8 ways to slash your energy bills
People living in Victoria have a choice of 13 electricity suppliers and it is now easy, quick and free to switch online to a cheaper supplier.
Shaun Johnson, founder of independent online electricity comparison service Switchwise.com.au says, "An average Victorian household could save significant amounts of money by switching electricity and gas to a cheaper supplier. Victorians could save hundreds more by being wiser about how they use electricity at home."
Switchwise.com.au recommends eight ways to slash your energy bills:
- Shop around for a sweet deal - Switchwise.com.au compares a variety of offers from different energy suppliers to help consumers find a better deal; bundling gas and electricity with one supplier can also cut costs
- Unplug or switch off at the wall electrical appliances when they are not in use - TVs, DVD players, personal computers and microwave ovens usually have a ‘standby’ mode which means they are still using power even when switched off
- Lower the heating thermostat by a couple of degrees in winter and increase the air-conditioning by a couple of degrees in summer - just one degree Celsius change could reduce your energy use by around ten per cent
- Use energy efficient light bulbs where possible and avoid installing downlights – they use a lot of electricity and break the ceiling insulation resulting in heat loss
- Draught-proof doors and windows to stop heat loss
- Close curtains and blinds on hot days to stop heat coming in, and on cold days to stop the warm air inside escaping
- Avoid using a clothes dryer as they use a lot of power - buy a clothes rack to dry clothes and put it near the heater in winter or outdoors in summer
- When buying new appliances choose one with the highest energy star rating - they might cost a little more but will easily pay for themselves by using less power
"Switching is a quick and easy way for households to save money on electricity and gas bills. When this is done with other energy saving actions people could be saving hundreds of dollars every year", says Shaun Johnson, founder of Switchwise.com.au.
Released: 10 September 2010
