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It’s an awful feeling when you receive a ‘higher than expected’ electricity bill. Unexpected expenses can cause emotional and financial stress and leave you suffering from ‘bill shock’. Here at LPE, we want to help you save money, save electricity and save your sanity. So we’ve compiled a list of the most common causes of ‘bill shock’.

A change in seasons

A change in the seasons will often cause your electricity usage to change. In the winter months, our days become shorter so we use more lights for longer periods of time. In the summer months, days are warmer so we use more appliances like fans, water coolers and air-conditioners to keep cool. To gain an accurate indication of your electricity usage, be sure to compare your electricity bill with the same billing period from the year before.

Using the air conditioner to heat or cool your home

There was a time when air-conditioning was considered a luxury. But here in sunny Queensland, air-conditioning is a necessity, particularly in summer when temperatures reach the high 30s. While it’s tempting to turn the air-con down to 18C for maximum relief from our scorching heat, it will cause a spike in your electricity bill. The most cost efficient way to use your air-conditioner is to keep the temperature at 24-25C. Similarly, if you’re using your air-conditioner to keep your house toasty and warm during winter, this will also increase your electricity bill.
Did you have extra people in the home?

It’s always fun when family and friends come to visit. But we often forget the additional costs of extra guests by the time our electricity bill arrives. Having extra people in your home adds to your hot water usage and your everyday electrical usage like television, refrigeration and lighting. Was your last bill during the school holiday period? We all know how kids love to sit in front of their computer or television during school holidays. This can also contribute to a spike in your electricity bill.

Are you using old or power-hungry appliances?

Do you have a trusty old freezer that’s still working decades later? Old appliances, though trusty and functional, become less efficient over the years and cause a spike in your electricity bill. But even new appliances use different levels of electricity to operate. Do you know what your appliances are costing you in electricity? Before buying new appliances check the Energy Rating Level to find the most cost-effective appliances for your home. It could save you lots of money at bill time.

Energy tariffs

It’s easy to forget there are different electricity tariffs depending on the time of day you use your appliances. For instance, If you’re using your high-consumption appliances like dishwashers, clothes dryers or pool pumps during peak times, your energy consumption will be higher. To keep your electricity bill down, try using high-consumption appliances after 9pm when it’s off peak. Learn more about the different tariffs here.

Are you using more hot water?

It’s common for variations in your electricity bill during winter. In the colder months we all tend to linger in that steaming hot shower, using more hot water than normal and causing a potential increase in your electricity bill. Did you know the most cost-effective shower is just 4 minutes long? It’s a challenge in winter but try keeping your hot shower to a minimum to prevent a spike in your bill.

Check the billing period

How long was your billing period? Billing periods are rarely the same so check the actual number of days per billing period. This will often explain a variation in your bill.

Estimated bill

Occasionally your meter reader can’t access your meter to do an accurate reading. If this is the case, we’ll estimate your energy usage based on the same billing period the year before. If your estimated usage is higher than your actual usage, the amount will be adjusted on your next bill.

Previous bill

Was there an unpaid balance from your last bill? Unpaid balances are carried over to your next bill which will increase your electricity bill.

Are your concession details correct?

Are you eligible for a concession on your electricity bill? For instance, if you’re a Queensland senior or pensioner, you may be eligible for a concession. To find out if you’re eligible for a rebate on your electricity bill, get in touch with us here.

Still, having trouble paying?

We understand the financial pressure bills can have on families if you are having trouble paying your bill – We can help with payment extensions, payment plans Please contact us today to discuss payment options 1800 040 168. We hope you’ve found these tips useful for explaining an increase in your electricity bill. If you’d like more power-saving tips you might find this article useful too.

How to conserve electricity and lower your electricity bill?

It takes a bit more effort than switching lights off!

That’s because the major component, in fact 40%, is heating and cooling in a typical electricity-powered household.

Coming in second, your appliances use around 33%. Then hot water is almost quarter of your bill at 21% with lights coming in at a much lower 6%.

The good news is that there are lots of things you can do around your house right now to reduce electricity usage.

Did you know that if you close windows, curtains and blinds early before your home’s interior heats up, you will retain that cool air and keep the hot air outside? When the external temperature drops, open up and let the cool air flow in. A handy gift idea is a fancy thermometer with an external sensor connected wirelessly that gives you both inside and outside temperatures. When the temperature is higher outside than inside, keep the hot air closed out. When the temperature is lower or the same as outside, open up and let the cool breezes flow. Night-time is a great tirme to have windows open on all sides of the house to get cross-flow of air.

Air-conditioners are very effective and popular. Each time you lower the temperature by a degree, this can add up to 10% to the air-conditioner’s running costs. The best temperature range is between 24-25oC and only cool the rooms people are using. Close the doors, windows, curtains and blinds in the rooms you are cooling. In fact, up to 40% of the energy used to cool your home can be lost through the windows or by direct sunlight coming into your home. This loss can be reduced by double glazing, tinting, close-fitting thick drapes or internal/external blinds, and heat-reflective or light-coloured backing on curtains.

Effective insulation inside your wall and above your ceilings makes a huge difference, because your home is kept at a stable temperature so that you use less energy to keep rooms cool.

Fans may seem old-fashioned yet they are effective at creating a breeze that cools you down. The running cost of a fan is a fraction of running an air-conditioner. Fans cool people not rooms – so remember to turn them off when you leave.

There are many more facts, tips and tricks for appliance use, cooking, showering with hot water and how to work out electricity usage in this brochure which you can download if you wish to.

Investigate your options by comparing electricity providers for best rates, excellent service… and support your local community by choosing local business. Contact us now and our customer care team can help you with a bill comparison and talk about your options. As locals, we experience the same weather conditions as you and we know tips and tricks to conserving electricity.