This winter has been an especially chilly time for Aussies, causing us to crank our heaters up and insulate the household. With many trying to stay warm, our increased energy usage may see electricity bill prices increase by $117.70 to $298.26¹ in winter vs summer.

We surveyed 1,000 Australians across the country to understand general energy consumption habits once the temperature drops. Interestingly, the survey showed that over a third (34%) of respondents admitted they wouldn’t proactively reduce their energy usage around the house this winter, despite the cost of electricity involved.

Instead, it’s the unfortunate truth that many of us will avoid heating this winter to mitigate costs, so much so that close to a third (30%) of Australians will only use the heater once a week to avoid a high bill.²

In Greater Brisbane, the coldest days on average were a mild 21 degrees Celsius.³ Apart from Brisbane, four-person households in de-regulated capital city markets* (where customers can choose their electricity company) increased their electricity usage in winter vs summer in 2017.

* The average tariff is calculated from single rate electricity tariffs available to each city on Compare the Market’s comparison service and are correct as of 4 June 2019, but are subject to change.

“There are so many short and long-term tricks to save on your energy bills, yet it appears to be a decision of comfort over cash flow for two fifths of Aussies who don’t avoid the heater at all in winter and are happy to cop a higher energy bill,” explains our money expert, Rod Attrill.

Top five questions to ask yourself to prevent energy bill-shock

The cost of your electricity bill can be an unpleasant surprise when it’s more expensive than expected. However, there are a number of ways to keep costs down. Asking yourself these five questions can help reveal areas where there’s room for improvement.

1. Do you know your electricity usage habits in winter vs summer?

During winter, we tend to hibernate, which can often mean more time and money spent at home, and on your power bills.

In 2017, a four-person household in Sydney and surrounding areas experienced a $298.26 bill increase in winter, compared with summer usage. Keeping your use of appliances down during winter moderate, especially when it comes to heating, could help bring these costs down.

2. How energy efficient is your heater?

The type of appliance you use to heat your home can affect your power bill. Forty per cent of Aussies said they doubled their air conditioning unit as a heater. However, this appliance could be inefficiently heating your home if you haven’t chosen the right size or capacity for your property.⁴

In contrast to these results, a quarter of people opt for a gas heater, and with gas prices rising,⁵ heating their homes could become more costly. For example, the average annual cost to heat a large space (around 60m²) in Melbourne is approximately $440 using a four-star reverse-cycle split system air conditioner, and approximately $625 for a five-star energy gas heater.⁶

Increasing our energy usage in winter to keep warm means you might face some energy bill-shock vs summertime. The price difference could be in the hundreds, so make sure you fully understand the energy efficiency of your household appliances.

Having the correct heating and cooling unit for your home vs using the wrong one can make a massive difference to your electricity usage in winter and summer. Making sure the appliance is also more energy efficient will also help save on your energy usage.

3. Do you change your pool or spa maintenance?

Your pool or spa pump accounts for roughly 18 per cent of your power bill, so try to reduce your running time for potential savings over winter – but be careful not to compromise on water quality.⁷ A well-fitted pool cover may help reduce water and heat loss, as well as help minimise maintenance costs.⁸

We often overlook our pools and swimming in wintertime due to the cold temperatures, but this can have a big impact on the cost of our electricity bills.

4. Is the appliance switched off at the wall?

Over half of Australians (53%) admitted that they leave their appliances on standby rather than turning them off at the wall. A further quarter (29%) were not aware that appliances on standby are responsible for up to 10 per cent of costs on a power bill.⁹ This could lead to potential savings of $152.20 annually.¹⁰

5. How does your energy bill compare?

Electricity tariffs vary across regions within Australia’s states, and so does our energy usage in the winter vs the summer months. How does your energy usage compare vs the average four-person household across Australia’s capitals?

Fortunately, there is some positive news. From 1 July, customers on a standing offer could save an average of $171 in South Australia, $181 in NSW and $118 in south-east Queensland, when default market offers (DMOs) come into effect.¹² A Victorian Default Offer (VDO) could also see Victorian consumers potentially saving from $310 to $450 annually.¹³

However, market offers are often cheaper than DMOs,¹⁴ and there can also be lower-cost offers available to choose from over the new VDOs.¹⁵ This means a lot of households can save further by auditing bills and switching suppliers using an energy comparison service like ours.