Aussies want to cut energy costs as bigger bills hit

We’re all aware of the energy crisis, but now bigger bills are coming in and Aussies want ways to cut back on energy expenses.

According to survey results by Mozo, 80% of respondents have noticed an increase in their energy bills over the past year. And the cost of energy is projected to continue climbing, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers saying that bills could increase further by more than 50% in the next two years.

With higher energy bills, it’s perhaps no surprise that many plan to make home and lifestyle changes this summer, as per our research.

How are Aussies keeping their energy bills down?

Mozo found that 45% of households plan to decrease their energy use by doing simple things such as limiting air conditioning usage.

In addition, another 12% of respondents plan to buy new appliances that have higher energy star ratings to help keep their electricity bills down.

A number of news stories lately have also indicated that Aussies are looking to shift to solar energy, with solar panels in particular becoming more popular.

Installing solar panels is not a cheap exercise though, according to Solar Choice, the average cost of solar panels is between approximately $4,000 and $9,000 depending on the size of your property and the solar system you’re wanting.

If you can afford this up front cost, you should be rewarded in the long run because solar panels can help significantly reduce energy bills. Another plus is that having solar panels on your home can increase the value of your property.

Yet, another way to save money on energy bills is by shopping around for a more competitive energy plan. Mozo found that 23% of people said that they intend to shop around for a cheaper energy provider to reduce costs.

More ways you can save on your energy bill

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on buying new appliances or installing solar panels, there are other things you can do to help keep your energy usage down.

Here are some easy tips to follow:

• Close windows and doors during the day to keep the heat out
• Make sure your aircon isn’t set below 25 degrees - every degree lower will add to your energy bill
• Have shorter showers, or have cold showers 
• Use the cold water cycle on your washing machine
• Hang washing out to dry instead of using your dryer.

For more energy saving tips, check out our energy hub!

If you want to compare energy providers to see if you could save money by switching, use our energy comparison tool below!