How Much is the Average Electricity Bill?
15th August 2024
Wondering why your bill is so high? Make sense of the average household electricity bill
Our world is filled with gadgets and time-saving appliances that make our lives easier, but we don’t always realise how much electricity they need. That’s why we gathered some information about energy usage in Australia, and tips on how you can save energy and keep your power bills under control.
Typical energy consumption by Australian households
- Household size
- Housing type
- Energy mix
- Lifestyle
Let’s take a look at some typical examples.
Household A
Household A is a standalone suburban home occupied by a family of two parents and two children. They only use electric energy for hot water (25% of energy usage), heating and cooling (38%), cooking (4%), lighting (7%), a dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, three computers, two TVs and a swimming pool. They have no alternative energy source.
Household A consumes just over 15,000 kWh of electricity per year, or 41 kWh per day.
Bathrooms use a lot of electricity, especially if your hot water heater heats on peak rates.Add to that radiant heating, electric underfloor heating, heat lamps and heated towel rails, and your electricity bill can easily skyrocket.
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Household B
Household B is a standalone suburban house, occupied by a couple in their mid-30s. They also use only electricity. Household B’s energy usage includes electric hot water, temperature control, cooking, dishwasher, clothes dryer and a TV.
Household B consumes approximately 8,300 kWh of electricity per year, or 23 kWh per day. Household B has fewer occupants than Household A, which results in fewer appliances. They also have no pool with pumps that use electricity.
Household C
Household C is a city apartment that is home to a couple with a small child. They use gas for hot water, cooking and heating. They use electricity to run the dishwasher, clothes dryer, three computers, an LCD TV and air conditioning.
Household C consumes 5,000 kWh per year or approximately 13.7 kWh per day. The cost of gas for hot water, heating and cooking also needs to be considered and added to their electricity costs to achieve a total energy bill.
Household D
Household D is a single retiree also in a city apartment. Like Household C, they also use a mix of electricity to run their appliances and gas for hot water, heating and cooking. Their electric usage supplies a dishwasher, clothes dryer, air conditioning, computer and a TV.
Household D uses approximately 2,500 kWh per year or 7 kWh per day. The cost of gas for hot water, heating and cooking also needs to be considered and is added to the gas bill, which they pay alongside their electricity bill.
Why is my electricity bill so high?
Looking at the figures above, you may wonder how much is electricity per month? There are several ways for you to learn more about your household’s electricity consumption:
- Look at your bill. There should be a breakdown of your units (kWh) used, as well as the cost per unit. Unit prices can differ by city or region.
- If you are a Red customer, you can gain valuable insights into your energy consumption and understand when and how you use energy via our app.
- Some smart appliances offer energy monitors to help you track your energy use.
- Read your electricity meter every month to see how your usage fluctuates according to seasonal consumption patterns.
- Consider your energy mix. Using solar power should help to reduce your electricity bill. It is estimated that heating water makes up for approximately 25% of household energy usage.
The final word
Are you paying too much for your electricity bill? Consider putting these energy saving tips into practice:
- Switch to LED light bulbs.
- Invest in a programmable thermostat for your heating and cooling.
- Install solar panels as these can assist in energy usage reduction from the grid.
- Sell or turn off the second fridge if you’re not using it often.
- Use the microwave rather than the oven to warm up small meals or snacks.
- Unplug appliances when they are not in use. Some appliances continue to draw energy even when switched off (stand-by power), which is estimated to draw on average 6% of a home’s energy use of your total household electricity use.
- Consider choosing energy star rated energy-efficient appliances for the bathroom and kitchen.
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