Energy Basics
Understand it, Control it and Save
In this workshop...
• Energy in Victoria
• Reading Bills
• Kilowatts
• 3 Ways to Save
– Choosing a better energy offer
– Concessions
– Saving Energy
• Smart Meters
Energy in Victoria
Energy in Victoria
Retailers
• Bills
• Getting connected
• Energy deals
• Moving house
• Concessions
• Problems or complaints
Energy in Victoria
Distributors
• Power interruptions
• Emergencies
• Meter issues
• Special electricity supply needs
(like a life support machine)
Energy in Victoria
Reading Bills
Reading Bills
Kilowatts
Kilowatts
1000 metres = 1 kilometre or 1km
1000 Watts = 1 kiloWatt or 1kW
If you use 1kW for 1 hour it means you’ve used 1kWh of
electricity
Kilowatts
1 hours = 2kWh
2 hours = 4kWh
3 hours = 6kWh
4 hours = ??
Kilowatts
505 kWh per year
Kilowatts
You can work out
appliances
costs
If you know the
rate you pay
for electricity
Kilowatts
Kilowatts
X
= $99.38 each year
Three Ways to Save
1. Choosing a better energy offer
2. Concessions
3. Saving energy
Choosing a Better Energy Offer
You can save up to
$600 - $800 on electricity
$370 - $500 on gas
by switching from the worst to the best offer
– St Vincent de Paul
Choosing a Better Energy Offer
Who is on a good energy offer?
How do you know you’re on a good offer?
Choosing a Better Energy Offer
Be careful with discounts
A large discount may not lead to
a good offer
Choosing 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)
Choosing a Better Energy Offer
The offer with the big discount is still more expensive
2500
Price before
discount applied
$ per year
2000
1500
Price after
discount applied
1000
500
0
30% Super Saver
30% Super
Saver
Energy Plus
10% Energy
Plus
Choosing 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)
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
makes things easier by
estimating the annual price of electricity and gas
offers for your home
Choosing a Better Energy Offer
All you need is:
• A computer!
• Information from your energy bill
• Information about your house
compare.switchon.vic.gov.au
Choosing a Better Energy Offer
Things to check
 Will I be ‘locked in’ to the contract?
 Will the price change?
 How will I be billed?
 How can I pay?
 Is it a flexible pricing plan?
Flexible Pricing
All appliances run at off-peak rates overnight
Three Ways to Save
1. Choosing a better energy deal
2. Concessions
3. Saving energy
Concessions & Grants
Concessions & Grants
Save $400 a year
Concessions & Grants
-17.5% off electricity bills
Annual Electricity Concession
-17.5% off winter gas bills
Winter Gas Concession (1 May to 31 October)
Concessions & Grants
• Service to Property Charge Concession
• Controlled Load Electricity Concession
Automatic
• Electricity Transfer Fee Waiver
• Non-Mains Energy Concession
• Medical Cooling Concession
• Life Support Concession
Need to apply
Concessions & Grants
• Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521
• The company that sends your bills
Check
concessions
are
recorded on
every bill
Concessions & Grants
Utility Relief Grant Scheme (URGS)
Provides up to $500 each for:
• Electricity
• Gas
• and water
Ask the company that sends your bill about URGS
Three Ways to Save
1. Choosing a better energy deal
2. Concessions
3. Saving energy
Saving Energy
Saving Energy
70% of your bill comes from just three areas:
Saving Energy
159 days below 18oC
- Melbourne has more cold days than hot
Saving Energy
• Heat your rooms to around 20oC
• Seal draughts and cover windows
• Close doors to unused rooms
• Turn your heater off overnight or when going out
Saving Energy
35 days of 30oC or above
- Melbourne is also quite hot!
Saving Energy
• Use a fan
• Shade windows on the outside of the glass
• Cool rooms to around 26oC
• Turn air-conditioner off when going out
Saving Energy
Hot water is one of the areas
where most energy is used
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
Saving Energy
Fridges use about 18% of all
electricity in the house
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
Saving Energy
One last thing…
• Turn off appliances when you are not using them
Saving Energy Quiz
1. 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 when leaving 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
Energy Saving Quiz
6. How much energy does heating and cooling use in the average house?
Is it 10%, 25%, or 40%?
– 40% of the energy you use goes towards heating and
cooling
7.
8.
What temperature is recommended for heating your home?
– 20oC or whatever is comfortable. Remember every 1oC
extra costs more!
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
Smart Meters
The basics...
• Record the amount of
electricity you’ve used
each half-hour
• Send this information to
the distribution company
automatically and
wirelessly
• Owned by the distributor,
not the household
Smart Meters
Smart Meters
Energy Web portals
• Free
• Show how you use
electricity
• Help to budget for bills
Smart Meters
In home displays (IHDs)
• Show you how much
electricity is used now
• Cost around $50 - $300
Questions?