The cost of everything has gone up lately, and electricity bills are one of the biggest culprits. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has seen a rise in prices! To help reduce your electricity bill, here are a few of the things we have put in place. We are a house of nine people in a combined duplex, running two kitchens, two laundries, four bathrooms, about 6 TVs, laptops, devices, a million appliances and a pool. Our current bill is between $120 a month in summer and $180-$200 in winter.
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Shop around with your electricity provider
Shopping around for the right electricity provider for you can make a huge difference. Make sure you use a neutral party like Canstar Blue to compare your rates, because many of the comparison websites are paid by the providers to represent them. So they will only give you options based on the providers registered with them. Your rates will vary depending on things like solar panels. So find a provider that suits you.
Get Solar Panels
One of the biggest things you can do for your electricity bill and the environment is get solar panels. We invested in them about three years ago and reduced our electricity bill by more than half. Yes, they cost money (ours were about $10k) but we pay them off using the savings from the bills and we will be better off in the long run. We even run our pool heat pump through the solar panels, so it doesn't cost as much to heat the pool. There are many rebates you can look into through the government as well.
Switch to Monthly Billing
This might not directly save you money, but paying it monthly really reduces bill shock and makes budgeting much easier. It's the best thing we did.
Switch to LED Lighting/ Downlights
About two years ago we we replaced all our old incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED downlights. They use significantly less energy and last much longer. Yes, it was a cost that we had to take on but it has made a decent difference in our energy bills and it's better for the environment.
Unplug Unused Devices
Many devices consume electricity even when turned off. I'm going to be the first to admit I'm not the best at this, but my husband is. He grew up in Scotland, where energy prices are through the roof, so he is well trained. Unplug chargers, appliances, and electronics when they're not in use or use smart power strips to cut off power to multiple devices at once.
Use Energy-Efficient Appliances
When it's time to replace appliances, opt for Energy Star-rated models that meet higher energy efficiency standards. We have recently replaced our broken dryer with a condenser dryer, which is far more energy efficient. We have also had to replace the oven and the fridge in the last year and we opted for energy efficient models.
Limit Use of Your Air-Conditioner and Heater
Rather than running your heater all winter (here in Australian anyway) consider wearing warmer clothes in the winter and using fans instead of air conditioning in the summer. We don't have an air-conditioner and we manage. There are probably three days a year I really wish we had one. We also have a gas heater, rather than an electric one.
Seal Leaks and Insulate
Properly insulate your home and seal gaps and cracks to prevent drafts. This will reduce the need for heating and cooling. If you have gaps under the doors, use a draft stopper. Also close doors in the house to keep the warm or cool in.
Use Natural Light
During daylight hours, rely on natural light instead of artificial lighting. This only really works if you have good natural light (mine isn't great!) but keep curtains and blinds open to maximise sunlight.
Reduce Hot Water Usage/ Have Gas Hot Water
If you still have a water heater in your house, set it to a lower temperature, fix any leaks, and consider upgrading to a tankless water heater. We have continuous hot water via a gas heater, and this reduces the cost of water continuously heating up and cooling down. Also, wash clothes in cold water and take shorter showers.
Run Your Appliances Off Peak
Use energy-efficient settings on appliances like washing machines and dishwashers and run them at off peak times. Your electricity bill will tell you what are your peak, off peak and shoulder times. Wait until you have a full load before running them as well.
Hopefully these tips help you get on top of things a bit and reduce your electricity bill and ease some financial stress on your household.
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