Energy bills spark action
CONFUSED Australians are taking matters into their own hands this summer, in a bid to lower energy bills.
Galaxy research commissioned by iSelect found just 32 per cent of 1144 respondents claimed to perfectly understand their energy bill, while 59 per cent understood it “somewhat”.
One thing almost all agreed on, however, was that bills were high and action needed to be taken, with 90 per cent actively trying to reduce their bill throughout the hotter months.
Of those without air conditioning, 100 per cent were taking action that included using internal blinds and curtains, fans and opening and closing windows at certain times to ease the effects of the heat.
Meanwhile, those with air conditioning were feeling bill pain, with 15 per cent pledging to switch their energy provider this summer. Some were even looking to find extra money from the family food budget, according to iSelect spokeswoman Jessie Csaplar.
“It’s concerning that people are cutting back on airconditioning and entertainment to afford their summer energy bills, but more alarming that one in five even plan on cutting back on groceries,” she said.
Ms Csaplar said it was important to get on the front foot by seeking out a better plan, or if in an area with limited choice of providers, to look at what flexible options current deals might provide.
“Investigate what billing cycle works best,” she said.
“Flexible payment options such as frequent payment cycles help avoid an unexpectedly large quarterly bill.”
On average, respondents reported their quarterly bills had risen by $140. Meanwhile, 55 per cent found it difficult to compare energy plans and providers, while 71 per cent were very concerned about upcoming bills.
Lifestyle blogger Amy Darcy recently moved to Sydney with her husband and 18-month-old son and has struggled with the heat. Running her blog eatprayworkout.com from home requires plenty of power, as her workout demonstrations need air conditioning and kitchen appliances are called on when sharing healthy cooking advice.
“I haven’t got my first bill yet, so I’m a bit concerned about that,” she said.
Ms Darcy has been cutting back on non-essentials and restricting airconditioning use.
“I try to do the workouts in the morning to minimise the need for airconditioning and make sure power is switched off when not in use,” she said.