Why is my Electric Bill so High?
Is there anything worse than a huge electricity bill? Well, obviously, there’s war, corruption, and world poverty. But when you consider the day-to-day, big electricity bills are a huge pain in the proverbial. Not only is it frustrating to spend your hard-earned on keeping the lights on, but large energy bills can be confusing as well! This is especially true if your bill randomly spikes and is much greater than you were expecting. Ever wondered “Why is my electric bill so high?” If so, you’re in the right place, my friend!
Energy Prices are Rising
Household electricity prices (like everything else at the moment) have gone bananas in Australia recently. Despite wholesale prices being significantly lower, households and small businesses are being lumped with increasing electricity bills month after month. So when considering the size of your electricity bill, the most obvious answer could be that electricity just costs heaps right now. This could be good or bad news. It’s great news that you don’t have an underlying problem, but the bad news is that there isn’t much to be done.
Having said that, Victorian customers may be eligible for a $250 energy rebate.
How to apply for $250 energy rebate Victoria?
Simply head over to compare.energy.vic.gov.au/ and fill in the application
Appliance Overload
One of the major explanations for higher-than-average electricity bills can be an increased used in certain home appliances. Many of the appliances in today’s homes consume vast quantities of power. Things such as large televisions, consoles, washing machines, and driers can all potentially use lots of power. Overusing, or leaving these on for excessive periods of time may explain why your electric bill is so high.
Inefficient Lighting
Lighting technology has made some excellent improvements in recent years, which can save you some good coin. LED and CFL bulbs are very energy efficient and there are often schemes from your local state government with free, or cheap LED replacement globes. On the flip side, old or outdated bulbs, such as incandescent globes use considerably more power than their newer counterparts. If you use old-style globes regularly, in multiple areas of your house, you may have just found the culprit! Get hold of your local electrician to spruce up your home with some fancy new lights!
Phantom Power
Phantom power sounds like a special edition of a purple-clad crime-fighter comic. But in reality, phantom power is much more boring. Phantom power is simply the electricity that gets chewed up by appliances that are plugged in, even if they’ve been turned off. Phone chargers, laptops and entertainment systems are common culprits of phantom power, and you can easily save your home some energy usage by unplugging these devices when not in use.
Heating and Cooling
If you notice your bills spiking in summer or winter, your heating and cooling system is likely to be chewing up power. Assuming your air conditioning units are in good working order, there are some easy ways to take the strain off your system and save yourself some power. Upgrading your insulation, fixing or replacing leaky windows, and doors, can all help out.
Heating and cooling units need regular maintenance, so it’s important to get them serviced every 12 months. While you’re at it, ask your AC repair person to check out any ducting in your home. Leaky ducts can be another contributor to high electricity bills.
If you have old or leaky windows, consider putting in some temporary window insulation in the winter months. These Duck Window Insulation Kits look gimmicky, but they can essentially add double-glazing to your glass doors and windows. We’ve tried them before and they work great! (No affiliation here, just recommending a great product.)
Conclusion
There are many reasons why your electricity bill might be so high. If you’re confident none of these factors are contributing to high electricity costs, then you must consider getting an electrician to inspect the electrical system in your house. Mildura Electricians can make sure everything is in the correct working order, and we’ll provide personalised advice on how to keep your electric bill as low as possible.