How to Lower Your Electricity Bill: 12 Proven Ways
There are dozens of energy-saving tips online, but most ignore the obvious truth: a few things use most of your electricity, and everything else is rounding error. This list is ordered by impact — tackle the top items first, because that is where the real money is.
Start with the big three: heating, cooling and hot water
In almost every home, the largest costs are making heat, making cold, and heating water. Nibbling at phone chargers while ignoring these is a waste of effort.
1. Turn your heating thermostat down a degree or two
Roughly 3% off your heating cost per 1°C is a common rule of thumb — and you often won’t feel the difference. See your number with the thermostat savings calculator.
2. Consider a heat pump instead of resistance heating
A heat pump delivers 3–4 units of heat per unit of electricity. Where it fits, it’s the single biggest heating saving — run the numbers with the heat pump savings calculator.
3. Raise the AC a couple of degrees and use fans
Cooling is expensive; a fan is almost free. Compare them with the AC running cost calculator and the fan running cost calculator.
4. Cut hot water use
Shorter showers, a lower tank temperature and an efficient shower head add up. Size it with the water heating cost calculator.
Next: the always-on and high-power appliances
5. Replace an old fridge or freezer
They run 24/7, so an inefficient one quietly bleeds money. Check yours with the refrigerator running cost calculator.
6. Switch all lighting to LED
LEDs use 80–90% less power than old bulbs and usually pay for themselves within a year — see the LED savings calculator.
7. Air-dry laundry, or use a heat-pump dryer
Tumble dryers are power-hungry. The tumble dryer running cost calculator shows the gap between a vented and a heat-pump model.
8. Wash clothes at 30°C
Most of a wash cycle’s energy heats the water. Dropping to 30°C can halve it — confirm with the washing machine running cost calculator.
9. Find your hidden energy hogs
Space heaters, electric showers and gaming PCs can cost more than you’d guess. Measure any device with the appliance running cost calculator.
Finally: tariff and habit wins
10. Shift usage to off-peak hours
On a time-of-use tariff, running the dishwasher, laundry or EV charging off-peak is free money — size it with the time-of-use savings calculator.
11. Improve insulation and seal draughts
Stops you paying to heat or cool air that escapes. Estimate the return with the insulation savings calculator.
12. Compare tariffs and check your bill
Make sure you’re on a competitive rate, and sanity-check your bill against your meter with the electricity bill calculator.
The bottom line
Spend your energy where the energy goes: heating, cooling, hot water and always-on appliances. Fix those first and the rest is fine-tuning. Use the calculators above to put a real number on each change before you commit to it.