Here are our top energy saving tips. And if your bill is higher than expected this month, there is lots you can do to figure out why and help control your energy usage.

1. Preparing for winter? It is super easy to turn the heater on as we head into the colder seasons. Try layering your clothes or using extra blankets before switching the heating on high. Close doors, so that you are heating a smaller space too. And if your home can stay warm enough, snuggle into some cosy pyjamas and blankets, try not to leave your heater on overnight!
2. Did you just buy a new heater or fan? Did you recently buy a new portable heater or fan? Sometimes, customers might buy a new heater or fan without realising how much electricity it uses. We highly recommend checking the energy efficiency of any new appliance. The cheapest ones to buy upfront, may end up using huge amounts of electricity to run over time. The higher the efficiency rating, the better when you are buying new appliances.
3. Try washing in cold or luke-warm water. If you can use cold water to wash your clothes, instead of hot, you will use less energy and save you more money. We also recommend waiting until you have a full load of laundry, before turning your machine on. If your machine has an eco-setting, you can also take advantage of that.
4. Air dry when you can. Using only a dryer to dry your clothes can have a big impact on your energy bill. Trying hanging your washing out to dry instead of using the dryer, or even, hanging it to dry out the last little bit. It may take more time but will use a lot less energy. If you rely on your dryer a lot, you might want to look into a more energy efficient option, if you need to replace it.
5. Love a good shower? So do we! But The most common reason for high hot water bills, is the amount of time we spend in the shower. Not only do 4-minute showers save water, but they could also save you a lot of money! You may also be interested in changing your showerhead to one that is 3-star rated or above, to help save a little extra money
6. Load up the dishwasher! Using the dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand can help you save time and use less hot water. We recommend always waiting until your machine is full before turning it on, which means less cycles during the week and more energy saved.
7. Set your fridge to the optimal temperature. We recommend setting your fridge between 4- 5 °c and your freezer to -16 °. Also check to see if your seals need replacing. If air is escaping, your fridge may be using more energy than required and impacting your bill.
8. Turn off ‘standby power’. Ensure your devices and appliances are switched off when not in use. Appliances like microwaves, TVs or computers can continue to use power for clocks, standby lights or for other reasons. Make sure you turn off appliances safely, so not to damage them.
9. Install a ‘timer’ switch. It is easy to install a plug-in timer switch for TVs, wifi or other appliances that are often on standby but not always in use. The timer switch automatically turns off at a certain time of day, then turns back on in the morning, helping you save on energy costs. Again, make sure you turn off appliances safely, so not to damage them.
10. Make the switch to LED and get into the habit of turning off lights. A simple but effective trick. Switch the lights off in the empty rooms! You can also use smaller lamps instead of your lights to save a little more energy.
11. Have you had guests staying? Sometimes simply having guests around the house, being home during the day, using appliances and showering more can cause increases to your bill.
12. School holidays or spending more time at home? If you are spending more time at home, or it is school holidays, this can also make a difference. Teach your kids to turn off the lights, take short showers and make sure the TV doesn’t stay on standby.
13. You may not have been billed for part of your usage last month. Did you know, that all meters are read remotely and occasionally, due to communication/wifi issues, the data does not always transfer. The data is always in your meter and it will be picked up in subsequent reads and invoiced accurately once we receive the information. But in the meantime, to avoid overbilling you, we may not bill you in the month you used your electricity.
14. Heading to summer? Air-conditioning can contribute significantly to your bill. We suggest using the low fan setting on 22-23 °C. If it is 38 °C outside and you put your air-conditioning on a high fan at 18 °C, it will use a substantial amount of energy to reduce the temperature by 20 °c. Also, try closing your windows and blinds/curtains, particularly in rooms you don’t use during the day, and close off rooms you do not need to be cool such as bathrooms and laundries.
15. Going on holiday? We suggest you may want to turn off your appliances before you go. Please do this safely so that you don’t damage them. If you are leaving lights on for security reasons, we suggest investing in a timer switch, so that they only go on at certain times each day, then switch off again later.