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Five reasons your electricity bill is so high and what you can do to reduce it

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Five reasons your electricity bill is so high and what you can do to reduce it

You are most likely only too aware of the increases in electricity usage costs no matter which provider you are with. But there are definitely some steps you can take to actively reduce your electricity consumption and lower your future electricity bills.  

We have outlined some of the most common ‘hidden’ reasons power bills are so high and what you can do to address them. 

1. You have vampire appliances.   

Your appliances are literally actively sucking electricity even when they are not switched on, so while no one is at home and your appliances aren’t running your electricity meter is still ticking over with energy consumption. Most modern appliances never really power down, they simply enter standby mode, so they still consume electricity whilst waiting for demand from you or for a scheduled task to run. Over a year the cost starts to add up. If possible, the best bet is to get into the habit of switching off such appliances at the wall, to stop the use of electricity completely. This is particularly recommended for TVs, computers, laptops, and even microwaves.  

2. You regularly use high-energy demand appliances  during peak times 

A sure-fire way to send your electricity bill skyrocketing is to over-use energy-hogging appliances such as clothes dryers, dishwashers and washing machines. Try to get into a routine where you only put the dishwasher on when it is full. For clothes, consider setting laundry days and washing full loads so your washing machine is at its fullest capacity. Washing clothes in cold water can save around $50 per year. Try to avoid your clothes dryer wherever possible leaving clothes to hang dry instead. If you have time-of-use electricity meters, make sure you are aware of their off-peak times and use your heavy-use appliances in the cheapest time to run, which can effectively halve your power costs for these appliances. Depending on your retailer, many homes are now set up with peak and off-peak usage enabling people to choose to use heavy-use appliances like washing machines and dishwashers from 9 pm and throughout the weekend. So save washing your bed sheets and even clothes for weekends, or switch them on in the evening. You can even get power timers attached to your appliances like dishwashers and washing machines so you can switch them on at 5 am, while you are still on off-peak tariff, ready to hang out/ unpack in the morning when you wake up. It’s a matter of getting into the right routine. You will definitely notice a fall in your bill if you consistently lower your usage of these appliances over time and switch them on only during off-peak times.  

3. You misuse lighting   

Switch the lights off if you are leaving a room. Avoid leaving lights on at night. Consider using a lamp instead of full room lighting where possible. Be conscious of lights being left on (kids and teenagers are notorious for this!). Some lights are more energy efficient than others and if you haven’t switched over to LEDs you could really benefit -  read more about the benefits of LEDs.  

4. You have old appliances  

Old appliances use more electricity than more modern energy-saving appliances. Vintage retro appliances such as refrigerators or ovens, while they look cool, can drive your energy bill through the roof, with modern-day rates. The same goes for appliances that are over ten years old. It is definitely sometimes worth the investment to get a new power-saving appliance than relying on older appliances that cost a bomb to run.  

5. You have too many device chargers plugged in 

Chargers for mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric shavers etc, all continue sapping electricity when plugged in and not switched off at the wall. Get into the habit of removing them from power points when not in use to guarantee they stop sucking through your energy supply when not in use.  

There are ways you can actively monitor your energy usage. We will explore these in a later blog. For now, though, try making some changes to the way you use electricity and see if you can save on your next bill. 

If you need an electrician in Hornsby, the North Shore, the Hills District or surrounds don’t hesitate to give us a call on 9477 2550.