions, more renewable generation and battery storage, and fewer spikes in wholesale market prices.

However, network costs will rise by 15 per cent next financial year, contributing 4.1 percentage points to the overall price increase.

The commission also said costs associated with the ACT Government’s large-scale feed-in tariff scheme would rise by 90 per cent in 2026-27, linked to the government’s $95 million renewable energy cost determination.

The regulated standing offer applies to fewer than 20 per cent of ACT electricity customers, with most households already on cheaper market offers through ActewAGL or other retailers.

Mr Owens said ACT electricity prices were expected to shift from the lower end of the national range to the middle of the pack in 2026-27.

The ACT Government’s utility concession scheme, which provides rebates of up to $800 for eligible low-income households, will remain available.