<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Millions of Australians will feel some welcome relief with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/energy" rel="" target="_blank" title="power"><span>power</span></a><span> bills to drop in the second half of the year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Energy Regulator has handed down its final default market offer for south-east Queensland, NSW, and South Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Residential addresses will see prices fall in NSW (by 3.4 to 5 per cent) and south-east Queensland (by 7.2 per cent), while South Australia is bucking the trend with a 1.4 per cent increase.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-26-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/596b4138-b57a-4af3-9600-d54fd9beda8c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump's demand stuns Arab leaders into silence</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That's an average of $66 to $137 off the bill for NSW residents, and a $155 drop for Queensland, alongside a $33 increase for South Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But small businesses in all three zones will enjoy a discount, of 9 to 11.3 per cent ($432 to $705) in NSW, 10.4 per cent in south-east Queensland ($445), and 6.8 per cent ($379) in South Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The bill relief will kick in from July 1 this year.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/power-bills-to-drop-for-multiple-states/051ae1d7-95e3-41f1-b660-6e907a7f4d18" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/child-found-dead-lowood-home-ipswich-brisbane/8f64aba5-0a44-4d5a-b001-8ad3a15499db" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Homicide investigation launched after child found dead in home</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victoria also received welcome news yesterday, with flat rate plans to drop by 3 to 8 eight per cent, saving a typical household between $50 and $160 a year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The average saving is estimated to be a five per cent drop, or $84.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But experts have reminded consumers that default offers are a "safeguard price" for consumers who choose to not shop around, and there may still be cheaper options out there.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-update-rain-forecast-for-every-state-and-territory/4e67a7dc-86e5-4663-8390-faca0e100a41" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Rain to soak every state as multiple low-pressure systems collide</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I would urge electricity customers to use today's news to shop around for a better energy deal," iSelect comparison expert Sophie Ryan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sophie said a failure to shop around for the best deal could be "costing Aussies dearly" and said consumers should review their plan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"New prices take effect 1 July 2026, coinciding with the introduction of a new Solar Sharer Offer, giving smart meter households three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day – an opt-in opportunity to cut bills further by shifting usage like washing machines, EV charging or air conditioning to off-peak solar hours," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Canstar found that the bill relief was driven partially by a fall in energy wholesale costs, despite the ongoing global fuel crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It also costs less to deliver power to people's homes, and environmental costs have nearly halved.</span></div></div>