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Family of four in a house vs All-electric family house: Electricity Use Compared in Australia (2026)
Switching the same family from gas heating and hot water to electric can double or triple the electricity bill, even though the appliances have not changed. Heating is the largest energy use in any home, and moving it onto the electricity meter dwarfs everything else. Whether the total energy cost goes up depends on gas prices and on whether the electric heating is a heat pump or resistance.
In Australia, family of four in a house uses about 7,311 kWh a year (A$213.24 a month) and all-electric family house about 7,311 kWh (A$213.24 a month). That is 1.0× as much, or A$0.000 more per month. Per person: 1,828 kWh vs 1,828 kWh a year.
Sources: Australian Energy Regulator, Residential energy consumption benchmarks (Frontier Economics, December 2020), temperate climate zone (Sydney), households without a swimming pool: 4 people. Australian Energy Regulator, Residential energy consumption benchmarks (Frontier Economics, December 2020), temperate climate zone (Sydney), households without a swimming pool: 4 people. Priced at A$0.35 per kWh (AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Family of four in a house | All-electric family house | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating & cooling | 2,924 kWh | 2,924 kWh | +0 |
| Water heating | 1,535 kWh | 1,535 kWh | +0 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 709 kWh | 709 kWh | +0 |
| Cooking | 205 kWh | 205 kWh | +0 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 409 kWh | 409 kWh | +0 |
| TV, computing & network | 424 kWh | 424 kWh | +0 |
| Lighting | 439 kWh | 439 kWh | +0 |
| Other appliances | 665 kWh | 665 kWh | +0 |
- In the all-electric home, heating and hot water are typically half to two-thirds of the electricity bill.
- A heat pump cuts that heating share by half or more compared with resistance heating.
- The appliance part of the bill is the same in both houses; only the heating line changes.
Only in the all-electric family house
- None
Only in the family of four in a house
- None
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Family of four in a house | All-electric family house | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 13,072 | 13,073 | 1.0× | $0.015 |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 6,100 | 1.6× | £49.83 |
| Germany | 3,800 | 4,700 | 1.2× | €27.75 |
| France | 6,034 | 13,290 | 2.2× | €120.93 |
| Australia | 7,311 | 7,311 | 1.0× | A$0.000 |
| Canada (average) | 12,694 | 17,750 | 1.4× | C$58.99 |