As Australia comes to grips with the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers have advised staff to work from home as health and safety precautions intensify. While it’s a great opportunity to save money on parking or public transport, as well as ditching the odd takeaway espresso, some Aussies may be anxiously awaiting their next energy bill. Sure, working from home has upsides, but just how much can this work-to-home transition add to your power bills? Let’s find out.
How much can working from home add to your energy bill?
The costs that working from home may add to your power bill will vary in price depending on factors like:
- Where you live and who your energy distributor is.
- The type of energy plan you’re on, including the tariff.
- The usage rate of your electricity plan.
However you can expect that your laptop or computer running costs will be the main culprit. To learn more about how much this could be costing you, head over to our laptop charging cost guide now.
Compare energy plans while working from home
Now’s a timely reminder to check your current electricity plan. Look at the breakdown of costs on your latest bill (usually found on the second page) and take note of each charge you’re paying. Then ask yourself this question: are these rates really the cheapest available? If your mind casts any doubts, check out these deals below, which are currently some of the cheapest plans on our database.
Here are some of the cheapest published 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 network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3911kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. 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.
Here are some of the cheapest published 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. 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.
Here are some of the cheapest published 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 Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. 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.
Here are some of the cheapest published 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 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. 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.
What else could be adding to your energy bills?
At this stage, you’re probably thinking ‘who cares about adding an extra couple of dollars to my power bills’ and you’d be absolutely right, but only if you’re going to be just using a computer or laptop. And that’s very unlikely. So, what other appliances are going to be in overdrive during your hiatus from the office?
Lighting Costs
Unless you plan on sitting in the dark like a vampire, you’re going to switch on a light or two. Remember that there are many different types of light bulbs, all of which vary in wattage, meaning the true cost of lighting will vary between households. If possible, it may help to utilise natural light in your home office during the middle of the day, or limiting lights to only those you actually need running at any time.
Air Conditioner Costs
Air conditioning can be a heavenly addition to any home, especially when the mercury begins to rise. Depending on the system size, type and the room size needing to be cooled, air conditioner costs can quickly add up. It may be helpful to consider energy efficient options in this instance to combat some of these costs. Watching the temperature will also help to keep costs manageable.
Ceiling Fan Costs
If your home office is without air conditioning, a ceiling fan is a welcomed substitute, breezing you down as you soldier on. While the cheaper alternative to air conditioning, ceiling fan running costs can still add up, so being aware of your usage habits could help to reduce some of those costs.
Dishwasher Costs
Those mid-afternoon cravings won’t just magically disappear because you’re at home. In fact, given the proximity of your fridge and pantry, a few guilty pleasures may accidentally slide their way into your mouth. Working out the running costs of dishwashers can be a hard task due to it having so many variables that contribute to the price, like heating water costs and energy efficiency ratings to name just a few. Location and the electricity or water rates in your area may also contribute to the final cost of using your dishwasher, so make sure to consider alternate settings, such as eco or quick wash, or only putting on your dishwasher when its full to avoid exuberated costs on your power or water bills.
Television Costs
If you just can’t handle the silence of working from home and need a bit of background noise to keep you company, your TV can provide some level of comfort. However, like all devices, it comes with a cost. The power consumption of your TV may be a silent killer to your work from home energy bill, so it is important to understand what factors might be adding to these costs, such as brightness and volume settings and standby power modes. The size, model and energy efficiency rating of your TV will also contribute to how much electricity it chews through each hour.
Image credits: G-Stock Studio/Shutterstock.com, Flamingo Images/Shutterstock.com, George Rudy/Shutterstock.com, LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com
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