Worried About Electricity Costs? You’re Not Alone

As of June 2017, over 82 percent of Australians were either very concerned or quite concerned about the cost of electricity. While the statistic is surprising on the surface, it’s actually pretty easy to explain.

Most households rely heavily on electricity for heating and cooling, cooking and storing food, and running various appliances or entertainment devices.
Often, it feels as though there is little that can be done to control these costs since keeping certain items connected to power isn’t really optional.

But there are many things to do to lower your electricity expenses. Here are a few you can start using today.

Optimise Your Heating and Cooling
Keeping your home comfortable is typically a costly venture. However, you can make small changes to reduce the expense associated with air conditioning and heating. For example, installing a programmable thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature of your house when you’re away at work or school and switch things back to normal right before you return. Even a small adjustment, such as 5 degrees, can result in big savings over time.

Making sure your vents and filters are clean can also help. This promotes better airflow through the system, helping it to work less. Closing vents in unused rooms, like guest rooms, can also lower the total cost, and they can easily be opened whenever the room is needed again.

 
Switch Out Your Light Bulbs
LEDs are now the best option available when it comes to reducing energy costs associated with lighting, and can save you a lot of money over time. If you can afford to replace all of your bulbs at the same time, then consider making the switch to see the biggest reduction on your bill.

If not, simply replace burned out bulbs with LEDs whenever the opportunity arises. This spreads out the upfront cost over time, making it more manageable. Yes, LEDs cost much more to buy, but they last a very long time and will ultimately save you money on your electricity bill.

Unplug Electronics and Small Appliances
Many electronic devices and small appliances continue to draw power even when they aren’t actively in use. This means, your television, computer, and microwave are costing you money as long as they are plugged in.

The lowest cost option for reducing these expenses is just to unplug any device that isn’t in use. Then, as you need them, plug them back in for that time and unplug them when you’re done.

If that process seems inconvenient, there is an alternative. You can purchase smart power strips that automatically stock this phantom power draw when you aren’t using the device. Or, plug in multiple devices into a traditional power strip, and then you only have to disconnect one plug to kill the power to everything.

 
By making smart choices, you can lower your electricity bill without having to spend a bundle on improvements. Otherwise, just pay attention to little things, like turning lights off when you leave a room, and see if your bill doesn’t begin to fall.

GET HELP PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILLS – Find different services, which provide help in paying different utility bills here.

Stat source – Choice consumer pulse: Australians’ attitudes to cost of living 2014-2017