ENERGY SAVINGS

How to conduct
an energy audit
when you think
your bills are too
high.

Perhaps you’ve noticed your energy bills slowly creep up over the last year? Maybe you want to identify unexpected changes? Or do you just want to make sense of how you’re consuming energy? The best way to take control of your bills is by conducting an energy audit. This can help you identify areas where you can reduce energy consumption and put money back in your pocket.

Follow these steps and you’ll be able to target what is impacting your energy bill, so you can start to lower it and save!

Check to see if your bills fluctuate seasonally

During certain times of the year, you may find your energy costs are higher. Gather your bills for the last couple of years, ensuring you have bills that cover all seasons. You’ll be able to access this data by logging into your account at My.ActewAGL.

Then, calculate the average energy consumption and cost for each month or season. This will give you a clear overview of how your energy usage fluctuates throughout the year and help you identify trends. For example, if your energy bills consistently increase during the winter months when you use more heating, it indicates a seasonal effect. Conversely, if they’re higher during summer, it could suggest a high use of air conditioning.

Having established the seasonal factors that may contribute to higher energy costs, you can then consider the necessary lifestyle changes to lower costs during these times. This could be taking steps to make your home more energy efficient, optimising thermostat settings or reducing reliance on heating and cooling appliances.

Identify other factors that could influence higher energy bills

If you’ve ruled out seasonality as a cause of higher energy bills, try identifying other contributing factors. Has a member of the household started working from home more often? Has a new baby arrived? Maybe you’ve had visitors stay over for a significant period of time? All these incidences could lead to a spike in energy consumption.

If you’re comparing year-on-year, consider whether you were on holiday during that previous billing period and therefore consuming less energy.

Old or faulty appliances can be energy inefficient and require more energy to run. Perhaps over the last few years your water heater or air conditioning unit has started to degrade leading it to consume more energy as it runs. Be vigilant for strange noises or leaks that could indicate a fault and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure all appliances run efficiently. When the times comes to upgrade, choose appliances with a high Energy Rating Label for maximum energy efficiency.

Do a review of your home and habits

Are you taking advantage of off-peak energy times?
Are you running heating and cooling in rooms that aren’t in use?
Are your doors and windows sealed to keep your home ambient?
Do you have appliances in stand-by mode that use electricity when not needed?
Do your television or computer screens run complex graphics when in standby mode?
Are your appliances energy efficient?
Has your hot water system been serviced recently?
Do you have any hot water leaks?
Have you cleaned the dryer lint filter?
Are you leaving exterior lights on at night?
Is your pool pump running optimally and in off-peak times?
Are you effectively using any smart home technology?
Are you on the best energy plan for you–compare ActewAGL plans here.

Summary

• Gather your energy bills from the last couple of years to identify if seasonal trends are affecting your bill. Then you can consider necessary lifestyle changes to bring your usage down.
• Identify other factors that could be elevating your energy costs, like how many people were occupying your home at the time, whether you were on holiday or whether major appliances are coming to end of life.
• Undertake a review of your home and your habits to see if there are ways to save.
  
  

ActewAGL's energy saving tips are designed to help you take control of your energy use, while reducing your bills and environmental impact. Save with great value energy plans backed by our sustainability promise, supported by 100% local, award-winning service.

For more information about how you can transition to an energy-efficient home visit the SolarHub & ActewAGL Smart Energy Hub today.

Sources

https://www.actewagl.com.au/support-and-advice/save-energy/ways-to-lower-your-bill/high-bill-checklist

Disclaimer: These Energy Savings tips and articles are for information purposes only. Please ensure you are aware of any safety precautions before operating appliances or products.