1. Take Control and Shrink your Bill

2. $4,100

3. $4,000

4. $3,900

5. $3,800

6. $3,700

7. $3,600

8. $3,500

9. $3,400

10. $3,300

11. $3,200

12. $3,190

13. $3,180

14. $3,170

15. $3,160

16. 3
Steps to save

17. First we will look at
Energy Bills
Measuring electricity

18. 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

19. 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

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

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

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

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

29. Activity
Which is cheaper? vs vs vs vs vs

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

31. Activity
Which is cheaper? 12
watt
35W vs

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

33. Activity
Which is cheaper?
900 W
50W vs

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

35. 3
Steps to save
Saving energy

36. Saving Energy

37. 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

38. 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

39. - 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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)

45. Fridges use about 18% of all electricity in the house
Saving Energy
Fridges use about 18% of all electricity in the house

46. 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

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

48. 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
Is it cheaper to wash clothes in warm or cold water?
– washing clothes in cold water is much cheaper
What temperature is best to keep food fresh in a fridge?
– between 3oC and 5oC

49. 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
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

50. 3
Steps to save
Concessions

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

52. The 2 main concessions help save $400 a year

53. -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.

54. 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

55. 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 or contact the company that sends your bills
Concessions Information Line on
The company that sends your bills

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

57. 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.

58. 3
Steps to save
Shopping for a
better energy offer

59. 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

60. Shopping for a Better Energy Offer

61. 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

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

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

64. 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)

65. 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

66. 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)

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

68. You can with

69. 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

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

71. 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

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

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

75. 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

76. ? 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

77. 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

78. Shopping for a Better Energy Offer
All you need is:

79. 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

80. compare.switchon.vic.gov.au

81. 3
Steps to save
Check your thermometer
to save energy

82. 3
Steps to save
Check your bill for concessions

83. 3 Steps to save Check Victorian Energy Compare
to get cheaper energy offers

84. Fixing Problems

85. Questions?