The Gold Coast Bulletin

TOP TIPS

TO HELP YOU SAVE MONEY

-

AN UNEXPECTED CALLER

Ring your provider for a discount. It’s cheaper to keep customers than replace them.

READ THE FINE PRINT

Don’t pay unnecessar­y fees. Some providers charge for credit card payments or apply late payment fees.

POOR STANDARDS

If you’re on a standard energy contract you’re paying much more than you need to. Save by being switched to a market contract.

RATE EXPECTATIO­NS Getting 20 per cent off means nothing if rates are 40 per cent more expensive than the competitio­n to begin with. Check your bill for kilowatt hours used and compare with rates charged.

BE TRIGGER HAPPY

Most discounts expire after 12 months, so be ever ready to negotiate the next deal. FROM LITTLE THINGS

Don’t be loyal to the big companies. Most of the cheapest prices come from smaller players like Simply Energy and Dodo.

LOG ON AND SAVE

Some retailers offer their best deals online only, so log on to a comparison site.

APPLES FOR APPLES

Comparing energy offers is easier if you understand your needs. You wouldn’t buy a phone plan without knowing

how much data you use, so do the same for energy with kilowatt hours (kWh).

AT YOUR SERVICE

You pay a service charge on top of usage for the cost of getting energy to your house. These do not change, unlike usage rates, and make up around 25 per cent of bills.

UPGRADE TO A NEW MODEL

Older appliances, especially fridges and washing machines, are not as energyeffi­cient as newer models. Check efficiency by comparing the energy star

ratings on current appliances to newer equipment.

BUNDLE OF JOY

Many providers offer discounts and incentives on bundled packages. These can make repayments convenient too, but not always, so be vigilant.

A NECESSARY POWER

Only heat and cool the rooms you’re in. There’s no point wasting electricit­y and money to change the temperatur­e in rooms you’re not using. The smaller the space, the less energy it requires to heat it.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia