Why Is My Electricity Bill So High?
If your last electricity bill looked a little bit on the high side, you might be thinking ‘why is my electricity bill so high?‘ followed by ‘how can I reduce it?‘
To answer the first question, its not always easy to pinpoint the reason, as it could be anything from an old air conditioner, to faulty appliances, to an old switchboard that needs to be upgraded.
So lets look into some of the most common reasons and what you can do to reduce your bill.
5 Reasons Why Your Electricity Bills Are So High
If you’ve lived at the same place for years, and had an average electricity bill that has suddenly gone up, it could be because:
- A wiring issue
- Faulty meter
- Old switchboard
- Seasonal weather
- Power consuming appliances.
Faulty Wiring
Faulty wiring is far more common then some people realise and is one of the main reasons as to your electricity bill increase could have shot up, especially in older homes brought before the 2000’s.
This issue is typically caused by degraded insulation, loose connections or because it was never designed to carry the electrical load some modern appliances demand today, and causing resistance and making it lose efficiency.
This is one of the most serious items on the list as faulty wiring is a massive safety risk, and can damage your appliances, cause electrical shocks, and lead to a fire. If you suspect that the wiring in your house is faulty, its important to call an electrician.
Faulty Meter
Your meter is in charge of measuring how much electricity and tells providers how much they should be charging you.
If your meter is faulty and giving incorrect readings to your electrical provider, it can be one of the reasons as to why your electricity bill has gone up.
In this case, its best to contact your electrical provider and let them know, so that they can repair it and fix the issue.
How Do You Know If Your Electric Meter Is Faulty?
So how do you test if your meter is faulty? It’s a nuisance, but the easiest way is to read it everyday and look for any irregularities.
Do this for 7-14 days in a row and measure if the energy use is consistent. It will most likely go up a little bit during the weekend but it should remain fairly consistent, and if it doesn’t then you might have a faulty meter giving out a false meter reading.
You can also contact your local electrician to help confirm this.
Switchboard And Electrical Upgrades
An old switchboard might not be able to handle the supply charge of your household and overloading it can lead to high energy costs. If your switchboard was installed more then twenty years ago or before the 2000’s then it might be time to call an electrician for an upgrade.
Seasonal Weather Could Be Behind That Higher Bill
Sometimes its not appliances behind your higher bill but instead its the weather. If its a hot day, you might start blasting the air conditioner to cool down and if its a cold day, then you might start turning on the heaters.
Our advice, try using the ceiling fan on a hot day and for those cold days, dress in warmer layers.
Faulty Appliances
There are some appliances that just use up a lot of electricity, such as a dishwasher, oven, air-conditioner, etc. However, if these appliances are old, or faulty they can increase your power bill even more.
By upgrading your old appliances, or getting them repaired you can bring down your electrical bill considerably.
Appliances That Consume The Most Power
The appliances that typically impact electricity rates are the ones that typically don’t stop running, or just need a lot more energy then your phone charger.
The most power hungry appliances tend to be:
- Air conditioner
- Washer and dryer
- Refrigerator
- Electric ovens
- Electric stoves
- Electric Water Heaters
- Televisions and Electronics
How Do You Find Out What’s Using So Much Electricity?
An electrician can help you identify the most power hungry appliances in your home and offer suggestions about what might need to be replaced or just simply need to be repaired.
How Can You Reduce Energy Consumption At Home?
Turn Off Lights And Appliances When Not In Use
This is the most easiest and painless one to do, but is something that is all too common in the house.
By turning off appliances and lights the are not being used, it can help save you from a higher electricity bill and lower energy usage.
Run One Load In Your Washing Machine
Unless some of your clothes really do need to be washed separately, then it might help to just do your washing in only one load.
If you are worried about color transferring, then try to use a cold wash instead of a hot one.
Replace Your Light Bulbs With LED Lights
A lot of households are switching to LED’s, and its not hard to see why. LED bulbs can save you up to 80% compared to traditional bulbs, they are more effective at lighting an area and last longer too.
Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances
If you are thinking about buying a new appliance, then buy appliances that are energy efficient and have five stars. If you want to understand more about the energy rating, then you can do so here.
Ceiling Fans And Air Conditioning
Air conditioner and ceiling fans are a practical must in any Queensland home but if they are faulty or were installed improperly, they can cause your bill to skyrocket. By getting a qualified electrician to install your ceiling fan and keeping your air conditioner maintained, you can drive down your power bill and ensure you remain cool during the summer.
Switchboard Upgrade
If you suspect that your switchboard is faulty or not able to handle the power needed in your household, or even installed before the 2000’s then you can call your local electrician to come and replace it.
Save On Energy With The Help Of ALLEC Electrical
Trying to work out why your electricity bill is so high is not easy, but ALLEC is here to help.
From fixing faulty wiring, to installing a new switchboard, our team can help you reduce your electrical bill.
Call us today on 0481 134 311, or click here to get in touch online.
FAQ
How Can I Reduce My Electricity Bill Without Making Major Changes?
You can make small changes by turning off appliances and lights that you aren’t using, and by switching to LED bulbs.
Can An Electrician Help Lower My Power Bill?
Yes, a qualified electrician can perform different tests and make recommendations to help lower your bill.
Is It Worth Upgrading My Switchboard To Save Energy?
Yes, an old switchboard can lead to it over loading and cause your electricity bill to go up. By upgrading, it can keep your system up to date and reduce unnecessary power drain.
