Canberra, as part of the National Electricity Market (NEM), does receive electricity generated from NSW coal-fired power plants, particularly during periods when renewable energy output is insufficient, including at night.While the ACT has a target of 100% renewable electricity and invests in renewable energy sources like wind and solar, the majority of its electricity still comes from the broader National Electricity Market, which relies heavily on coal for baseload power.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-01/act-is-100-per-cent-renewable-but-what-does-that-mean/11560356

Key points:

• About four-fifths of the power on the eastern-seaboard grid that Canberrans use is from coal or gas
• But the ACT pays for enough renewable electricity generation to account for the city's entire use
• A fossil-fuel-free grid is possible in the future with battery storage and smarter use of power

Canberrans' electricity bills to rise from July

26 May 2025 | By Claire Fenwicke

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The ACT has largely been protected from electricity bill increases seen elsewhere in the country. Photo: EvoEnergy.

Electricity bills will increase across the ACT as ActewAGL’s regulated tariffs (standing offer) rise by an average of 10.11 per cent (or 7.05 per cent excluding inflation) from 1 July.

This means Canberrans on default energy plans will see a maximum average annual bill increase of $214 (for an average residential customer consuming 6500 kWh of electricity per year).

https://region.com.au/canberrans-electricity-bills-to-rise-from-july/871725/