Keeping power bills down as the weather heats up

Released 01/01/2019

As the heatwave continues, Canberrans are urged to reduce their energy use and save on their power bills.

As the Bureau of Meteorology reported last week, 2018 marked Australia's third-warmest year on record, with the annual national mean temperature 1.14 °C above average. As a result, we are experiencing more frequent heatwave conditions in Canberra, which is driving high levels of demand for electricity during extreme heat, especially during peak times.

There’s a range of simple steps everyone can take to help reduce their energy costs, while also contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions and less pressure on our electricity grid. Tips include:

• keep your air conditioning to a comfortable 23 to 25 degrees. Air conditioners are one of the biggest users of electricity: for every 1 degree colder, you are using 10% more energy
• consolidate your fridges if you have more than one (and save up to $96 per fridge)
• take shorter showers and reduce hot water temperature (and save up to $200 a year)
• close windows and blinds during the day and open them at night
• take advantage of our sunny days and use your clothesline
• turn off items at the power point (and reduce energy consumption by up to 10%)
• turn off any unnecessary interior and exterior lighting.

The ACT Government offers a number of energy efficient options to help Canberrans lower their power bills.

We want Canberrans to be comfortable in the heat. Doing small things to reduce your energy use can have a big impact, and help keep those summer power bills down.

There are a range of rebates and subsidies available to Canberrans, including where energy retailers are able to provide new, energy efficient options to ACT households.

For example, households can receive rebates of up to $1,200, and save more than $2,000 over the 15 year product lifetime by replacing an old inefficient water heater with a heat pump hot water system.

Rebates of up to $2,500 are available to replace a gas room heater with an efficient reverse cycle air conditioner, saving over $6,000 in heating and cooling bills over the 12 year product lifetime.

There are also subsidies in place to support battery storage of electricity. By storing electricity captured by the sun, this can then be used during peak times to help keep your bills down.

It was announced last week that the ACT’s highly successful Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme will be expanded to include several new programs and will be extended to 2030.

For more information on tips and rebates please visit www.actsmart.act.gov.au/energy-saving

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