Winter energy bills $200 higher than in summer. Here’s how to avoid energy bill shock this winter

Images and vision available here.

Crank up the heater and boil the kettle, winter is here. As Aussie households brace for colder weather, Australian energy retailer Nectr says that there are steps households can take to minimise energy bill shock this winter. 

Compared to summer, Aussie efforts to stay warm over the cooler months can cost $200 or more on electricity bills when compared to summer. 

State by state comparisons reveal that on average winter electricity bills are 57% more in winter than summer in the Australian Capital Territory, 17.4% more in New South Wales, 20.3% more in South Australia, 76.2% more in Tasmania, and 28% more in Victoria.

Throughout the year, heating and cooling account for around 40% of household energy use. In colder states and territories such as Tasmania, the average electricity consumption over winter can double the average consumption in summer. Interestingly, a third of Australians reduce how often they use their heater during winter to avoid higher energy bills. 

Australian energy retailer Nectr says that choosing renewable energy options such as home solar and battery can help curb energy bill shock over winter, with households relying less on the energy grid to heat their home. 

“Homes with solar and battery can avoid paying higher electricity prices to heat their homes over winter by relying less on the energy grid. By installing solar panels to generate energy and a home battery to store the energy, homeowners can draw less on mains power while using the energy that they’ve generated within their household when and how they like,” said Nectr’s CMO Karren Challoner-Miles.

5 Tips to Avoid Energy Bill Shock this Winter

1. Check the energy efficiency of your appliances: If buying a new appliance, check the energy rating – the higher the star level, the better the energy efficiency of the appliance. Many heating appliances such as gas heaters and wood heaters are less energy efficient than air conditioners used for cooling, which results in higher energy usage. For example, in Victoria, where heating uses the most amount of energy in the home, using  a 2.5-star reverse-cycle air conditioner to heat a large room (60m2) will cost $337 compared to $1,437 using a 4.5-star gas heater. 

1. Prevent ‘vampire energy’ consumption: When appliances are not in use and are in standby mode, they are still using energy. Phone chargers are the worst culprits, with fully charged phones that are still connected to the power point using more than 2 watts per hour. Turn off unused appliances at the power point once you’re done using them – it could save more than $200 a year.

1. Invest in rooftop solar: Australia is one of the sunniest places on Earth which makes solar panels a great investment. But  even in cloudy, low-light conditions, high-quality solar panels will produce energy. Solar energy bundles that offer no up-front cost, monthly interest-free instalments, and competitive energy rates are making the switch to solar even more affordable.

1. Take the next step to energy independence with a home battery: Australians are looking for more ways to rely less on the energy grid, with 84% of Australian solar owners who don’t currently own a household battery interested in purchasing one in the next three years. Not only will a battery enable homeowners to use energy when and how they want, particularly during peak periods, it will also add value to the home with research revealing that energy efficient homes are more attractive to buyers, quicker to sell and attract a premium price.

1. Do an energy audit of your home: Older homes may require upgrades to improve their energy efficiency but it can come with huge savings. Switching to LED lightbulbs, upgrading housing insulation, eliminating sources of drafts around windows and doors can all help to retain heat within the home, leading to less energy used by appliances to maintain a comfortable temperature.

In 2022, Nectr’s was recognised for having the cheapest electricity plans in NSW, ACT and QLD, best value GreenPower plan in NSW, the cheapest GreenPower plan in QLD, and outstanding value electricity plans in QLD. Nectr also achieved finalist status for best rated electricity brands in NSW and QLD.

The retailer is listed in the top 10 of Greenpeace Australia’s 2022 Green Electricity Guide and secured Canstar Blue’s Green Excellence Awards 2022.

For more information about Nectr visit www.nectr.com.au.  

ENDS

For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact Blue Planet Public Relations:

Maria Crema – maria.crema@blueplanetpr.com.au or +61 402 239 929

Sophie Blue - sophie.blue@blueplanetpr.com.au or +61 416 006 821

More about Nectr

Nectr is an Australian energy retailer that is committed to delivering affordable, cleaner, greener energy solutions for Australians. Nectr offers no upfront cost and 0% interest fee Solar, Battery and Solar + Battery systems, all bundled with competitive energy plans and Clean Energy Council certified installation. Established in 2019, Nectr has disrupted the Australian energy industry, offering 100% carbon-neutral energy plans as standard – and challenging other retailers to do the same. In 2022 Nectr ranked among the top 10 greenest energy retailers in Australia according to Greenpeace’s Green Electricity Guide, received the inaugural Canstar Blue Green Excellence Award – Energy, Canstar Blue’s Outstanding Value award for electricity plans in Queensland and was a finalist in Finder’s 2022 Customer Satisfaction Awards Energy 2021/2022 for Best rated electricity provider in NSW and QLD. Nectr is backed by Hanwha Energy, a global leader in renewable energy solutions, and is investing in various renewable projects in Australia. The Hanwha Group has committed to over AU$5billion investment in eco-friendly initiatives to achieve net-zero by 2050.