There hasn’t been a huge amount of good news lately, but there is some worth mentioning as another week comes to a close. While the curve continues to flatten and we do the right thing by keeping ourselves busy in isolation, Australians across the country are reaping the benefits of solar power to cut costs as they spend more time in their own homes.
Are Australians using more energy?
Smart meters from the UK had indicated their population had increased usage of everyday energy consumption by 30 per cent. It’s winter there, so results are likely to be impacted by climate, and back on home soil, we’re lucky enough to have plenty of sunshine helping us to keep away from this figure.
Better yet, energy consumption figures are already showing that our usage rates are only slightly up from the normal, According to Solar Analytics. How? Because plenty of households are using solar energy to fuel their everyday needs.
In fact, households powered by solar are using more than 37 per cent of their own free energy – slashing a significant amount off their bills in the long-run. There’s still likely to be a seasonal shift when cooler winter kicks in, but for the most part, this is a positive trends under the current circumstances.
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What are you doing to curb energy costs?
Households without solar can still expect to pay a pretty penny on bills in 2020. Now is one of the best times to invest in panels and battery storage systems, allowing Australians to take advantage of current government stimulus packages and rebates.
Doing this before winter kicks itself into full gear will also ensure your household is ready for the seasonal fluctuations we experience in bills each and every year. As it’s still a reality we will be in lockdown during this time, or at least still working from home often, this continues to be a priority for Australians.
How to measure how much energy you’re using during coronavirus
If you’re not sure how much your household is consuming in terms of electricity, here’s an easy way you can interpret your output.
Note: Your distributor may give you a reading themselves, but as some are opting out of these during this time, it might be a requirement for you to conduct a reading yourself. We recommend checking with your retailer to know what the current process is.
How to check your meter yourself
- Clock face: There is a number on each face of the clock, reading from left to right. If your dial is between two numbers, take the lower one and ignore the additional label that reads 1/10. Your usage is the meter reading minus the figure on your last bill.
- Electronic: Tap the ‘Display’ button. If it scrolls through several readings, write down each of them.
- Smart: These are recorded every 15 to 30 minutes, but they can’t be measured manually. So to check your usage, log into your retail account with your provider and request the data.
Did you get a surprise on your meter reading? Switch to solar power now to offset your energy consumption before winter hits. Get three free quotes from Energy Matters now.
