It’s important to stay comfortable during the winter and summer months, but it’s also important to keep costs down for you and your family.

People often underestimate how much energy they use at home. Here are some tips for keeping costs down so you don’t get a nasty bill shock at the end of the season.

Check appliances

Check your appliances for damage. Faulty, old and inefficient appliances can greatly increase the amount of energy you use in your home or business.

If you think there’s a problem, arrange for a licensed electrician to check your appliances for faults. Don’t try to fix the appliance yourself.

Turn it off

Did you know that household appliances can still use electricity in standby mode—when you’re not using it but it’s still turned on at the wall?

So if you're not using it, turn it off at the wall if you can.

Reduce energy-hungry appliances

Appliances that heat and cool use the most energy, including heaters, clothes dryers, hot water systems, fridges, freezers and air conditioners.

Focus on these appliances to heavily reduce your energy costs, including:

• putting your hot water system on an off peak tariff
• getting rid of that extra fridge or freezer in the garage
• using more energy-efficient heating, such as a gas heater rather than a fan or bar heater.

Other tips

You can also reduce your electricity bills by:

• replacing worn fridge seals
• using energy-efficient light bulbs
• insulating walls and ceilings
• using a clothes line rather than dryer
• using washing machines and dishwashers only when they’re full

To heat rooms quicker and keep them at a comfortable temperature, also seal any gaps, and close doors, windows and curtains. Use a draught stopper or door snake to cover gaps on the bottom of doors to reduce cold air from coming in and warm air getting out.

Having trouble paying the bill?

Contact your energy provider immediately if you’re having trouble paying an energy bill.

If you’re having trouble paying your bill, you might be able to:

• ask for a payment plan
• find out if you’re eligible for any rebates or concessions, such as the Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme (HEEAS)
• get access to a financial hardship program
• get information about financial counselling
• ask for an audit to see where you can save money on electricity.

No one wants to see a customer disconnected, so talk to your provider about ways to take care of the bill, including a payment plan.

If you can’t agree on a solution, contact us to see if we can help.