KEY POINTS
- This guide discusses nine winter energy saving tips to help you reduce your energy bill.
- The most important tip is to shop around for energy plans with competitive usage and supply rates.
- Always consider your circumstances and if any appliance replacements or upgrades save you more in the long term over your upfront spending.
As spring turns to winter, there’s always an urge to turn the heater up as the frosty chills creep into your home. However, there are cost-effective ways to stay toasty without spending more precious dollars on your winter energy bill.
In this Canstar Blue guide, we share our winter energy saving tips to help reduce your electricity bill in winter.
On this page:
Tips to lower your power bill in winter:
1. Compare energy plans
Typically, your plan’s electricity usage and supply rates will have the biggest impact on your electricity bills — this can typically be found on the ‘usage charges’ section of your energy bill.
Energy providers often offer better rates, conditional discounts and rewards programs to attract new customers, so if you haven’t compared plans recently, you may find a sign-up deal with the same or a different provider exclusively for new customers.
If you haven’t switched your energy plan in a year or more, you are likely to be on your energy provider’s standard offer plan, which is priced at the Default Market Offer (DMO) or Victorian Default Offer (VDO) price — this is likely to be more expensive than market offers.
If you have negotiated with your current provider and are still unhappy, then it may be time to switch providers.
Thanks to the Better Bills Guideline, your electricity provider is now legally required to inform you if they have a cheaper offer available on your next bill.
You can also see how your current plan stacks up across all energy providers by using Canstar Blue’s free comparison tool. Canstar Blue has listed some of the cheapest electricity deals in our database below.
Cheap electricity deals
Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid energy network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
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9% Less than reference price |
$1,651 Price/year (estimated) |
Go to Site |
Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
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15% Less than VDO |
$1,260 Price/year (estimated) |
Go to Site |
Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from our referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
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10% Less than reference price |
$1,888 Price/year (estimated) |
Go to Site |
Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from our referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
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6% Less than reference price |
$2,036 Price/year (estimated) |
Go to Site |
2. Consider a controlled load tariff
Running a pool pump or an energy-guzzling appliance? Consider metering these energy-intensive loads separately with a controlled load tariff.
Controlled load tariffs generally attract lower usage rates for specific appliances, with the rest of your home remaining on a single rate tariff, time of use tariff or a block rate tariff (depending on your current plan).
However, keep in mind that in order to get the most benefit from a controlled load tariff, you’ll need to tailor your usage times for your separately-metered appliances, and factor in the additional daily supply charge.
3.Manage your heating habits
Generally, heating and cooling appliances consume the most energy in Australian homes. It’s important to know the dos and don’ts of managing winter heating to avoid bill creep:
- Energy Victoria recommends setting the thermostat of your heater or air conditioner to 18 – 20°C to optimally heat your home and keep your energy bills low — every degree above can increase your energy bills by 15%.
- Keep your heater set at a moderate temperature for consistent warmth, rather than choosing a high temperature and then turning the heater on and off to maintain it.
- Keep the doors of unused rooms closed while heating the common areas and rooms you’re using.
To complement the energy-savvy heating habits above, we recommend these passive energy-saving tips:
- Install door snakes or draught-excluders inside external doors or windows to stop cold draughts entering from outside.
- Ensure your windows and doors are properly sealed to keep chilly air out.
- Open windows and curtains during warmer days to allow sunlight to warm your home.
- Try using blankets, winter wear or heated blankets or throws to keep warm before switching the heater on.
- Take advantage of residual heat by opening your oven door once you’ve switched it off after finishing cooking —Remember that the oven surface will remain hot to touch.
- Upgrade your electric heater to a more energy-efficient model.
4. Manage your hot water consumption
A hot shower is a much-needed respite from the winter blues, but it could be costing you a lot of money. In Australia, hot water systems are the second most energy-intensive appliance at home.
Here are some ways to manage or reduce your hot water use:
- Consider an instant hot water system (or continuous flow system): Instant hot water systems heat water on an ‘on-demand’ basis instead of maintaining a hot store of water — this is typically cheaper to operate/run but more expensive upfront to install.
- If you have a solar system, installing a solar hot water system can reduce your energy bill by lowering how much energy you’re drawing from the grid.
- Purchasing a hot water system timer can help you automate when your hot water system turns on and off — this is especially effective with a solar system when timed to turn on when solar generation is at its highest. Do take note that new hot water systems generally come with built-in timers.
- Simply cut back on how much hot water you’re using or how long your showers are.
- Use the cold cycle on your washing machine.
5. Consider installing solar panels
Installing a solar PV system could reduce the amount of electricity you need to buy from an energy retailer:
- If you’re on a plan with a competitive feed in tariff (FiT), you can expect to enjoy a generous bill credit in exchange for solar-derived energy you’re exporting back into the grid.
- If you have a net meter installed, you can save more by consuming solar-generated electricity to heat your home before exporting excess to the grid.
- If you have a solar battery installed and are on a time of use tariff, you can store excess solar energy to heat your home during peak hours
However, it costs several thousand dollars to install a solar panel system. Installing other peripherals such as a solar pool pump will cost extra. According to Solar Choice, these are the average prices Aussies can expect to pay for their solar system in each state (based on size):
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| 3kW | 4kW | 5kW | 6kW | 7kW | 10kW | |
| Adelaide | $3,650 | $3,800 | $3,980 | $4,960 | $5,750 | $7,790 |
| Brisbane | $4,020 | $4,450 | $4,860 | $5,250 | $6,350 | $8,250 |
| Canberra | $3,770 | $4,060 | $4,240 | $4,710 | $5,670 | $7,190 |
| Darwin | $4,730 | $6,780 | $7,600 | $9,320 | $10,060 | $13,060 |
| Hobart | $4,720 | $5,420 | $6,100 | $6,970 | $7,500 | $11,030 |
| Melbourne | $3,990 | $4,430 | $4,930 | $5,430 | $6,280 | $8,270 |
| Sydney | $3,770 | $4,100 | $4,660 | $5,080 | $5,940 | $7,620 |
| Perth | $3,390 | $3,840 | $4,290 | $5,250 | $6,090 | $9,080 |
Source: Solar Choice website
Do take note that some solar panels may pay for themselves in as little as five years. SolarQuotes’ savings calculator can help you work out whether solar is a worthwhile investment in your circumstances.
If you already have solar, make sure you’re on a good solar FiT by comparing your current plan to the following solar-specific electricity deals.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on SA Power network in Adelaide but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
6. Boost your home insulation
Insulation is one of the most important elements of home energy efficiency:
- According to the Victorian Government’s Sustainability Victoria site, a fully insulated property can save 40-50% on heating and cooling costs, compared to a non-insulated one.
- According to the Carpet Institute of Australia, uninsulated floors can account for 10-20% of your home’s heat loss.
That’s because well-insulated ceilings and walls allow less heat to enter your home in summer and trap warmth during the winter months.
Installing wall insulation may require renovating because the internal plasterboard has to be removed for the insulation to be fitted into the cavity.
However, it is possible to install ceiling insulation without ripping out your ceiling. There are online DIY guides on property insulation for those with the appropriate skills. If you aren’t confident with a self-installation, consult a professional insulator.
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7. Install double-glazed windows
Double-glazed windows are not only suitable for cold climates; they also prevent the sun’s rays from getting inside in summer.
According to Sustainability Victoria, double-glazed windows can reduce heat loss or heat gain by 30% compared to single-glazed windows.
This makes them an investment worth considering regardless of the season. Heat can travel through a single pane of glass, but double-glazing stops the heat flow, trapping it inside your home in winter and reflecting it outside in summer.
Double-glazed windows are made with two panes of glass with a gap of at least 12mm between them. This gap is then typically filled with Argon gas, which slows down the transfer of heat.
New technology has taken energy-efficient windows one step further with thermal glazing. Thermal glazing is a transparent coating applied to glass windows for even better reflection of heat.
Thermal glazing, when combined with double glazing, can provide superior insulation when compared to standard single glazing.
8. Invest in automated timers
Automated timers and sensors leave the hassle out of remembering to turn appliances off.
Many of these timers have countdown, weekend/weekday and summer time functions, which give users better control over standby appliances in different seasons
Automation can be used on your heaters, heated blankets and your hot water heat pump so they’re only on when you’re home.
Many of these automated timers are also smartphone compatible, giving you complete control over your appliances and heating.
Are there other technologies to help you manage your energy costs that you are missing out on for your home? Check with Canstar Blue’s energy-saving gadgets guide.
7. Use old-fashioned energy saving ideas
If you are looking for more winter energy saving tips, the following ideas require stricter habits but may help reduce energy usage.
Some strict winter energy-saving tips are:
- Reduce shower time to two minutes and brush your teeth at the bathroom sink.
- Switch your washing machine and dishwasher to eco modes and only run them when they are full.
- Switch to using a slow cooker rather than an oven. Synergy, one of Western Australia’s largest energy providers, says that a slow cooker uses around 0.7 kWh (kilowatt hour) compared to an oven that uses an estimated 2.2 kWh.
- Avoid using the clothes dryer by taking advantage of any sunny weather possible.
When it comes to electricity, being diligent pays off. If you receive an electricity bill that is unusually high, consider how you may have used electricity differently over that payment period.
If all else fails, give your energy provider a call and ask them if there has been a change to your usage rates or supply charges, or if you’ve lost a particular discount for some reason.
If your best efforts to conserve energy and negotiate with your provider don’t help lower your bills, it may be time to compare and switch if a cheaper plan is available.
Original reporting by Harrison Astbury
Image Source: Olga Prava/Shutterstock.com
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