You're probably aware of your energy bills now more than ever following back-to-back price hikes in the last 2 years. According to our research, Aussies now consider it one of their top 3 most stressful expenses.
It also doesn't help that home appliances use an average of 25% of household energy with some inefficient models racking up costs quickly.
You can ease some of the pressure off your energy bills by understanding how much it costs to run commonly used appliances around your home.
Barring your fridge, make sure you turn these appliances off at the wall if possible so they don't consume standby power. Also remember to compare electricity plans to ensure you're getting a good rate.
The average annual cost of running a clothes dryer twice a week comes out to be $130.34.
They're a convenient and fuss-free way of drying your clothes whenever you want, but the costs can add up quickly if you do multiple loads each week.
You may think of clothes dryers as a luxury rather than a necessity. Much like other luxuries like air conditioning they can balloon your bill. Clothes dryers can amount to up to 10% of a household's energy use for heavy users.
| Response | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| I sometimes consider the energy efficiency | 41.46% | 40.07% |
| I always consider the energy efficiency | 41.29% | 38.96% |
| I rarely consider the energy efficiency | 4.15% | 6.49% |
| I don't know what an energy efficiency rating is | 3.15% | 2.04% |
| I never consider the energy efficiency | 1.66% | 2.04% |
Refrigerators are one of the most power-hungry appliances in a home and can make up 13% of your energy bill.
Those with a fridge and freezer combo can cost an average of $102.24 a year to run.
The cost of running your washing machine 5 times a week averages out to $90.31 per year.
Have a washer plus dryer combo? That'll cost you $72.95 annually.
As with any other power-hungry appliance, there are ways to lower running costs.
Dishwashers can cost $44.19 to run per year on average if you do 4 loads per week.
Using one can be cheaper than handwashing as you end up using less hot water. But only if you have an energy-efficient dishwasher.
Households watching television for 2.5 hours per day can expect to pay $34.10 per year on average for their viewing habits.
It may not seem like a big expense, but the costs can add up if you binge-watch more TV during the week. Or if you have multiple TVs running at the same time.
Our energy guides can help you compare and understand what plan is best for you.
Best energy plans: 5 plans selected by our experts, assessed and updated regularly
Cheap energy plans: Find the cheapest energy plans available this month
Solar power plans: Got rooftop solar? Compare your options and save even more
Average energy bill: Find out how your energy bill compares to the rest of Australia
Compare the cheapest electricity and gas plans available in your state.
Check your quarterly electricity and gas bill against the average in your state.
Read on to see if you can save on reduced energy costs through government rebate and concession programs.
Most Western Australia residents can't switch electricity providers but have a few options when it comes to gas. Find out if you can switch energy retailers.
A guide to electricity and gas providers available to residents of Tasmania.
You have the power to switch energy plans in Adelaide and the rest of South Australia. Luckily it only takes minutes to hunt down the cheapest options with us.
There’s no time for snoozing. Hunt down the best electricity and gas providers in QLD with us so you can switch and save.
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Don’t snooze. It’ll take just a few quick clicks to start comparing electricity and gas plans in Victoria and Melbourne.
Residents of the ACT have several electricity and gas providers to choose from.