While energy prices are coming down (in most parts of the country) energy bills are just another cost of living pressure facing Australian households as we head into the colder months.
During this year's federal budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced that the Australian Government would be providing energy bill relief payments of $300 to every Australian household.
The news is a welcome relief for those who most need it most. Still, unfortunately, many are still going to do it tough. That's why we've put together this guide with tips to help reduce your energy consumption as we head into the chilly winter months.
1) Switch to a cheaper energy retailer
Many people think of electricity as a "set and forget" service like water, but the energy market is a competitive space with bundling deals, sign-up bonuses and lots of retailers. Switching to a cheaper energy retailer is often the biggest way to save.
You can compare energy plans on the government's comparison website Energy Made Easy.
The difference between the cheapest and most expensive energy plan available at your address could be hundreds of dollars. When comparing plans online, look for the plans that are lower than the reference price.
The reference price or Default Market Offer is a benchmark set by the Australian Energy Market to make comparing electricity prices from different energy retailers easier. In Victoria, it's called the Victorian Default Offer.
Loyalty to one energy retailer doesn't pay in the long run. Plans displayed on retailer websites are
called "market offers". Generally, any sign-up bonuses you get expire after 12 months. Then you're
moved to what's known as a standing offer which usually isn't going to be as good as offers you can find
elsewhere.
Once you've switched to a cheaper electricity plan, make it a habit to compare prices
annually to always make sure you're getting the best deal.
Here are some of the bundling deals we've seen:
| Provider | Deal |
|---|---|
| Origin Energy | Save $10 per month when bundling any Origin energy service with an Origin internet plan (in NSW, Victoria, SE Queensland and ACT) |
| Dodo | Save up to $5 per month for bundling Dodo internet with either electricity or gas. Up to $10 per month (in NSW and Victoria) |
| AGL | Bundle either electricity or gas with an AGL internet plan and save $25 per month for six months. Save $15 on ongoing (in NSW, Victoria, Queensland SA and WA) |
| Sumo | Save $15 per month for bundling your Sumo internet plan with either electricity or gas (in NSW, Victoria, SE Queensland and SA) |
2) Insulate your home and take advantage of the sun
If you're heating your home the last thing you want to do is let the warmth escape through the cracks and crevices. According to Sustainability Victoria draughts or "air leakage" are responsible for up to 25% of winter heat loss.
These draughts can be countered by things like door snakes, draught stoppers, and door seals. They usually cost less than $20, require little or no installation and are easily found online or at homeware stores. They'll help keep the warm air inside and the winds of winter at bay.
3) Adjust the thermostat
Heating your home can account for up to 50% of your energy use. It might seem counter-intuitive, but setting the thermostat for your heater just a few degrees lower can positively impact your winter energy bill.
The bigger the difference between the actual temperature and the one you set the the harder your heater or AC has to work to warm your home. You increase your household energy use by 5-10% for every degree you increase the heating. Between 18 to 20 degrees celsius is a good sweet spot.
Just because the heating is on is no excuse to dress down either - grab your slippers, trackies and hoodie and
you're all set.
4) Heat your home efficiently
The type of heater you use in your home can make a big difference. While they come with a higher upfront cost a reverse-cycle air conditioner is the most efficient way to heat your home in winter.
According to the consumer advocacy group CHOICE cheaper portable electric heaters are more expensive to run and likely to result in a more expensive winter energy bill.
5) Take advantage of off-peak hours
If you have a smart meter installed, you might be on a time-of-use tariff. This means you pay different rates for
your
energy usage at different points in the day.
Energy is usually the most expensive during peak
hours,
cheaper in shoulder periods and cheapest during the off-peak.
Setting the dishwasher or laundry to run just before you go to bed can be cheaper than running them during
peak hours. Smart appliances are great for this especially if you can set a delay on when the appliance
starts.
You might even favour having the heater on in sleeping spaces during off-peak hours and opt to
rug up when energy is more expensive.
Peak and off-peak hours can vary by retailer and state so be sure to check when you sign up for an energy plan.
The following periods are an example using winter months times from the Ausgrid distributor in New South Wales.
- Peak: Weekdays between 5pm to 9pm
- Shoulder: Weekdays from 7am to 5pm and 9pm to 10pm
- Off-peak: All other times from 10pm to 7am
6) Focus the heat where it's most needed
Only focus on heating the rooms in your home that you're actually using. During the day this might
be your home office and living spaces and at night your bedrooms. It might be chilly in your house's less frequented
spots, but we're in the business of slashing our energy bills here.
Remember to keep
the doors between spaces closed so that the hot air doesn't escape.
If you invest in an
electric blanket you can heat up your
bed so it's nice and toasty before you go to sleep. They can cost anywhere from $20-$50 depending on the size and
will save you from keeping
the heater on all night.
7) Take shorter showers
It might be tempting to take a long hot shower during the colder months of the year but it could impact your
heating bill. Many hot water systems slowly heat up throughout the day. The harder they work to
heat the water the more energy they expend. Shorter showers mean less work and a few more dollars shaved off
your energy bill.
Plus, shorter showers are better for the environment. It's a win-win.
8) Make the most of any sunshine and heat
On sunny days open the blinds and let the sun's rays warm your home. At sunset, close them to keep the cold from
coming in.
Cooking a winter roast? When you're done leave the oven door open - as the oven
cools the remaining heat will help warm your kitchen space. Just be sure that children and furry
friends aren't able to touch any hot surfaces.
9) Turn appliances off at the powerpoint
This one's good practice year-round. Those appliances you leave switched on all night could cost you up
to $100 a year.
Appliances that are plugged in and switched on when not in use are still
using small amounts of energy, which can add up over the months. So get into the habit of switching your
microwave, kettle, TV etc. off at the power point when not in use.
10) Check for rebates in your state
In some states, you don't need to wait for the federal government's energy bill relief payments to arrive.
Many states and territories also offer ongoing rebates for seniors, veterans and other concession card holders. You can use the search tool on energy.gov.au to find those that apply to your household.
When was the last time you switched NBN plans? These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:
|
#1
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$57.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN50
$45/mth
Min. cost $45
|
|
#3
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
$64.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
|
#4
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Aussie Broadband
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value nbn - Unlimited
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Extra-value nbn50/20
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
#7
|
iiNet
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
#9
|
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Silver Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
#10
|
Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Unlimited Family nbn50
$68/mth
Min. cost $68
|
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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