Got bill shock? Receiving a high electricity bill can happen for a number of reasons.
Let’s take a look at why bigger bills sometimes occur and what you can do about it.
Electricity bills can go up, and can come down. Fluctuations are completely normal; they’re affected by everything from the weather outside to the number of people inside.
By learning about what can affect your electricity bill, you’re in a better position to do something about it or, at least, be prepared to handle the fluctuation more efficiently.
What causes a high energy bill?
Here are some of the most common reasons why your energy bill could be higher than usual:
1. A shift in the seasons
Moving from autumn or spring into winter or summer will likely have an effect on your bill. In winter, you might use more energy on heating, lighting and the clothes dryer. In summer, the air conditioner can consume a lot of energy. Comparing your bill to the same time last year is a good way to check if it was similar then.
2. Renovating your home
Are you giving the kitchen or bathroom a facelift? Have you got builders or plumbers on-site? Construction work chews up more energy than usual.
3. Visitors or new housemates
Your electricity bill can go up if you’ve got more than the usual number of people living in your home. More people equals more energy consumption in everything from the kitchen to the laundry.
4. Moving to a new home
If you’ve moved into a new home, you could expect a change to your energy bill, especially if the house is bigger or smaller than before. You may be in a different suburb, which could result in a different distributor. Also, the new home will likely have different appliances such as heating/cooling than what you’re used to. Since energy efficiency differs from one property to another, moving homes could affect your electricity bills.
5. Installing new appliances
If you’ve recently installed something like a clothes dryer for the first time and are using it regularly, you’ll notice a change in your electricity consumption.
6. A longer billing period
Sometimes, the number of days in the billing period can go up, which will cause your bill to increase, too.
Not a customer?
How to reduce your energy bill
The good news is that there are ways you can reduce your energy consumption in and around your home, which will help to reduce your electricity bill. Red Energy has many articles on how to save energy in your home.
Check out:
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6 energy-saving tips for summer - many of which can apply year-round
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Appliance energy star ratings explained - check the rating of appliances before you buy
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Your guide to energy-saving light bulbs - switch to energy efficient light bulbs
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How to save energy in the kitchen: 21 tips & tricks - be smarter in the kitchen
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Nine easy electricity saving tips - find more tips for around the home here
The final word
Electricity bills can often fluctuate but don’t panic! Whether it’s caused by installing new appliances, hosting guests or carrying out renovations all can be controlled with the right know how. Identifying the cause can help manage these expenses in the future, helping to lower your energy bills and make “bill shock” a thing of the past!