A lot of consumers contact us because they have problems paying a high energy bill. Many people tend to under estimate their energy usage and are unaware of the amount of energy their home/business appliances actually use. Being energy efficient can save you money on your electricity bills and can help ease the burden on the environment. Below are some tips to help you save money on your energy bill.
- Replace worn or damaged fridge seals
Replace your fridge seals if damaged. This will stop cool air escaping and the fridge motor from running extra hard to compensate.
- Buy appliances with high star ratings
Choose appliances with the highest number of stars on their energy rating label. The higher the star rating, the more energy efficient the appliance.
- Use energy-efficient light bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are more energy efficient than normal incandescent bulbs and last up to eight times longer.
- Set your air conditioner at 24 degrees
Twenty-four degrees creates a comfortable environment and saves electricity. For every one degree cooler you set your air conditioner you will be charged around 10 percent more on running costs.
- Switch appliances off at the wall
If you're not using it, turn it off. Household appliances use significant amounts of electricity in standby mode (eg. when the appliance is turned off by a remote but not at the wall).
In addition, the Queensland Government has introduced the ClimateSmart Home Service. For just $50 you can save up to $325 a year on your electricity bill.
For more information or to make a booking, phone 133 600 or visit www.climatesmarthome.com.
Online energy calculator
The Department of Mines and Energy has developed an online energy calculator to help you estimate the costs of your household electricity use. Use the calculator to discover where you are using the most electricity in your home and find out ways to save money on your energy bills.
Estimated accounts
If you cannot provide access to your energy meter (due to a locked box, dog or other obstructions), your energy supplier has the right, under current legislation, to estimate your bill. This means they could possibly under or over estimate your bill. If your bill is under estimated, you could be sent a high 'catch up' bill once an accurate meter reading is taken. If your bill is overestimated, you will be faced with paying a high bill for more energy than you actually used until an accurate meter reading is taken. To avoid this, you should contact your supplier to make other arrangements (eg. reading the meter yourself ). However, under current legislation your energy supplier must use best endeavours to read your meter once a year.
Leaks/faulty meters
An unusually high account could be caused by a gas leak or faulty meter. You can contact your energy supplier to check for leaks or undertake a meter test to ensure it is working accurately. Ask your energy supplier how much a meter test will cost.
Supplier error
If you believe your bill is unusually high because your supplier has made an error, you can ask them to explain why or to carry out a full investigation.
