Take Control and Shrink your Bill

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$3,900

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3 Steps to save

First we will look at Energy Bills Measuring electricity

Energy Bills Is the bill yours? This is how much money you owe Are all your payments recorded? Q. How do you find your bill? Key message – don’t ignore your bill. At the very least, if you’re a concession card holder check to see you’re receiving your concessions This is the cost of electricity for this bill AusNet Services Call this number if you do not have electricity

Energy Bills Shows your electricity use for 1 year Shows how much electricity you use every day How many days are you paying for? There are 2 charges for electricity: Key message – compare electricity bills based on daily usage rather than the dollar amount The price you pay for every unit of electricity (kWh) you use Always check you are paid for concessions The price you pay for getting electricity to your house

Check your Bill Arrange yourselves in order from smallest to most biggest: Average daily use  

Check your Bill Arrange yourselves in order from smallest to biggest: Average daily use Usage (kWh) rate  

Measuring electricity 1000 Watts = 1 kilowatt or 1kW Q. What is a kilowatt? Key message – think of a kWh in much the same way as a km If you use 1kW for 1 hour you’ve used 1kWh of electricity

Measuring electricity Key message - every appliance in your house uses a different amount of electricity. Check the label on the back of the appliance 2000 Watts = 2kW

Measuring electricity 12pm 4pm 1pm 2pm 3pm kilowatt hours 6 3 ?? 1 4 5 2 Key message - every appliance in your house uses a different amount of electricity. Check the label on the back of the appliance

Measuring electricity 505 kWh per year Key message – whilst the stars are a good indicator, the number in the red box tells you how much electricity an appliance uses

Measuring electricity You can work out appliance costs If you know the price you pay for electricity Key message – you can use your bill to work out how much appliances cost

Measuring electricity Key message – you can use energy rating labels to work out appliance running costs

Measuring electricity X = $141 each year Key message – you can use energy rating labels to work out appliance running costs

Activity Which is cheaper? vs vs vs   vs vs

Activity Which is cheaper? 384 384 550 vs Energy consumption kWh per year 550 Energy consumption 384 kWh per year vs  

Activity Which is cheaper? 12 watt 35W vs  

Activity Which is cheaper? Wattage: 2000W Power: 2000W = vs  

Activity Which is cheaper? 900 W 50W vs  

Activity Which is cheaper? Cold wash 100 Warm wash 399 vs  

3 Steps to save Saving energy

Saving Energy

Saving Energy 70% of all energy use is from these areas Key message - the biggest users of energy are the things that heat (for example, heating your home, heating your hot water, and drying your clothes) and the things that cool (for example, air-conditioning and refrigeration). These things use around 70% of all the energy in your home Saving energy is about saving time. The goal is to get appliances to do their job in the quickest time possible. This is because you get get charged for how long you use each appliance

Saving Energy Target these areas first Key message - the biggest users of energy are the things that heat (for example, heating your home, heating your hot water, and drying your clothes) and the things that cool (for example, air-conditioning and refrigeration). These things use around 70% of all the energy in your home Saving energy is about saving time. The goal is to get appliances to do their job in the quickest time possible. This is because you get get charged for how long you use each appliance

- We have more cold days than hot Saving Energy 159 days below 18oC - We have more cold days than hot Key message - heating uses much of the energy we pay for

Saving Energy Heat rooms to 20oC Seal draughts and cover windows Close doors to unused rooms Turn your heater off overnight or when going out Key messages: Heating to hotter temperatures means the heater will run for a lot longer – costing you more money (remember you get charged for how long you use things). The idea is to heat the room you are in to a temperature that keeps you comfortable (when appropriately dressed!) and not too hot as this takes longer and wastes energy. Every extra 1oC costs 10% more. When added together, the gaps and cracks in many homes is equal to the size of a basketball! Think how much heat would escape in winter and how much hot air this lets in in summer. Door seals are cheap and can be bought from many hardware stores to seal the draughts around doors, windows, chimneys and vents to stop warm air escaping Bigger areas cost more to heat than smaller areas. You can make your house smaller by closing doors to any areas you don’t use Why pay for something you don’t need? Running a heater overnight or whilst out means the heater runs for a lot more of the day and costs a lot more money. It is a lot cheaper to turn the heater on when you first get up in the morning or come home

35 days of 30oC or above Saving Energy - It’s also quite hot! Key messages – we need some form of cooling in summer to keep our homes comfortable

Saving Energy Use a fan Shade windows on the outside of the glass Cool rooms to 26oC Turn air-conditioner off when going out Key messages: Fans they are around 20 to 40 times cheaper than air-conditioners. Fans usually use around 50W. A small air-conditioner uses around 1000W. That means you can run a fan for 20 hours for the same cost as running a small air-conditioner for just 1 hour (a 50W fan running for 20 hours would use 1000W) For every square metre of glass facing the sun in summer it is the same as a single bar radiant heater heating through the glass. The best way to stop this heat is to put shading on the outside of the glass Air-conditioning to colder temperatures means the air-conditioner will run for a lot longer – costing you more money (remember you get charged for how long you use things). The idea is that when using an air-conditioner you cool the room you are in to a temperature that keeps you comfortable (when appropriately dressed!) and not too cold as this takes longer and wastes energy. Every extra 1oC of cooling costs 10% more Don’t pay to cool a house or room that you are not using

Hot water is one of the areas where most energy is used Saving Energy Hot water is one of the areas where most energy is used Key message - hot water is a key area to focus on

Saving Energy Use a water saving shower head Try to keep your showers to around 5 minutes or less Wash your clothes in cold water Key messages: Water saving shower heads use around half the amount of water as old-fashioned shower heads. Water saving shower heads are really good now and you often cannot tell that they use less water Showers use a lot of the home’s hot water. Shorter showers mean that less water needs to be reheated – saving you money Washing clothes in cold water is around half the cost of washing clothes in warm water (sometimes more)

Fridges use about 18% of all electricity in the house Saving Energy Fridges use about 18% of all electricity in the house http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/households/energy-efficiency/toolbox/reports

Saving Energy Keep fridge at 3oC to 5oC Keep freezer at -15oC to -18oC Move fridge away from the sun or heaters and keep ventilated Turn off second fridges or freezers when you don’t need them Key messages: Food stays fresh in a fridge and freezer at these temperatures. If the temperature is colder the fridge or freezer will run for longer and cost more money Fridges and freezers need to stay cool. If they get hot they run for longer and cost more money It’s much cheaper to run one fully loaded fridge or freezer than it is to run two half empty units. So, if you don't have much in your second fridge or freezer turn it off and put the goods in your main fridge or freezer

Saving Energy One last thing… Turn off appliances when you are not using them

Saving Energy Quiz Is it cheaper to turn a heater off or leave it running while you’re out? – it is always cheaper to turn a heater off as you get charged for how long you use appliances 2. On a hot day, is it better to close your curtains or put some shading up outside? – it is much better to put shading up outside 3. Which is cheaper a fan or an air-conditioner? – a fan is about 20 to 40 times cheaper 4. Is it cheaper to wash clothes in warm or cold water? – washing clothes in cold water is much cheaper 5. What temperature is best to keep food fresh in a fridge? – between 3oC and 5oC

Saving Energy Quiz 6. How much energy does heating and cooling use in the average house? Is it 18%, 28%, or 38%? – 38% of the energy you use goes towards heating and cooling 7. What temperature is recommended for heating your home? – 20oC or whatever is comfortable. Remember every 1oC extra costs more! 8. What is best to do with 2 half full fridges? – fill one up fully and turn the other one off until you need it 9. How much water does a water saving shower head use? – one third to half a high flow shower head 10. Why seal draughts when the gaps are usually so small? – when added together the gaps are big and cause you to lose warm air that you’ve paid for

3 Steps to save Concessions

Concessions Key message – concessions are different to discounts and available to anyone with a concession card

The 2 main concessions help save $400 a year

-17.5% off electricity bills Concessions -17.5% off electricity bills Annual Electricity Concession -17.5% off winter gas bills Winter Gas Concession (1 May to 31 October) Key message – the words ‘Annual Electricity Concession’ should appear on every electricity bill but only on winter gas bills. If the concession doesn’t appear contact your retailer and they can back date the concession up to 12 months.

Concessions Service to Property Charge Concession Controlled Load Electricity Concession Electricity Transfer Fee Waiver Non-Mains Energy Concession Medical Cooling Concession Life Support Concession Automatic Need to apply Key message - Victorian as a good concessions framework and there are many other concessions available

Concessions Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 Key message – if you have a Health Care, Pension or Veteran’s Affairs card you are eligible to receive concessions. Call the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 or contact the company that sends your bills Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 The company that sends your bills

Check concessions are recorded on every bill Key message – always check your bill to make sure your concessions have been recorded

Concessions Utility Relief Grant Scheme (URGS) Provides up to $500 each for: Electricity Gas and water Ask the company that sends your bill about URGS Key message - for people with a utility debt there’s also government grant called the Utility Relief Grant Scheme (URGS). You don’t necessarily need a concession card to apply.

3 Steps to save Shopping for a better energy offer

If you have not shopped around recently Shopping for a Better Energy Offer If you have not shopped around recently you are paying too much

Shopping for a Better Energy Offer

Shopping for a Better Energy Offer Who is on a good energy offer? How do you know you’re on a good offer? Discussion with participants about who thinks they have a good offer and how they know

Shopping for a Better Energy Offer Comparing energy offers can be confusing

! Shopping for a Better Energy Offer Be careful with discounts A large discount may not lead to a good offer !

Shopping for a Better Energy Offer For example: Super Saver - 30% discount ($0.30/kWh + $1.10/day) Energy Plus - 10% discount ($0.22/kWh + $1.20/day)

Shopping for a Better Energy Offer The offer with the big discount is still more expensive Price before discount applied $ per year Key message – don’t chase offers just based on discount amount Price after discount applied 30% Super Saver 10% Energy Plus

Shopping for a Better Energy Offer Because it starts with higher rates Super Saver - 30% discount ($0.30/kWh + $1.10/day) Energy Plus - 10% discount ($0.22/kWh + $1.20/day)

easily compare energy companies? What if you could easily compare energy companies? $890 $900 $930 $980 $1000 $1030

You can with

independent up-to-date shows you all the generally available electricity and gas offers in Victoria Key message – unlike private price comparison websites, Victorian Energy Compare is independent and shows you all available offers

showing the cost of electricity and gas for 1 year makes things easier by showing the cost of electricity and gas for 1 year

Key message – no need to get stuck with the detail, Victorian Energy Compare makes it easier by estimating the annual amount you’ll pay with each of the retailers

comparing your current energy company makes things easier by comparing your current energy company

Key message - You can enter the rates from a recent bill to see how your current retailer compares with others

Shopping for a Better Energy Offer What then? Match? Exit fee? First, check with the company sending you bills to see if you must pay an exit fee or if they’ll match the new deal

? Shopping for a Better Energy Offer What then? First, check with the company sending you bills to see if you must pay an exit fee or if they’ll match the new deal

Shopping for a Better Energy Offer The new energy company will organise the rest If you change your mind - you have a 10 day cooling off period The new energy company will organise the rest – you do not need to contact your old energy company Remember, it is ok to change your mind - you have a 10 day ‘cooling-off period’. During this time, if you change your mind you can contact the energy company to let them know

Shopping for a Better Energy Offer All you need is:

91% of people can save Half save more than $330 per year Shopping for a Better Energy Offer Is it worth the effort? 91% of people can save Half save more than $330 per year

compare.switchon.vic.gov.au

3 Steps to save Check your thermometer to save energy

3 Steps to save Check your bill for concessions

3 Steps to save Check Victorian Energy Compare to get cheaper energy offers

Fixing Problems 1800 500 509

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