Seniors living in Australia usually live on a fixed income; hence, paying bills may be challenging. The electricity bill is one of the most crucial bills to pay under the “fixed” category in household expenses.
Electricity bills can shoot up, especially with the grid’s instability that impacts energy costs. How can seniors save more on electricity today?
Switch to energy-efficient appliances
According to a recent report, switching to electric appliances could save Australians between $500 and $1,900 a year in energy bills.
The price tag is usually the most important factor when making a decision. However, considering that you will own the appliances for the next six to 15 years, it only makes sense to consider the running cost of the appliance.
That’s why seniors in Australia should purchase energy-efficient appliances because they have lower running costs. Therefore, the money saved on an appliance that uses less energy can amount to a lot. This makes an energy-efficient appliance a more cost-effective option in the long run.
Have regular HVAC maintenance
Having a trusted Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) professional is important to keep your HVAC in check. Any issues may be costly, and you can avoid this when you have regular HVAC maintenance. Small issues can be detected with regular maintenance that will be resolved before they turn into a more expensive repair.
Consider using ceiling fans
Ceiling fans, specifically the power-saving ones, can keep you cool through the windchill effect. In the summer, fan blades should run counterclockwise.
Use hot water efficiently
Your hot water takes up approximately 15 per cent to 27 per cent of household energy use, according to energy.gov.au.
When using your hot water, it’s essential you get the temperature right. Ideally, the thermostat setting should be 60 degrees Celsius for storage hot water systems (this is to ensure that the water is free of bacteria). The thermostat should not exceed 60 degrees Celsius, where possible, to ensure that you are not using more electricity than necessary.
In addition, if you’re going away for more than a week, it’s best to turn off the storage hot water system. Doing so will save you money. Keep in mind that when turning it back on, you need to allow time for the water to become hot enough to kill bacteria that may have grown whilst you were away.
It’s also not advisable to stay in the shower to warm up. When you do this, you use up to 20 times as much energy as getting out.
Take advantage of government discounts
The Australian government offers several discounts to help them save more on energy bills. Specifically, every state government has established ways for pensioners to get rate cuts and discounts on their utility bills.
In Victoria, the Annual Electricity Concession is available all year round for seniors with electricity bills below $482.90. Seniors with a bill higher than this amount can apply for the Excess Electricity Concession.
In New South Wales (NSW), the Seniors Energy Rebate is available to senior concession card holders. It offers seniors a $200 saving on energy bills and is directly paid into the concession card holder’s account.
In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), there is also an available concession for seniors. For example, between 1 June to 31 October, a daily concession of approximately 357.843 cents per day is offered.
In South Australia, a concession may be accessed by seniors via the Department of Human Services. It offers a direct daily rate cut of $0.0634 to eligible seniors.
In Queensland, a concession discount of $0.8489 for senior’s daily energy costs is available.
Finally, in Western Australia, the Energy Concession Extension Scheme provides seniors to receive concessions on their energy use.
The energy assistance payment is $305 per billing cycle. However, this will factor in the size of the electricity and gas bills.
You can use our free electricity bill comparison tool to compare local offers from Australia’s major energy retailers and help you make the switch in a few quick steps. All you need to get started is a recent energy bill.
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