Electricity. These days we wouldn’t know what to do without it.

It powers everything from the hot water in our showers to the device in the palm of our hand that connects us to the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, electricity can be expensive. Lucky for you, we chatted with an expert Northern Beaches electrician to find out what you can do to lower your bill. Check it out here!

The Rising Cost of Electricity

Across Australia, electricity costs are rising. On average, the price per kilowatt-hour increased by 4 cents from last year to this. That might not sound like much, but it translates to about $100 more for the average yearly electric bill.

Furthermore, in the past 3 years, household electricity bills have gone up by more than $550! Small increases really add up and Australian households are definitely feeling it.

How to Reduce Your Electric Bill

The good news is that small decreases can also really add up. This means that by following a few tips to reduce your electricity costs, you can make a marked difference in your bill.

Here are a few tips from a Northern Beaches electrician.

Change Up Washing Habits

If you have an electric water heater, heating water makes up a big part of your bill. Want to cut down drastically on the amount of hot water you use? Wash most of your clothing in cold water.

Hot water isn’t strictly necessary for washing clothes. Plus, washing clothes in cold water is gentler on the clothing and lowers the risk of colours bleeding.

Another great way to save is to avoid using the dryer. Even just hanging out your clothes once a week can save about $79 a year.

Off-Peak Pricing

Electricity charges fluctuate throughout the day in many places in Australia. Take advantage of this by running electric appliances during off-peak times when the tariff is cheaper.

You can do this by putting your electric water tank on a timer. Plus, plan to run appliances like your dishwasher or laundry machine during off-peak times at much as possible.

Energy Efficient Appliances

This one gets expensive before it gets cheaper. However, if you need to buy new appliances anyway, be sure to choose energy-efficient ones.

How much you can save depends on the model you purchase as well as your old appliance. But the savings can run into hundreds of dollars per year.

Install Low-Flow Showerheads

Low-flow showerheads cut the flow rate of water in your shower by about half. And with modern technology, water pressure doesn’t suffer very much. This means that for the same, luxurious shower, you can use half the amount of water without changing a single habit.

This tip is a double benefit because you’ll save money on your water bill and on your electric bill because you’re heating less water.

Small Changes, Big Savings

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to make a big difference in your electric bill. Many changes don’t even represent that much of a lifestyle change. Try a few of these ideas today!