How to lower your energy bills this winter

With the colder weather, and rising energy prices, heating your home can be a big expense. Here are some tips and tricks to keep your home warm and some places you can go for help if you are struggling to pay your energy bill.

Need financial help with energy bills? Here are some great avenues for support to help with financing your bill:

• Victorian Energy Compare Power Saving Bonus – get $250 directly into your bank account and check you are on the best energy plan for your usage! All Victorians energy account holders are eligible.
• Utility Relief Grants – open to low income households, pensioner card, health care card and veterans card holders. These grants are to help paying overdue energy and water bills and both renters and home owners are eligible. Grants are for $650 per energy type over a two year period, or $1300 over a two year period for homes with a single energy source. Contact your energy provider to apply.
• Victorian Energy Upgrade Program – State Government Rebates to upgrade your inefficient heaters. All Victorian households are eligible. The amount of rebate varies depending on the upgrade you want to make.

Need help applying for energy relief and grants?

• The Victorian Energy Assistance Program provides free tailored energy advice to households experiencing financial hardship. To access this service call 1800161215 – you will be connected with Anglicare Victoria who will guide you through the options. Translators are available. Please have a recent energy bill to hand if you have one.
• You can also to book in for one of Moonee Valley Libraries regular help sessions – Tech Q&A or Help with forms – make sure you bring email address and password, bank details, details of your electricity bill and ID.

Tips to make the most of your home heating:

• Open your curtains when the sun is shining and close them before it gets dark.
• If you’ve got a storage hot water system, set the temperature to 60 degrees
• If your heating has a programable thermostat – keep the internal temperature set to between 18°C and 20°C. Every additional degree of heating can add between 5% and 10% to your energy use.

• Block draughts and cracks with window and door seals.
• Only heat the rooms you are using – shut doors, or consider putting up curtains to block off internal spaces like staircases.
• Close vents! If you have ducted air conditioning make sure your vents are closed or sealed – you can lose a lot of warm air out of open vents.
• Go all electric! With rising gas prices, consider taking advantage of state government rebates to upgrade old, inefficient gas appliances for new energy efficient electric appliances.
• Got wooden or tile floors? Keep your feet warm and insulate your floor with rugs.
• Remember to regularly clean your heaters including the filters, fan blades or vents so they perform at their best.

For more information on saving energy and rebates visit our Climate Action page.

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