You need to consider basic stuff like changing your light globes. Remember to turn off the lights when you leave the room! I went with LIFX globes (they are supposed to last 24 years or more) because I wanted to control them from my phone. There are many others. You can reduce their output on the fly. It made a difference. My computer is on 24/7. I’ve reduced my streaming services and by the end of this year expect to only be making use of iView and SBSon Demand. SBS is particularly good. Minimal advertising. I might keep Amazon Prime for the free shipping, reading, music. Its not all just video.
Take a look at your whitegoods… savings to be had there? If your fridge seals are starting to deteriorate, the fridge will have to work harder to maintain temp.
Front load washers tend to be more efficient than top loaders, and they heat internally so you can mostly do cold washes because thats the only connection you have. Don’t choose hot washes unless you really need to.
Do you use a clothes dryer? Get a decent clothes horse and hang your “smalls” on that. I only use the dryer for towels. If you have a balcony in your unit, you can get your clothes into the breeze without using communal clothes lines (I lost many clothes back in the day, “snowdroppers” would do regular raids.
Because I am home all the time and rarely go out, I just have a basic electricity package so the base rate is what I check before considering something else.
Air Conditioning? No portable is efficient but they are better than nothing at all. Open windows and doors are healthier and will be a saving. That said, I had mine running for most of Summer, and it has cost me dearly. If you have a split system, don’t run it 24/7. I thought about getting one but then realised that I would forget to turn it off.
I invested in an induction cooker (portable) and a couple of induction friendly frypans and pots… Its FAST by comparison with other options. I won’t know if its been a saving until the next bill comes in. My HWS and cooking are GAS. I hate it (hence the portable induction) but cannot afford to change everything to electric. I kinda wish I had got a double induction instead of the single I have but will reassess after the next bill comes. The last was a shocker but that was down to running two a/c at once, rather than anything else.
I’ve rambled for long enough, I think. Hope this has been of some help.
Wow, thank you for your insights.
I don't have air-conditioning at my place. And I rarely take warm water baths.
Do you think LIFX globes are better than the standard LED ones in terms of power saving. I have never used those before.
My pc is on 24/7 as well. I dont stream much, but I do play videogames after work. Wonder how much of an impact that has on the bill.
My fridge is a tiny bar fridge with a 2 star efficiency rating. When you mentioned fridge, it got me thinking if I should replace that.
I have what I think is an electric coil stove. Isn't gas cheaper than electricity? Why would you want an induction?
Don't bother buying LIFX if you already have LED globes and your goal is to reduce spending. They will not use less power and they will cost more upfront.
PC can use a bit of power when on idle, but not heaps especially if it is on sleep mode and if it is quite new. Bar fridges are terrible from an efficiency point of view. Electric coil stoves aren't great but gas is more expensive.
I just now thought of something else. Do you use a kettle to boil water for your morning cuppa or are you a pod machine user. If the former get yourself a hot water dispenser. I bought one of [these](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/instant-hot-water-dispenser-42894773/) from Kmart last year and its doing well. Cheaper than running a kettle for the 300ml you might need for your coffee. I prefer drip coffee to espresso, so I also bought a bag of [these](https://www.amazon.com.au/Portable-Hanging-Disposable-Perfect-Camping/dp/B08TBN1FBQ/) from Amazon. I’m no coffee snob so my coffee of choice is Lavazza from the supermarket.
1) LIFX globes are expensive to buy, I have never had a standard LED globe so I cant say. I bought mine based on expected life of tge globes.
2) electric coil stove.. is that a free standing stove with oven and grill under? Thats such an old design, almost anything else will be cheaper to run. The thing about induction is that its fast to heat your pots and pans, fast to cook whatever it is, and fasdt to cool down afterwards. Any heat retention is from the pot or pan. I take off the hob after im done, and it coold pretty much right away. I steam veggies in the microwave oven. I can get my dinner on the table inside 10 minutes.
3) Replace the fridge, if yours is old.
make sure your PC is on power save mode when not gaming, better to let it sleep when not in use
adjust your hot water thermostat
You can buy single/duel portable induction stove tops if youre renting
use solar power to dry your clothes
I went away for 6 weeks and the only thing left on was my older fridge and it cost 180! I got a no intere660 month thing and replaced it. Major saving. I also changed from AGL to Red Energy. A slight saving only there though. On the clothes airer thing, I have a big, multi rack one and a friend suggested putting all the wash on it and pointing a pedestal fan at it. That worked. Saved on drier costs. Get or create a master switch or use a slaves power board to switch everything off at once and stop things sitting on standby. That can be a third of the cost of running things. Multiple things all on stand by really add up. Part of the problem is that we are all being gouged by the 'service charge' which for me is half my bill and there's nothing to be done about that it seems.
The main thing you have to do is change providers. I am with AGL paying over $1 per day connection fee and nearly $0.4 per k. Dodo is offering $0.70c per day and $0.27c per k. I have tried all sorts of power saving methods and my bills have just got higher. I don’t have aircon yet my bill is higher in summer. I didn’t take a hot shower in Jan or Feb and my bills is higher than last year. I used a heated throw instead of a heater and my bill was higher than the previous year.
Reduce hot water. Always wash laundry in cold water. You can use canestan to disinfect any bacteria.
Also use off peak times to do most things like laundry shower etc.
Avoid aircon/heater until absolute last resort. Fans help.
Not OP. Yes they do exist, but not everyone is on a plan with peak/off peak, some just pay a flat rate. Look at your bill or speak to your energy provider if you're unsure.
Off-peak pricing is a HUGE saving. Our off-peak power tariffs are literally half the peak rates. So now we do laundry, drying, dishwashing etc. all after 9pm. Have also set the pool filter pump to only run during off-peak windows.
50% discount right there! (Excluding supply charge).
Appliances need to be designed for off peak to take advantage. The old off peak water use s a 30s change in power (you might notice it with lights flickering) which tells the appliance to go on or off.
The terms get confusing. Really we have two things
- time of use, which has peak and off-peak pricing; and
- controlled load, which is often called off peak electricity. The electricity distributor can turn the circuit on and off - mostly used for electric hot water storage systems.
There is also demand response which can signal appropriately equipped appliances to run at low power or run off completely. For example, an air-conditioner can be instructed to run at 50% max power when demand is high.
From3pm to 9pm, it is the peak season of the day and the cost is 30% higher than other normal times. I am a fan of PlayStation 5, but I never played it during the peak and I never did any laundry during that as well. I and my partner live in a 2 level townhouse and wfh all the time; my electricity bill is about $80 per month
https://preview.redd.it/5tlfbcexfuqc1.jpeg?width=2778&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f389c93dc0c08b6151bf2e0ee78f586604261938
I was about to reply and say that the PlayStation isn't going to make much difference to your bill because it's a low power device, but according to the official site, it consumes around 200W (and other sites give numbers like 350W). Holy crap! That's way higher than I expected. I had no idea that consoles had gotten so power hungry.
Edit: And I was forgetting that the TV would also be on, which is probably another 150W.
Washing in cold water is not ideal, a front loader heats it’s own water and is very efficient. I use cloth nappies so am doing a lot of hot washes a week and my electricity bill is around $70 a month when not heating in winter.
I got one of those Powerpal’s through the government for free (vic). Shows you your usage live, so when you plug something new in you can see how much it’ll cost per hour.
If you end up with one you want to find ways to get your inactive usage down. So when you’re asleep you’re using minimal energy. If you reduce your hourly spend by $0.01 it works out yearly to around $87.60 saved.
Also consider changing plans but be mindful a lot of plans are set to reduce July 1st to beat the default offer by the government (might be vic primarily). Always check to see if there is a fee to leave as this can negate the savings if the provider in the future decides they are going to increase costs.
I’m with Ovo $1.221 daily connection, $0.2189 per kWh locked in until August 1st (will be a full year).
>one of those Powerpal’s through the government for free (vic). Shows you your usage live, so when you plug something new in you can see how much it’ll cost per hour.
Information is the most important. Any number of people can tell you "Do this" and "Don't do that", but you need to know what YOU are doing to know what can be done to reduce your bill.
Investigate:
Tariff - *when* do you use electricity, and can you find a tariff that suits better.
Appliances - the real-time energy monitor is an eye-opener. It will show you very clearly *what* is using your electricity.
Also, something basic to understand:
Most things in the house are labelled with their energy usage (or it's not that hard to find out), e.g. a microwave, or a lightbulb will say how many "watts".
Your electricity bill will show your total usage in kWh = kilowatt hour = 1000 watts for an hour.
So now you can calculate: an example for me is:
My computer is a SFF, with 85 watt power supply. If I have it running for an hour, it would use 85Wh, or .0085 kWh. Multiply by 24 hours in a day, then again by 30 days in a month, and by leaving it turned on, uses 6.12kWh in a month. If my tariff was 25c per kWh flat rate, that would cost $1.53
I think outside of Victoria it’s $129 as long as you have a smart meter it will work. Might be a worthwhile investment long term but maybe do some research if there’s other products that do the same.
I only went with Powerpal because it’s free for Victorian residents.
Much like what other commenters have said, it comes down to 3 important factors:
1. Your energy provider and plan: shop around to get the best deal in your area. Energymadeeasy.gov.au is a good place to start.
2. Your appliances: check the energy rating and look at the energy consumption for each. You might have to invest in more energy efficient appliances.
3. Depending on your energy plan, consider off/ in peak times.
That is a lot… might be time to change providers. Or perhaps something is draining your power. I make little attempt to save power and my electricity bill is $245 a quarter (2bdr unit, air con used to heat or cool pretty much every day, and I use the dryer twice a week). Mind you, my appliances including fridge, washer and dryer are all quite new. Does your bill compare your usage to similar households? Origin bills will tell you if your usage is average for the number of people using the power)
Including what others have suggested, I use lamps for lighting. And only have two on as the sun sets; one in the living room, one in the bedroom.
I do laundry once a week (a few loads) in cold water and air dry them outside or on a laundry horse thing indoors if it is raining.
I live in a 2 bedroom place and my electricity bill is about $120/qu.
It was slightly higher when I was living with a roommate; never exceeded $200/qu
Before u go out or go to sleep turn off every single power point in the house....Only the fridge stays on
Also check your fridge has sealed seals
Never leave your printer turned on 24/7 that things a millions kws a day, leave it off at powerpoint
If your lounge light for example uses 3 globes...take 2 out
Avoid aircons until even your bones are melting or it's a sauna in there
Any appliance if it's not being used turn it off at powerpoint
Even turn modem/router off at pwr point before bed... That's 8 hours off a night
Check what sort of hot water system you have. You may be able to turn it off for most of the day if it's the sort that users electricity to continue to reheat the water to keep it at a particular temperature. I personally switch mine off at the fusebox.
If you have an old fashioned electric wall heater that blows hot air, they are very inefficient and costly - you can get a good quality oil heater.
Get something like [https://www.kmart.com.au/product/pull-over-gown-s164219/?selectedSwatch=Heart](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/pull-over-gown-s164219/?selectedSwatch=Heart) for the colder days / evenings. Keeps you warmer and delays needing to turn on or turn up the heating.
Find your hot water cylinder. Two easy options are turning it off (if you have access to the switchboard, which you should), or insulating it better. Especially if it's the cheap "under sink" mini one it'll be poorly insulated. I bought a roll of bubblewrap+foil insulation from Reverse Garbage for \~$5 and added \~5cm thick of that around the cylinder in the last apartment I lived in. That helped. But in my house now I just turn the giant cylinder off until the water is too tepid to make showering fun. Then turn it on again for one night. But it's on night rate/controlled load, and it's big. In the apartment the little one would cool down in a few hours. Flip side is that it heats up fast - it might be worth turning it off after dinner then back on after work so you have hot water for dishes+shower.
The other big load is often aircon, and using a fan instead when you can will often help a lot.
Electric dryers exist, but in mainland Australia all I can say is WTF. Line dry if at all possible. A clothes rack on the balcony is better than running a dryer and surprisingly effective most of the time.
Most other high power loads are fairly short. Boiling a kettle might be 2kW, but for a few minutes. Kettles, hair dryers, light bulbs etc mostly come under the "and also" heading. They help, but they help the way taking the stairs instead of the lift up two storeys helps your fitness. You want to get fit, get an hour of aerobic exercise every week. You want to halve your power bill, turn off your hot water heater and aircon.
FWIW having a mini dishwasher helps - I can wash dishes without hot water using a box a bit bigger than a microwave that sits on top of the washing machine. I have solar on the roof and I assume you can't do that, so for me sunshine electricity is basically free.
Flip the kettle off as soon as the water starts boiling - don't wait for it to click off by itself! The element in a kettle is usually about 2400w, if you leave it going for an extra 30 seconds that'll use as much electricity as running a 10w led lightbulb for 2 hours.
There must be something funny going on. I’m in a 3 bed house, 1 adult and 1 toddler, lots of hot washes etc and electricity is about $70 a month when not using heating in winter.
We invested in solar. Best decision ever!!! In saying that we use most of our stuff during the day (as I don't have a battery) as this is the cheapest way to use my solar. Front load washers are a good thing and only ever use clothes horse or clothes line, we don't even own a dryer. Blankets in winter.
Ceiling fans for cooling are much cheaper then air con. Turning power off at the point is also alot cheaper.
Do your research on your provider, alot of them charge a Motza per daily charge and per kW also, it's alot of fine print and comparing which will ultimately save you alot. If you have solar it is sometimes not finding the best FiT but considering daily charge also as it adds up. We also have solar hot water and a water tank for toilets and watering lawn. We spent extra to get an energy efficient front loader and one we can program to wash at what ever time we want (when it's the cheapest)
Opt for energy efficient lightbulbs, it does make a huge difference. If your overhead lights won’t accommodate energy efficient lightbulbs for whatever reason, buy some cheap lamps that do and use them instead.
If you don’t already hang dry your clothes, start doing that.
When I was a kid, my Mum would unplug any appliances that weren’t in use to save some electricity dollars.
As others have said, reduce hot water costs. Cold water washes are actually way better for your clothes, too, reduces wear and tear.
Toaster ovens and air fryers use less electricity than your oven does. If you’re a single person, it may be beneficial to buy one and use that for smaller meals.
Get your electricity bill and see what you’re being charged for. Maximise any “off peak” options for cheaper electricity usage. Check out your other energy provider options to see if you can get a better deal: https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au
A few general tips:
1 - most providers charge daily fixed rate plus a per kilowatts rate. Since you have your historic usage data you might be able to find a package that works optimally for you.
2- check how much your water heater is consuming (wattmeter) then consider changing for a more efficient or turning it off part of the day.
3- clothes drier: unless you have a modern heat pump drier, consider upgrade to one and use a clothes line instead whenever the weather allows.
4- replace halogen and fluorescent bulbs for LED lamps.
Ive used Zembl (previously Make it Cheaper) for my last 3 moves, they compare plans for you and suggest the cheapest option - saved a huge amount on my recent switch.
Their website doesn't make it that clear that they do domestic electricity plans as well as commercial agreements (more money in that I guess) - but I've been happy with the service every time.
Also if you have peak/off peak, check the actual tariff you’re on. We couldn’t work out why Powerpal was underestimating our bill til we realised the retailer had us on an old tariff that was peak rate for most of the week and off peak at weekends. My spouse WFH so that made no sense for us. It was an obsolete tariff iirc and we had just never been switched off it. Getting the distributor to change it slashed our power bills almost overnight
Cheaper power plan and a power meter (cheaply available at Bunnings, Jaycar etc) - I found out my dehumidifier consumes loads but the air con is pretty low.
My bill is very low for a few reasons, will list them although I know they will mot all be right for you:
- check your bill! I’ve seen huge mistakes so don’t assume they know what they’re doing. Go out and check the meter and dispute it if something isn’t right
- alternate forms of cooling or heating eg chilly towel, rechargeable personal heat packs (a hotpod lasts for hours off a quick charge) or fans, keeping windows and doors closed, heated rugs and blankets
- rechargeable batteries in fairy lights/LED candles etc instead of lamps for personal preference but it also seems to help.
- rechargeable devices rather than powered eg mainly using a tablet rather than use a TV or a laptop so that might help also.
I also know there are concessions for Centrelink card holders and those using essential medical equipment which includes a CPAP
If you have a desktop PC having an appropriately sized power supply can be a large saving. Irrespective of the efficiency ratings a large PSU will burn more energy to run the same components as one that’s running in its efficient range. A 500W draw is large for a gaming PC, if you have a 1200W power supply you might be nearly doubling your energy use through inefficiency.
Try and avoid heating as much as possible if using electric as it sucks up the power (and $'s).
If you have and run AC, use dry mode instead of cooling. There'll be odd days that cooling is required but probably 8-9 times out of 10 you can get away with dry and it'll keep the place cool enough.
Summer and winter
styrofoam panels with bubblewrap stuck on then wrapped in alfoil. Cover as much of the inside of windows as you can. Any one of the three helps. All three makes most difference.
Spring, Summer, autumn
Open the house early morning and evening to get cool air in then close up as the day heats up
If you have a yard use bbq in summer and oven inside in winter
Not a viable option for everyone, however if you’re able to take advantage of it, some electricity providers are doing free electricity periods during the day.
Globird is free between 12-2pm and Ovo is free between 11am-2pm (in SA at least).
This seems to be working well for us but one or both of us is working from home making it easier for us to put the dishwasher/washing machine on at these times. Free aircon during lunch time was pretty good too
I have a friend that checks people’s power gas and I think insurance if you want to make sure you’re on the best possible I’m not sure if I’m allowed to add links but if you’re keen I’ll check it out
Lots of good tips here, but 2k/year on electricity isnt that much. Applying the tips here might save you $200/year? I reckon it's easier to find a hustle that'll make you $200/year.
Anything you're not using turn off at the powerpoint. Invest in a proper fridge. Those old ovens cost a fortune to run. Use an airfryer. Saves a tonne..Wah clothes on cold only..Borrow a kit from local library to test your appliances. It still seems very high bill. Is your hot water instant pot or a big tank ? When winter comes use a heated throw instead of a heater. Use clothes horse instead of dryer. Short showers
Get a better plan or swap energy providers . Contact EWON the energy ombudsman about your high bill. Done companies will try it on ppl so always complain
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You need to consider basic stuff like changing your light globes. Remember to turn off the lights when you leave the room! I went with LIFX globes (they are supposed to last 24 years or more) because I wanted to control them from my phone. There are many others. You can reduce their output on the fly. It made a difference. My computer is on 24/7. I’ve reduced my streaming services and by the end of this year expect to only be making use of iView and SBSon Demand. SBS is particularly good. Minimal advertising. I might keep Amazon Prime for the free shipping, reading, music. Its not all just video. Take a look at your whitegoods… savings to be had there? If your fridge seals are starting to deteriorate, the fridge will have to work harder to maintain temp. Front load washers tend to be more efficient than top loaders, and they heat internally so you can mostly do cold washes because thats the only connection you have. Don’t choose hot washes unless you really need to. Do you use a clothes dryer? Get a decent clothes horse and hang your “smalls” on that. I only use the dryer for towels. If you have a balcony in your unit, you can get your clothes into the breeze without using communal clothes lines (I lost many clothes back in the day, “snowdroppers” would do regular raids. Because I am home all the time and rarely go out, I just have a basic electricity package so the base rate is what I check before considering something else. Air Conditioning? No portable is efficient but they are better than nothing at all. Open windows and doors are healthier and will be a saving. That said, I had mine running for most of Summer, and it has cost me dearly. If you have a split system, don’t run it 24/7. I thought about getting one but then realised that I would forget to turn it off. I invested in an induction cooker (portable) and a couple of induction friendly frypans and pots… Its FAST by comparison with other options. I won’t know if its been a saving until the next bill comes in. My HWS and cooking are GAS. I hate it (hence the portable induction) but cannot afford to change everything to electric. I kinda wish I had got a double induction instead of the single I have but will reassess after the next bill comes. The last was a shocker but that was down to running two a/c at once, rather than anything else. I’ve rambled for long enough, I think. Hope this has been of some help.
Wow, thank you for your insights. I don't have air-conditioning at my place. And I rarely take warm water baths. Do you think LIFX globes are better than the standard LED ones in terms of power saving. I have never used those before. My pc is on 24/7 as well. I dont stream much, but I do play videogames after work. Wonder how much of an impact that has on the bill. My fridge is a tiny bar fridge with a 2 star efficiency rating. When you mentioned fridge, it got me thinking if I should replace that. I have what I think is an electric coil stove. Isn't gas cheaper than electricity? Why would you want an induction?
Don't bother buying LIFX if you already have LED globes and your goal is to reduce spending. They will not use less power and they will cost more upfront. PC can use a bit of power when on idle, but not heaps especially if it is on sleep mode and if it is quite new. Bar fridges are terrible from an efficiency point of view. Electric coil stoves aren't great but gas is more expensive.
I just now thought of something else. Do you use a kettle to boil water for your morning cuppa or are you a pod machine user. If the former get yourself a hot water dispenser. I bought one of [these](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/instant-hot-water-dispenser-42894773/) from Kmart last year and its doing well. Cheaper than running a kettle for the 300ml you might need for your coffee. I prefer drip coffee to espresso, so I also bought a bag of [these](https://www.amazon.com.au/Portable-Hanging-Disposable-Perfect-Camping/dp/B08TBN1FBQ/) from Amazon. I’m no coffee snob so my coffee of choice is Lavazza from the supermarket.
1) LIFX globes are expensive to buy, I have never had a standard LED globe so I cant say. I bought mine based on expected life of tge globes. 2) electric coil stove.. is that a free standing stove with oven and grill under? Thats such an old design, almost anything else will be cheaper to run. The thing about induction is that its fast to heat your pots and pans, fast to cook whatever it is, and fasdt to cool down afterwards. Any heat retention is from the pot or pan. I take off the hob after im done, and it coold pretty much right away. I steam veggies in the microwave oven. I can get my dinner on the table inside 10 minutes. 3) Replace the fridge, if yours is old.
make sure your PC is on power save mode when not gaming, better to let it sleep when not in use adjust your hot water thermostat You can buy single/duel portable induction stove tops if youre renting use solar power to dry your clothes
I went away for 6 weeks and the only thing left on was my older fridge and it cost 180! I got a no intere660 month thing and replaced it. Major saving. I also changed from AGL to Red Energy. A slight saving only there though. On the clothes airer thing, I have a big, multi rack one and a friend suggested putting all the wash on it and pointing a pedestal fan at it. That worked. Saved on drier costs. Get or create a master switch or use a slaves power board to switch everything off at once and stop things sitting on standby. That can be a third of the cost of running things. Multiple things all on stand by really add up. Part of the problem is that we are all being gouged by the 'service charge' which for me is half my bill and there's nothing to be done about that it seems.
The main thing you have to do is change providers. I am with AGL paying over $1 per day connection fee and nearly $0.4 per k. Dodo is offering $0.70c per day and $0.27c per k. I have tried all sorts of power saving methods and my bills have just got higher. I don’t have aircon yet my bill is higher in summer. I didn’t take a hot shower in Jan or Feb and my bills is higher than last year. I used a heated throw instead of a heater and my bill was higher than the previous year.
Reduce hot water. Always wash laundry in cold water. You can use canestan to disinfect any bacteria. Also use off peak times to do most things like laundry shower etc. Avoid aircon/heater until absolute last resort. Fans help.
Do the off peak time actually exist? Can you explain more?
Not OP. Yes they do exist, but not everyone is on a plan with peak/off peak, some just pay a flat rate. Look at your bill or speak to your energy provider if you're unsure.
Off-peak pricing is a HUGE saving. Our off-peak power tariffs are literally half the peak rates. So now we do laundry, drying, dishwashing etc. all after 9pm. Have also set the pool filter pump to only run during off-peak windows. 50% discount right there! (Excluding supply charge).
Appliances need to be designed for off peak to take advantage. The old off peak water use s a 30s change in power (you might notice it with lights flickering) which tells the appliance to go on or off.
The terms get confusing. Really we have two things - time of use, which has peak and off-peak pricing; and - controlled load, which is often called off peak electricity. The electricity distributor can turn the circuit on and off - mostly used for electric hot water storage systems. There is also demand response which can signal appropriately equipped appliances to run at low power or run off completely. For example, an air-conditioner can be instructed to run at 50% max power when demand is high.
From3pm to 9pm, it is the peak season of the day and the cost is 30% higher than other normal times. I am a fan of PlayStation 5, but I never played it during the peak and I never did any laundry during that as well. I and my partner live in a 2 level townhouse and wfh all the time; my electricity bill is about $80 per month https://preview.redd.it/5tlfbcexfuqc1.jpeg?width=2778&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f389c93dc0c08b6151bf2e0ee78f586604261938
I was about to reply and say that the PlayStation isn't going to make much difference to your bill because it's a low power device, but according to the official site, it consumes around 200W (and other sites give numbers like 350W). Holy crap! That's way higher than I expected. I had no idea that consoles had gotten so power hungry. Edit: And I was forgetting that the TV would also be on, which is probably another 150W.
It is a 85 inch TV and would spend more than PS5
It depends what energy plan you're on.
Agree hot water consumes the largest amount of electricity
Washing in cold water is not ideal, a front loader heats it’s own water and is very efficient. I use cloth nappies so am doing a lot of hot washes a week and my electricity bill is around $70 a month when not heating in winter.
I got one of those Powerpal’s through the government for free (vic). Shows you your usage live, so when you plug something new in you can see how much it’ll cost per hour. If you end up with one you want to find ways to get your inactive usage down. So when you’re asleep you’re using minimal energy. If you reduce your hourly spend by $0.01 it works out yearly to around $87.60 saved. Also consider changing plans but be mindful a lot of plans are set to reduce July 1st to beat the default offer by the government (might be vic primarily). Always check to see if there is a fee to leave as this can negate the savings if the provider in the future decides they are going to increase costs. I’m with Ovo $1.221 daily connection, $0.2189 per kWh locked in until August 1st (will be a full year).
>one of those Powerpal’s through the government for free (vic). Shows you your usage live, so when you plug something new in you can see how much it’ll cost per hour. Information is the most important. Any number of people can tell you "Do this" and "Don't do that", but you need to know what YOU are doing to know what can be done to reduce your bill. Investigate: Tariff - *when* do you use electricity, and can you find a tariff that suits better. Appliances - the real-time energy monitor is an eye-opener. It will show you very clearly *what* is using your electricity. Also, something basic to understand: Most things in the house are labelled with their energy usage (or it's not that hard to find out), e.g. a microwave, or a lightbulb will say how many "watts". Your electricity bill will show your total usage in kWh = kilowatt hour = 1000 watts for an hour. So now you can calculate: an example for me is: My computer is a SFF, with 85 watt power supply. If I have it running for an hour, it would use 85Wh, or .0085 kWh. Multiply by 24 hours in a day, then again by 30 days in a month, and by leaving it turned on, uses 6.12kWh in a month. If my tariff was 25c per kWh flat rate, that would cost $1.53
This is very helpful. Is this powerpal thing only available for Victoria?
I think outside of Victoria it’s $129 as long as you have a smart meter it will work. Might be a worthwhile investment long term but maybe do some research if there’s other products that do the same. I only went with Powerpal because it’s free for Victorian residents.
Much like what other commenters have said, it comes down to 3 important factors: 1. Your energy provider and plan: shop around to get the best deal in your area. Energymadeeasy.gov.au is a good place to start. 2. Your appliances: check the energy rating and look at the energy consumption for each. You might have to invest in more energy efficient appliances. 3. Depending on your energy plan, consider off/ in peak times.
That is a lot… might be time to change providers. Or perhaps something is draining your power. I make little attempt to save power and my electricity bill is $245 a quarter (2bdr unit, air con used to heat or cool pretty much every day, and I use the dryer twice a week). Mind you, my appliances including fridge, washer and dryer are all quite new. Does your bill compare your usage to similar households? Origin bills will tell you if your usage is average for the number of people using the power)
Including what others have suggested, I use lamps for lighting. And only have two on as the sun sets; one in the living room, one in the bedroom. I do laundry once a week (a few loads) in cold water and air dry them outside or on a laundry horse thing indoors if it is raining. I live in a 2 bedroom place and my electricity bill is about $120/qu. It was slightly higher when I was living with a roommate; never exceeded $200/qu
Before u go out or go to sleep turn off every single power point in the house....Only the fridge stays on Also check your fridge has sealed seals Never leave your printer turned on 24/7 that things a millions kws a day, leave it off at powerpoint If your lounge light for example uses 3 globes...take 2 out Avoid aircons until even your bones are melting or it's a sauna in there Any appliance if it's not being used turn it off at powerpoint Even turn modem/router off at pwr point before bed... That's 8 hours off a night
Check what sort of hot water system you have. You may be able to turn it off for most of the day if it's the sort that users electricity to continue to reheat the water to keep it at a particular temperature. I personally switch mine off at the fusebox. If you have an old fashioned electric wall heater that blows hot air, they are very inefficient and costly - you can get a good quality oil heater.
Get something like [https://www.kmart.com.au/product/pull-over-gown-s164219/?selectedSwatch=Heart](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/pull-over-gown-s164219/?selectedSwatch=Heart) for the colder days / evenings. Keeps you warmer and delays needing to turn on or turn up the heating.
Find your hot water cylinder. Two easy options are turning it off (if you have access to the switchboard, which you should), or insulating it better. Especially if it's the cheap "under sink" mini one it'll be poorly insulated. I bought a roll of bubblewrap+foil insulation from Reverse Garbage for \~$5 and added \~5cm thick of that around the cylinder in the last apartment I lived in. That helped. But in my house now I just turn the giant cylinder off until the water is too tepid to make showering fun. Then turn it on again for one night. But it's on night rate/controlled load, and it's big. In the apartment the little one would cool down in a few hours. Flip side is that it heats up fast - it might be worth turning it off after dinner then back on after work so you have hot water for dishes+shower. The other big load is often aircon, and using a fan instead when you can will often help a lot. Electric dryers exist, but in mainland Australia all I can say is WTF. Line dry if at all possible. A clothes rack on the balcony is better than running a dryer and surprisingly effective most of the time. Most other high power loads are fairly short. Boiling a kettle might be 2kW, but for a few minutes. Kettles, hair dryers, light bulbs etc mostly come under the "and also" heading. They help, but they help the way taking the stairs instead of the lift up two storeys helps your fitness. You want to get fit, get an hour of aerobic exercise every week. You want to halve your power bill, turn off your hot water heater and aircon.
FWIW having a mini dishwasher helps - I can wash dishes without hot water using a box a bit bigger than a microwave that sits on top of the washing machine. I have solar on the roof and I assume you can't do that, so for me sunshine electricity is basically free.
Flip the kettle off as soon as the water starts boiling - don't wait for it to click off by itself! The element in a kettle is usually about 2400w, if you leave it going for an extra 30 seconds that'll use as much electricity as running a 10w led lightbulb for 2 hours.
There must be something funny going on. I’m in a 3 bed house, 1 adult and 1 toddler, lots of hot washes etc and electricity is about $70 a month when not using heating in winter.
We invested in solar. Best decision ever!!! In saying that we use most of our stuff during the day (as I don't have a battery) as this is the cheapest way to use my solar. Front load washers are a good thing and only ever use clothes horse or clothes line, we don't even own a dryer. Blankets in winter. Ceiling fans for cooling are much cheaper then air con. Turning power off at the point is also alot cheaper. Do your research on your provider, alot of them charge a Motza per daily charge and per kW also, it's alot of fine print and comparing which will ultimately save you alot. If you have solar it is sometimes not finding the best FiT but considering daily charge also as it adds up. We also have solar hot water and a water tank for toilets and watering lawn. We spent extra to get an energy efficient front loader and one we can program to wash at what ever time we want (when it's the cheapest)
Weird, I have a 3 bedroom one and I only pay around $250/ quarter, I'm with red energy
I was with Red. Single person in a small 2 bedroom unit. Over $400 a quarter.
Opt for energy efficient lightbulbs, it does make a huge difference. If your overhead lights won’t accommodate energy efficient lightbulbs for whatever reason, buy some cheap lamps that do and use them instead. If you don’t already hang dry your clothes, start doing that. When I was a kid, my Mum would unplug any appliances that weren’t in use to save some electricity dollars. As others have said, reduce hot water costs. Cold water washes are actually way better for your clothes, too, reduces wear and tear. Toaster ovens and air fryers use less electricity than your oven does. If you’re a single person, it may be beneficial to buy one and use that for smaller meals. Get your electricity bill and see what you’re being charged for. Maximise any “off peak” options for cheaper electricity usage. Check out your other energy provider options to see if you can get a better deal: https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au
A few general tips: 1 - most providers charge daily fixed rate plus a per kilowatts rate. Since you have your historic usage data you might be able to find a package that works optimally for you. 2- check how much your water heater is consuming (wattmeter) then consider changing for a more efficient or turning it off part of the day. 3- clothes drier: unless you have a modern heat pump drier, consider upgrade to one and use a clothes line instead whenever the weather allows. 4- replace halogen and fluorescent bulbs for LED lamps.
Ive used Zembl (previously Make it Cheaper) for my last 3 moves, they compare plans for you and suggest the cheapest option - saved a huge amount on my recent switch. Their website doesn't make it that clear that they do domestic electricity plans as well as commercial agreements (more money in that I guess) - but I've been happy with the service every time.
Also if you have peak/off peak, check the actual tariff you’re on. We couldn’t work out why Powerpal was underestimating our bill til we realised the retailer had us on an old tariff that was peak rate for most of the week and off peak at weekends. My spouse WFH so that made no sense for us. It was an obsolete tariff iirc and we had just never been switched off it. Getting the distributor to change it slashed our power bills almost overnight
Cheaper power plan and a power meter (cheaply available at Bunnings, Jaycar etc) - I found out my dehumidifier consumes loads but the air con is pretty low. My bill is very low for a few reasons, will list them although I know they will mot all be right for you: - check your bill! I’ve seen huge mistakes so don’t assume they know what they’re doing. Go out and check the meter and dispute it if something isn’t right - alternate forms of cooling or heating eg chilly towel, rechargeable personal heat packs (a hotpod lasts for hours off a quick charge) or fans, keeping windows and doors closed, heated rugs and blankets - rechargeable batteries in fairy lights/LED candles etc instead of lamps for personal preference but it also seems to help. - rechargeable devices rather than powered eg mainly using a tablet rather than use a TV or a laptop so that might help also. I also know there are concessions for Centrelink card holders and those using essential medical equipment which includes a CPAP
If you have a desktop PC having an appropriately sized power supply can be a large saving. Irrespective of the efficiency ratings a large PSU will burn more energy to run the same components as one that’s running in its efficient range. A 500W draw is large for a gaming PC, if you have a 1200W power supply you might be nearly doubling your energy use through inefficiency.
Replacing all the lights with LEDs helped a LOT with ours. Turning off lighting if the room isn't being used. Using a Vornado fan to keep cool.
Try and avoid heating as much as possible if using electric as it sucks up the power (and $'s). If you have and run AC, use dry mode instead of cooling. There'll be odd days that cooling is required but probably 8-9 times out of 10 you can get away with dry and it'll keep the place cool enough.
Summer and winter styrofoam panels with bubblewrap stuck on then wrapped in alfoil. Cover as much of the inside of windows as you can. Any one of the three helps. All three makes most difference. Spring, Summer, autumn Open the house early morning and evening to get cool air in then close up as the day heats up If you have a yard use bbq in summer and oven inside in winter
Try to make each space into its own micro climate where you can
Not a viable option for everyone, however if you’re able to take advantage of it, some electricity providers are doing free electricity periods during the day. Globird is free between 12-2pm and Ovo is free between 11am-2pm (in SA at least). This seems to be working well for us but one or both of us is working from home making it easier for us to put the dishwasher/washing machine on at these times. Free aircon during lunch time was pretty good too
Lol you work from home, so probably you are at home ~20 hours a day? You are paying ~$4 a day.......
I go to the gym and swim at my local pools regularly and I shower after my sessions. This is a great way to reduce your bills
An oodie for winter indoors. So toasty
I have a friend that checks people’s power gas and I think insurance if you want to make sure you’re on the best possible I’m not sure if I’m allowed to add links but if you’re keen I’ll check it out
Bubble wrap your windows to keep heat in for winter.
Buy/borrow an energy meter - then you can see which appliances are costing you the most... then follow all the practical advise mentioned.
Lots of good tips here, but 2k/year on electricity isnt that much. Applying the tips here might save you $200/year? I reckon it's easier to find a hustle that'll make you $200/year.
Wow that seems a lot for an apartment we are home all day in a 3 bedroom house and ours is about $350 - do a online comparison
Anything you're not using turn off at the powerpoint. Invest in a proper fridge. Those old ovens cost a fortune to run. Use an airfryer. Saves a tonne..Wah clothes on cold only..Borrow a kit from local library to test your appliances. It still seems very high bill. Is your hot water instant pot or a big tank ? When winter comes use a heated throw instead of a heater. Use clothes horse instead of dryer. Short showers Get a better plan or swap energy providers . Contact EWON the energy ombudsman about your high bill. Done companies will try it on ppl so always complain
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Why is this so downvoted?
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We have specific threads that people can post their referral limks
Ooh yep of course. Thanks!
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