14 June 2024

Past Energy Consumer Surveys

The most comprehensive ongoing research study of the attitudes and activity of residential and small business energy consumers in Australia.
Energy Consumers Australia

Looking for our new Consumer Energy Report Card survey? Head here.

Our regular consumer sentiment and behaviour surveys are the most comprehensive ongoing research ​studies of the attitudes and activity of residential and small business energy consumers in Australia.

Prior to 2024, we ran two separate surveys: 

The Energy Consumer Sentiment Survey (ECSS) was published every six months. It explored how consumers think and feel about the energy market, including key issues like value for money for electricity, confidence participating in energy markets and how satisfied customers are with their energy services.

The Energy Consumer Behaviour Survey (ECBS) was an annual, companion to the ECSS. It explored how consumers use energy, asking questions about appliance, solar, storage and electric vehicle uptake, when consumers use their appliances and how willing they are to change the way they use their energy.

Energy Consumer Sentiment Survey June 2024

Energy Consumers Australia’s Sentiment Survey provides insight into consumer satisfaction, experiences, trust and confidence in the electricity and gas markets. It also explores consumers’ hopes and concerns for the future and in this survey, we look specifically at the community’s attitudes, preferences and expectations of the big energy transitions taking place across the country.

Sentiment Survey | June 2024 | Topline Results Report (PDF, 471.27KB)

Sentiment Survey | June 2024 | Topline Data (XLSX, 684.42KB)

Sentiment Survey | June 2024 | Data Pack (ZIP, 2.41MB)

Sentiment Survey | June 2024 | Questionnaire Content (PDF, 401.38KB)

Energy Consumer Behaviour Survey October 2023

Energy Consumers Australia’s Behaviour Survey provides Australia’s richest national picture of the attitudes and activity of residential and small business energy consumers – how they use power and associated energy technology, their attitudes to new technology, and how they see the future of energy for themselves and their communities.

Behaviour Survey | October 2023 | Household Toplines (PDF, 629.40KB)

Behaviour Survey | October 2023 | Small Business Toplines (PDF, 629.49KB)

Behaviour Survey | October 2023 | Household Topline Data (XLSX, 306.76KB)

Behaviour Survey | October 2023 | Small Business Topline Data (XLSX, 111.48KB)

Behaviour Survey | October 2023 | Data Pack (ZIP, 4.12MB) 

Behaviour Survey | October 2023 | Questionnaire Content (PDF, 501.25KB)

Consumers’ Voice

In collaboration with Essential Research, we conducted qualitative research with 60 representative participants who joined a series of focus groups and discussions. The report captures findings, including in-depth quotes and summary of the key themes.

Read the report (PDF, 838.72KB)

This research (PDF, 838.72KB) is essential reading for policymakers, government, industry, and researchers, who are wanting a better understanding of the state of play for energy users on the ground. This will help deliver an energy system that meets the needs and values of the people who use it and pay for it.

There’s been much speculation about the impact of the ‘energy crisis’ on households and small businesses. In this latest report (PDF, 838.72KB), we wanted to hear directly from those impacted about their lived experience and gain further understanding about how the energy system is – or isn’t – working in their best interests.

Key Findings

  1. Recent bill increases and expectations of further rises have convinced consumers that there are underlying problems with the energy system.
  2. Consumers lack trust in energy providers and governments to put consumers’ best interests ahead of their own.
  3. Consumers are supportive of the transition to renewables, although some are concerned about reliability issues and cost.

Previous Survey Results

Below you’ll find previous consumer sentiment and behaviour survey results and summaries available for download.

Sentiment Survey December 2023

Sentiment Survey June 2023

Behaviour Survey October 2022

Sentiment Survey December 2022

Sentiment Survey June 2022

Survey Results 2021 and earlier

 

Methodology

The Energy Consumer Sentiment and Behaviour Surveys were conducted by Essential Research for Energy Consumers Australia, to support Energy Consumers Australia’s goal of regularly engaging with energy users across Australia.

About the surveys

From 2016 to 2020, the Energy Consumer Sentiment Survey was conducted twice a year and included explored consumer behaviour, perceptions, and attitudes to a range of energy-related issues including satisfaction, usage and relationship with suppliers and retailers. Starting in 2021, the behaviour questions have been shifted to a separate annual survey (now known as the Energy Consumer Behaviour Survey), with the Energy Consumer Sentiment Survey continuing twice a year with questions on perceptions and attitudes.

Both surveys follow the same methodology. The target population for both surveys is household consumers aged over 18 who are involved in decisions about electricity and gas issues in their household, and small business consumers (with less than 200 employees) who are involved in decisions about electricity and gas issues in their household.

The surveys are conducted online, with participants being invited to participate and completing the questions in their own time without an interviewer present. The sample is stratified by state, territory and participant type (household or small business). Stratification by state is to provide sample sizes for all states and the ACT that are sufficient for robust analysis, although this has the effect of reducing the effective sample size for the weighted overall nationwide results (because results from smaller jurisdictions, which have been boosted to ensure robust sample sizes for separate analysis, have to be weighted down in the nationwide results to ensure the nationwide results are representative of the total Australian population).

Quotas are placed on the household sample by age and gender. RIM weighting is applied to the final data using information sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The final data is weighted based on ABS data by state, territory, and participant type. Information of the weighting efficiency, sample size and margin of error for each wave of the survey is listed below. Margin of Error (MoE) is calculated to a 95% confidence level.

Results with a base size of less than n=100 are shown with a caution that results will have a high MOE and therefore may be subject to high variability. Results with a base size of less than n=30 have been suppressed.

The survey fieldwork was conducted by Dynata using participants from online research panels. All other tasks were completed by Essential Research.

All Essential Research staff hold Research Society membership and are bound by professional codes of behaviour. This research is compliant with the Australian Polling Council Quality Mark standards.

Energy Consumer Sentiment Survey

Publication DateFieldwork Start DateFieldwork End Date
Sentiment Survey June 20244th April 202427th April 2024
State/TerritoryHousehold Sample SizeMargin of ErrorHouseholds with electricity onlyHouseholds with electricity & gas
NSW401±4.9%203198
VIC400±4.9%80320
QLD300±5.7%24555
(SE QLD)192±7.1%15141
SA300±5.7%116184
WA300±5.7%71229
ACT200±6.9%57143
TAS200±6.9%18020
NT20n/a164

Definitions for groups used in the analysis are defined below:

Household lifestageDescription
Young HouseholdAged under 44, max, no dependent children. Not retired
Family HouseholdHave dependent children under 18 in Household. Not retired
Older HouseholdAged over 44. Have no dependent children under 18 in Household. Not retired
Retired HouseholdRetirees
Financial PressureDescription
Financially comfortableParticipants self-select definition in Question D16
Manage household bills but struggle to afford anything extraParticipants self-select definition in Question D16
Under financial pressureParticipants self-select definition in Question D16

Energy Consumer Behaviour Survey

The questionnaire content for the latest behaviour survey can be found here (PDF, 501.25KB)

 

Publication DateFieldwork Start DateFieldwork End Date
Behaviour Survey 202320th July 202316th August 2023
TypeSample SizeWeighting EfficiencyEffective Sample SizeMargin of Error
Household2,20077%1,685±2.4%
Small business2,20090%466±4.5%
State/TerritoryHousehold Sample SizeMargin of ErrorHouseholds with electricity onlyHouseholds with electricity & gas
NSW408±4.9%218190
VIC404±4.9%79325
QLD335±5.4%29441
(SE QLD)216±6.7%18432
SA316±5.5%130186
WA311±5.6%92219
ACT202±6.9%67135
TAS202±6.9%18121
NT22n/a193

Definitions for the groups used in the analysis are defined below:

Household lifestageDescription
Young HouseholdAged under 44, max, no dependent children. Not retired
Family HouseholdHave dependent children under 18 in Household. Not retired
Older HouseholdAged over 44. Have no dependent children under 18 in Household. Not retired
Retired HouseholdRetirees
Financial PressureDescription
Financially comfortableParticipants self-select definition in Question D16
Manage household bills but struggle to afford anything extraParticipants self-select definition in Question D16
Under financial pressureParticipants self-select definition in Question D16
Page last updated: 26 March 2025

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