Thanks for the $300, but how else can you save on energy bills?
In the recent 2024-25 federal budget, the Albanese government announced a $300 annual ‘relief’ for energy bills for all Australian households, regardless of income level. The energy cost rebate will be automatically applied by power companies as a $75 discount to bills each quarter.
The rebate comes on top of any existing State or Territory-based energy concessions or incentives, such as those available to certain households in NSW, Victoria, Qld and WA.
As the winter months arrive and we crank up our clothes dryers, water heaters and home heating systems, every dollar counts. While $300 off annual bills is very welcome, it's still worth looking at other ways to chisel away at your energy consumption and costs.
Depending on how carefully you currently keep tabs on your energy use, these top tips could help you try and match the Treasurer dollar for dollar on your electricity bill savings!
Low-cost tips everyone can use
There are quite a few small things you can do around the home to prevent wasted energy.
- Only boil as much water as you need in the kettle, rather than filling it up each time.
- Use a clothesline instead of a dryer if you have the right conditions, time and outdoor space. In many parts of Australia, the weather allows for this through much of the year.
- Set your air conditioner thermostat a few degrees higher in summer, so it doesn't work as hard. Setting it towards the higher end of your comfort zone (e.g. 26°C rather than 22°C on a 30°C day) can make a considerable difference to your energy savings, and costs, over the summer months.
- Reduce your heating costs in winter by setting your heater thermostat to a lower, but still comfortable, temperature (e.g. 19°C rather than 22°C on a 16°C day) and wearing warmer clothes indoors. In other words, make that Oodie your second skin.
- Turn off lights and appliances at the wall when not in use to avoid ‘energy vampires’ from sucking power while the appliance is on standby power mode.
- Wash clothes in cold water when possible. If you usually use warm wash cycles, the most energy used during the cycle is from heating the water.
- While it’s good to keep fridges and freezers well stocked, overfilling them can force them to work harder and use more energy.
- Use door snakes or window sealing tape to prevent drafts.
- Cook bigger portions and eat leftovers rather than cooking each meal from scratch.
Appliance tips
When it’s time to replace an old washing machine, dryer, fridge or dishwasher, you’ll find that new models often have energy saving technology and design features.
- Try to choose energy efficient appliances with high Energy Star ratings. They will often cost more to buy than less efficient models, but in the long term their lower running costs may save you money.
- For clothes dryers, choose a heat pump dryer. These use less energy than vented dryers, are gentler on fabric and don’t require venting because they don’t emit warm air into the laundry room.
- Choose an induction cooktop, which heats very efficiently compared to conventional electric or gas hobs.
- Look for dishwashers and washing machines with eco modes that use less energy and water.
Home heating and cooling tips
If you’re happy to be on the cooler end of comfortable during the winter and the warmer end during summer, you can easily save some money on heating and cooling. Here are a few other things that could help as well.
- Well-insulated homes require less heating and cooling to maintain comfortable temperatures.
- Window coverings like blinds, curtains or double glazing can reduce heat gain or loss.
- Clean the filters on air con units so they don’t need to work as hard to suck the air through them. It’s also a good idea to get your aircon system regularly serviced to make sure it’s working efficiently.
- Ceiling fans don’t actually lower the air temperature, but they create a breeze that helps your skin feel cooler by regulating its temperature. When used alongside air conditioning, ceiling fans allow you to set the thermostat to a higher temperature while still feeling just as cool. It’s similar to the ‘feels like’ temperature you see in weather forecasts.
- Use zoning and variable speed fans for better efficiency from ducted aircon systems.
- Use electric blankets at night instead of leaving the heating on. An electric blanket generate enough heat to keep your body warm, rather than the entire room, or house.
- Look into installing solar panels to offset your electricity costs.
- Compare energy plans to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere. Energy retailers don’t tend to reward loyalty, so sticking with them might see your prices creeping up. If you get a better offer from another provider but can’t be bothered switching, ask your current provider to match it.
Small changes, significant energy savings
While some efficiency measures like appliance upgrades require larger upfront costs, the long-term savings on your power bills can make them worthwhile (and as a bonus, of course, the lower emissions mean your choices contribute to sustainability). Even just adopting some of the simpler low cost tips listed above can make a noticeable difference to your summer and winter energy usage.
Enjoy energy bill savings sooner with Free, Next Day Delivery* on lower energy appliances
We deliver energy efficient washers, dryers, dishwashers and fridges, as well as electric blankets, heat pump hot water systems and reverse cycle air con units to 95% of Australia’s population with Appliances Online's legendary FREE delivery - and we can usually get it to you by the next day (Mon-Fri) when it's in stock. If you need some tips for buying the right energy saving appliances for your home, give our friendly team a call 24/7 on 1300 000 500.
