The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 is the most significant shake-up to the state’s power sector in years. Released in October 2025, it charts a new course for electricity supply, generation, and pricing. For Queensland homeowners, renters, and small businesses, the big question is simple: Will your power bills actually go down? Here’s what the plan says—and what it means for you.
What is the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026?
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 is a state government policy plan released by the Crisafulli Government on 10 October 2025. It replaces the previous Labour government’s renewable energy targets and sets out how Queensland will generate, store, and deliver electricity for the next five years and beyond.
The plan scraps the former legislated targets of 70% renewables by 2032 and 80% by 2035. Instead, it sets a longer-term goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, without locking in fixed renewable percentages in the short term.
At its core, the roadmap focuses on three things:
- Keeping existing coal and gas plants running longer
- Attracting private investment in new energy generation
- Putting downward pressure on retail electricity prices
Key pillars of the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026
To understand the long-term impact on your electricity bills, it is essential to examine the plan’s specific pillars. The transition is no longer just about building wind farms; it is about managing the entire energy ecosystem.
1. Extending the life of coal assets
The roadmap reverses previous plans to shut down coal plants by 2035. Instead, state-owned assets will now run until 2046 or until their technical end of life. This ensures that there is always enough “baseload” power to meet demand, preventing the price volatility often seen when supply is tight.
2. The rise of gas and storage
Gas is back on the menu as a firming fuel. The government is tendering for 400MW of new gas generation in Central Queensland. Alongside this, large-scale battery storage is being accelerated to store excess solar energy generated during the day for use at night.
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3. Regional energy hubs
The state is moving away from “Renewable Energy Zones” toward “Regional Energy Hubs.” These hubs allow wind, solar, gas, and storage to connect to the grid in the same geographical areas. This reduces the cost of building new transmission lines, which is a major component of your electricity bill.
The role of coal, gas, and renewables under the roadmap
Coal: Extended well beyond 2035
State-owned coal power stations, previously scheduled for closure by 2035, will now run until at least 2046—or until their technical life ends. A $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee backs this extended operation.
This is a significant reversal of policy. Queensland’s coal fleet is already ageing, with about two-thirds of its capacity at least 30 years old. The government argues that keeping these plants running saves billions in system costs. Renewable energy advocates argue the opposite—that unreliable, expensive coal maintenance simply delays the adoption of cheaper and cleaner alternatives.
Gas: Doubling in capacity by 2035
The roadmap calls for a tender for 400MW of new gas-fired generation in Central Queensland, with Queensland’s total gas capacity set to more than double to 8.3GW by 2035. Gas is positioned as a firming technology to support solar and wind when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.
Renewables: Still growing, but without mandated targets
The roadmap still anticipates up to 6.8 GW of new wind and large-scale solar capacity, plus 3.8 GW of storage, by 2030. However, removing binding targets creates uncertainty for private investors, potentially slowing the development of new projects.
Queensland already leads the nation in rooftop solar. More than 1.16 million households and businesses have installed solar systems, with a combined capacity of 7.2GW—equivalent to the output of four and a half Callide coal stations.
What does this mean for Queensland solar owners?
If you already have rooftop solar in Queensland, the roadmap affects you in a few ways:
- Feed-in tariffs remain unchanged: The roadmap does not alter solar feed-in tariff arrangements. You’ll still be paid for surplus solar energy exported to the grid.
- Community batteries get a boost: A new $10 million investment in community-level batteries will help manage solar exports and maintain minimum system load, benefiting local grid stability.
- Supercharged solar for renters: The roadmap retains this program, expanding solar access beyond homeowners to rental properties.
- Grid stability is the priority: With more coal and gas as backup, network reliability should improve, which reduces the risk of outage-related price spikes that hit solar and non-solar households alike.
The debate: Will bills actually drop long-term?
According to recent data from the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), there is good news for consumers. The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 is already showing signs of putting downward pressure on prices.
Draft determinations for the 2026-27 financial year indicate significant price drops:
- South East Queensland: Residential customers could see a 10.1% decrease in their Default Market Offer (DMO).
- Regional Queensland: Households are expected to see a 9.7% drop in regulated retail prices.
- Small businesses: Business owners may benefit from even larger drops, ranging from 11.3% to 12.8%.
These reductions are largely attributed to lower wholesale costs and fewer coal plant outages. However, while the roadmap helps the “macro” picture, individual bills still depend on usage habits.
In the short term, the 10% reduction in the DMO is real and welcome. But whether the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 delivers sustained lower bills depends on several factors that remain contested:
- Coal reliability: Queensland’s coal plants failed 78 times last summer. Maintaining ageing assets is expensive, and unplanned outages cause some of Australia’s sharpest price spikes.
- Gas price volatility: Gas-fired generation is a reliable backup, but global gas prices fluctuate—potentially pushing up firming costs for households.
- Renewable cost competitiveness: CSIRO consistently finds that solar and wind, backed by storage, are the lowest-cost electricity sources. Slowing their rollout could delay those cost benefits from reaching households.
- Private investment certainty: Without mandated targets, some developers may delay or redirect capital to other states with clearer policy settings.
The true test of the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 will come over the next two to five years, as the AER’s final determination lands and investment patterns become clearer.
How to cut your Queensland electricity bills right now
Regardless of how energy policy unfolds, there are practical steps Queensland households can take today to reduce their power bills.
- Install rooftop solar. Queensland’s abundant sunshine means solar panels generate strong returns. Households with solar can save around $1,500 per year on energy bills, and those savings nearly double when a battery is added.
- Add a home battery. Battery storage lets you use solar energy at night, reducing grid dependence. In 2025, Australia saw a 191% surge in home battery sales. Queensland households enrolled in virtual power plants (VPPs) can earn an additional $106 per quarter from sharing stored energy with the grid.
- Check available rebates. Queensland’s Community Solar Banks Program and Supercharged Solar for Renters offer pathways for renters and apartment dwellers.
- Compare energy plans. The DMO is a cap, not a guide. Many retailers’ offers are cheaper. Once the AER’s final determination is released in May 2026, review your current plan against available alternatives.
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Take control of your energy costs with Energy Matters
Energy policy can shift—but the value of owning your own solar energy system stays consistent. Queensland’s sun is free, and so is the energy it generates with the right system installed.
Get a free, no-obligation solar quote from Energy Matters today. Our team of solar experts will assess your home’s energy use and design a solar and battery solution to maximise your savings—whatever direction the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 takes.
Sources & References:
- Queensland Treasury – Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025
- Australian Energy Council – What does the Queensland Energy Roadmap mean for the 2026 ISP?
- Climate Council – Everything You Need to Know About Queensland’s Upcoming Energy Roadmap
- Clean Energy Council – Rooftop Solar & Storage Report (H2 2025)
- Queensland Audit Office – Energy 2025
