Turn off the Beer Fridge: 5 Ways to be Energy Savvy

Over-50s represent more than half of Australia’s buying power and when it comes to being energy efficient and saving money on household bills, they stand to benefit
more than any other group.

It is hard to believe, but a recent survey of 3,500 FiftyUp Club households found more than half are switching off their heaters, and suffering in the cold, in order to cut their electricity bill.

Our advice is: safety first. There are alternatives for reducing household bills. Firstly, you can make sure you're not paying too much by checking out the Club's special Electricity offers and comparing to what you have. 

Queenslanders, click here to see the offers

NSW & Victoria, click here to see the offers

And secondly, you can try to cut your usage safely. Here are 5 ways households can be energy savvy to slash the electricity bill:

1. Be appliance wise

You don’t need to switch off the heater and put your health at risk to reduce your power consumption. You can make smarter choices with the appliances you decide to use. Turn off a

ppliances that you are not using and don’t need. For example, you can turn off the beer fridge and turn down the temperature on the hot water system to 60 degrees. You can cut your usage by 10% just by turning off powerpoints. And a simple change like closing the

doors 

in individual rooms to keep the rooms warmer can also reduce your bill.

When it comes to heaters, gas heaters are the most efficient and cheapest to run, even though the initial outlay could set you back close to $1000. Those cheap electric heaters are the most costly in the long run even if they only cost $30 at the store.

80% of FiftyUp Club members are turning off powerpoints and lights to save energy. These small changes can go a long way to ensuring that you are using the right appliances, at the right time and for the right climate.

2. Knowing the time can save you a dime

At peak times during the day, households and businesses are all competing for electricity at the same time.  Electricity companies reward customers for consuming power in off-peak times to try and alleviate the demand for power during the day.

You can save on your bill if you plan to use your washing machine, dishwasher or heating in off peak times.

In some states, you can even get paid to switch some appliances to off-peak or “controlled load” tariffs. (See useful links below)

3. Check the energy rating star

Only 1 in 3 FiftyUp Club members are buying energy-efficient appliances. We are encouraging our members to take a closer look at the energy rating of the appliances they purchase.

Those big yellow stars on whitegoods such as dishwashers, fridges and washing machines can save you money in the long run. The more stars, the more money you will save over the lifetime of the whitegood.

For example, the difference between a 1-star fridge/freezer and a 3-star one can be $900 over the life of the machine.

4. Research your rebates

In each state and territory, the government offers varying levels of cash rebates to families, pensioners or low-income households. It is well worth your time to know what rebates are available to you. If you are eligible for one of these rebates, you could save yourself hundreds of dollars.

Here is a list of some of the rebates available to concession cardholders, pensioners, veterans and low-income households in NSW, QLD and Vic.

In NSW;

• $150 Family Energy Rebate
• $235 Low Income Household Rebate
• $250 Combine Capped Rebate - If you are eligible for both rebates above you can receive more support in the form of an annual, combined, capped rebate, currently $250.

In QLD;

• $320 Electricity Rebate (pensioners and concession holders)
• $68 Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate (pensioners and concession holders)
• Up to $720 The Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme (emergency assistance for low-income households)

In Vic,

• 17.5% off household electricity bills under the Annual Electricity Concession (for eligible concession card holders)
• 17.5% off household electricity bills under the Winter Gas Concession between May and October (for eligible concession card holders)

There are also other rebates available for people who are suffering a medical condition and having trouble paying their bills. (See useful links below.)

5. Know your plan

Just over one-quarter of FiftyUp Club members have switched suppliers in order to save money on their bills, according to our research. Make sure you are on a plan the suits the needs of your household. If you are a professional who lives alone you will not necessarily need to be on the same plan as a large family with young children.

To compare your plan, click here to join the FiftyUp Club and see what discounted offers are available to you.

USEFUL LINKS:

For more information on Government rebates visit;

• http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/energy-consumers/financial-assistance/rebates
• https://www.dews.qld.gov.au/energy-water-home/electricity/rebates
• http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy