HELPFUL ADVICE

Tips for reducing your power bill

• Wait until washing machine and dishwasher loads are full before putting them on

• Set up a clothes line in the garage and use it instead of the dryer on winter and wet days

• Turn off appliances at the wall when not in use, rather than using standby mode

• Close curtains and shut doors at dusk during winter to help retain warmth that has built up during the day if sunny

• Seal any window and door drafts that are letting heat escape in winter

• Turn off lights in rooms you aren’t in

• Replace your lights with energy efficient bulbs

• Replace your showerhead with a low-flow option

• Have a shower rather than a bath and take shorter showers

• Turn off your water heater if heading away on holiday

• Check how well your home is insulated and whether you’re eligible for any assistance

• Look into solar heating and whether it would work well for your situation and result in savings over time

Ever wondered how much it costs to boil the jug or use the toaster?

Factors like appliance energy efficiency cause things to vary a bit, but here are indicative running costs for some household appliances.

• Boiling the jug (containing 1 litre of water) - 4 cents

• Toasting 2 slices of bread - 1 cent

• Roasting a chicken in the oven (not fan forced) - 38 cents

• Cooking a chicken in the microwave - 29 cents

• Using the rangehood for an hour - 5 cents

• Using the washing machine on cold wash - 6 cents

• Using the washing machine on hot wash - 126 cents

• Using the dryer for an hour - 64 cents

• Using the vacuum cleaner for an hour - 32 cents

• Using the TV for an hour - 4 to 14 cents

• Frost free fridge freezer 380 litre - 100 cents per day

• Heated towel rail 90W - 70 cents per day

• 2.4kW heater - 69 cents per hour