Electricity price hikes inspire the power to save

January 27th, 2012

Appliance News Environment, Energy & Water Saving

Carbon tax fear sparks the power to save

The rising cost of electricity has tested Australians’ priorities and it turns out that pennies in pockets and powering the air conditioner have trumped a cold beer. Over half of Australians have been turning off non-essential appliances such as beer fridges, second freezers and TVs, according to a survey released by Canstar Blue.

What’s more, 20 per cent of Aussies are prepared to cut down on other household spending in order to keep the air conditioner going due to electricity price increases.

Would you?

: Switch if off: You have the power to save

Rebecca Logan, manager of Canstar Blue, said that carbon tax speculation has spurred consumers to switch off major household appliances in an effort to save on energy bills.

“Consumers are hearing from every direction that living costs are likely to increase over the next 12 months and managing their energy costs is one of the ways they are responding. Interestingly, our survey showed 56 per cent of respondents have started turning off key household appliances designed to be kept on constantly as a way to combat rising electricity costs,” said Logan.

“We might switch off our beer fridges and TV to conserve energy but many Australians won’t budge when it comes to their beloved air conditioner, with 35 per cent of respondents relying on their air conditioner to sleep properly in summer.”

Melbourne households are already feeling the pinch, with electricity prices jumping up 9 per cent in the December quarter, reported the Herald Sun yesterday.

But before we all warm to the idea of tepid beer, a drop of perspective is due: power bills account for 2.1 per cent of household spending, less than Australians spend on booze and cigarettes.

Do you know how much your appliances are costing you? Do you know how to reduce your electricity bills? You have the power to save, and Appliances Online has some ideas for you, here.

Keri Algar

Having once had to sit on the washing machine to stop it from bouncing into oblivion, Keri is today delighted with the new (smoother running) technologies that make housework easier every day. A self-confessed lazy-bones, Keri seeks out quirky inventions that ease the human workload, such as the robotic vacuum cleaner (wow). And as soon as someone figures out a Jetsons-like self-cleaning house, she will happily lay her pen to rest and retire from appliance journalism. Until then, her pick is a fridge that will tell her smartphone when it's time to pick up more beer on the way home. Magic.