What is Wasting Your Electricity Unnecessarily?

As electricity prices continue to rise, many of us are looking for ways to reduce our utility bills. Many of us are wasting electricity unnecessarily, but don’t beat yourself up. There are plenty of simple, accessible ways to reduce your energy usage and your electricity bill immediately.

What if my Bill is Too High Even After Using this Guide?

It can be super frustrating to follow the right advice only to see little to no change in your energy bill. Or even worse, your bill is still too high, even after saving a few bucks. Here’s what you do.

Switch to Another Provider

If you live in Australia, you probably know EnergyAustralia, Origin, and AGL monopolizes the energy market. However, you can get a much better deal if you switch to one of the little guys. Use comparison sites like iSelect to find electricity providers that account for all budgets.

Threaten to Switch Providers

Although switching can be worth it, you’ll still need to pay a fee to reconnect to a different provider. If you found a price you’d be willing to switch for, ask your provider if they can lower your monthly bill to that amount. If they refuse, threaten to switch if they don’t change the price.

Where Am I Wasting Electricity Unnecessarily in My Home?

There are 5 sources in and around your home that emit the most energy: appliances, heating, and cooling systems, transportation, water systems, and anything that uses fossil fuels.

Appliances

As a rule, larger appliances will emit more energy than smaller appliances. That means those portable kitchen appliances you’d take on a road trip are more energy-efficient than fridges. Speaking of which, you can switch to energy-efficient appliances to reduce your monthly bill.

If you can’t do that, switch off your appliances when they aren’t in use, yes, even your stove and washing machine. Some appliances, like your TV, have a standby mode you can use if you don’t have a power board. Another tip: dry your clothes on hangers outside in the summer.

Heating and Cooling Systems

Our heating and cooling systems use a lot of power, especially during the summer. Thankfully, you can quickly reduce your electricity waste by switching to LED lights, sealing your chimney with a damper, shading your windows, closing your windows, or installing a ceiling fan.

While this next suggestion may mean more uncomfortable summers, it’ll save you a lot of money. If you only turn your air conditioner on in the morning during hot or humid days, you can turn it off at night, so your house stays cool while you sleep. Or, use portable fans.

Water

Anytime you use hot water, your furnace has to start. This process uses quite a bit of electricity, but you can take colder showers or wash your clothes in cold water. If you can’t bear to reduce the temperature, even by a degree, reduce the time you spend in the shower by 3-5 minutes.

Fossil Fuels

When most of us think of “fossil fuels,” we often don’t make the connection between gas and electricity. That degree of separation makes us think that the energy we’re using is clean, but for the better part of history, fossil fuels are converted into electricity before it reaches our homes.

But by switching to renewable sources, like solar and wind, you can reduce your electricity bill and help the planet. In Australia, switching to Green Power is really easy and affordable. Plus, you’ll never be “without” power, as you’re constantly collecting it from renewable sources.

Transportation

Even if you don’t have an electric car, you are still wasting electricity when you drive a gas-fueled car. If you live near your destination, try walking or cycling to reduce energy usage. If you absolutely need a car to get somewhere, try public transport, carpooling, or ridesharing.