I know it has been mentioned before so I was expecting it to be fairly high but $615 for a quarter!! :68:

We haven't any electric heating, the water is solar panels, we have only put the air con on twice so far, the oven is electric and the hob, but I'm not running a restaurant, the pool isn't heated have hardly used the fans, always turn the lights out leaving a room, except my daughter who has hers on at night, low wattage bulb! Obviously the computer is on most of the day. Tv for an hour or so in the evenings, Washing machine but no drier.

Never paid more than £120 a quarter in the UK, any tips folks on keeping costs down or do I need to budget for this every time??

Nikki
xx

Just thought the pool pump is on continuously, we were told that cost virtually nothing to run, should we cut that down?

Nikki
xx

Know what u mean - ours was $770 and we don't have a pool!!! but I was using the drier more than I should have been as I find it hard trying to hang washing out with a toddler running around and a baby screaming (but that's another story). I have now stopped using drier as much and use a clothes horse in the laundry room instead but don't know how much difference that will make. We are with AGL - can anyone recommend a cheaper company?
Jo

Our last one was $812. Had one last year of $1200!!!!

omg im not looking forward to mine then as ours is due soon. We have used the air con 2 or 3 times but dont have a pool but will let you know what it is when it arrives

Debs xxx

OMG dreading mine now!

We use loads of electric, heating water, cooker etc.... computers, tv's, fans..... must admit we avoid the air conditioning as much as possible.... i leave a light on in the kitchen all night as its central to the house, so if any of the kids get up they can see.... plus they like a light on during the night!


Lorraine

We are with Origin Energy, and I am fed up with them!

We've recently moved house, and I quite aware od 'connection' fees as we had them in the UK.

However, I've just had our final bill in for the old house today with DIS-CONNECTION fees along with 'CONNECTION' fees for the new house!

I just can't believe the cheek of this company...they'll be getting a call later.

Therefore we have a bill for $96 and only $10.02 is for energy use :angry:

OK, so it's not just me then!

What a nightmare, we have always been really careful and kept our costs quite low in the UK so was really shocked when this arrived! Guess we just need to stop eating now then. :P

W are with TRU no idea how that works out pricewise, but I know they tie us in for years though, very clever!

Nikki
xx

we just got ours and was $485 for 3 months and we have solar heated pool and pump is on 8 hours a day so we were rather pleased with that as last one was $650 but that was everything electric but have gas hob here!!! so still have gas bill to come :D

Just got ours today and I thought ours was high $286 for the quarter - cheap compared to all yours :68:
We are with AGL - no idea who they are!!! :P

Mandy

So far ours has been about $550 a quarter for last 3 quarters - no pool, no gas, evaperative AC in summer and dryer in winter. Apparently SA does pay a lot for electricity compared to other states though not sure why? :(

This post got me thinking " :doh: Cant remember paying a bill for electricity recently "

Had a mad search and found two (must be due another soon !) $302 and $360 So not too bad now Ive read the previous posts . We've got all the usual stuff plus pool and dryer and our hot water heater is electric too

Nicki
I would cut down the time your pool pump is on (that MUST be the cause of your high bill ?!?) I have been told that the filter needs 5/6 hours max summer and an hour a day or 6/7 hours a week in winter mode . I do turn ours on if we have lots of swimmers in and the rest of the time its on timer .

Julie xx

Your bills don't sound to excessive to me ours is and has always been about $200 a quarter with AGL, we don't have children to consider and are frugal with usage.

There was a steep increase in charges for power when the government privatised the Electricity Trust of South Australia a few years ago. Now it has been deregulated the costs have sky rocketed.

Jet :)

Thanks folks,

Have to see what I can do to cut it down.

We did have the filter on a timer but we turned it on permanently after our 'green' incident, will put it back on timer. I am in most of the day too, but we haven't used any of what I consider big electrical users ...

Oh well, have to keep an eye out.

Nikki
xx

We run our pool filter 8 hours a day and also the spa too the pool man said in summer 8 hours is what it should be doing then about 4-6 per day in winter, so i dont think its just the pool Nikki as I said our first bill was $650ish in Coro and that was all elec and no pool and not heating just the drier in winter :sign68:

We are with AGL ours was $308 we are all electric run 2 fridges, use air Con reverse cycle, don`t have a drier,

Sheila

You can pre pay your electric bill, just take your bill into the post office and pay , say $25 or so every week, it wont hit you so hard then

just remember to start with a clean slate

You can pay water phone, rates this way too


Sheila

We are with AGL and just had a bill for $330 (works out around $3/day which I suppose doesn't sound much when you say it like that. I was at home all day for the first couple of months but tried not to use the lights, etc but did around 1 wash every day and 1 dishwasher run a day.

Was a bit worried about having electric cooking and electric hot water - i think it is the hot water that has really cost us. When we have our own place I want gas, gas, gas!!

We only have one aircon unit and haven't used it too much and no pool to service so I suppose we haven't done too badly.

I'm going to give them a call to try and set up a direct debit - bills always feel better in smaller chunks...

Andrea

You really don`t feel it so much when you do it that way, I use the post office myself, I don`t have any nasty surprises, I think this is the easy way, you just have to get into the habit of doing it, but we are going to look at some of the other companies, you can also get a contract with AGL which works out a bit cheaper, if you ring them them will send you all the info

Sheila

As I was reading this post I quickly checked todays post and yes there it was - our electric bill....

We are with TRU - we don't have a pool or a spa, but have a washing machine and dryer and two messy kids...cooking and heating is gas - tho aircon is electric,

It was for $192.80 for 80 days - not too bad i thought!

Lets see what the gas bill brings!

Ann

Nikki that's dreadful, I really feel for you as I sit here in the dark and silence.......

David has gone around and switched off all the lights and the radio, if I am not careful he will confiscate the computer then I will not have any light with which to see the spiders....no............................. :68:


Clare :rolleyes:

When we have our own place I want solar panels - everywhere.

Desiree
:D :D

Just dug out our last three bills.

$250
$260
$277
With AGL
If its hot air con on most of the day
If its cold ducted heating on most of the day :D
If we're in 2 tv's 2 computers on all day
washing machine and dish washer on every day (so she says) :D

Pool going in next month so if I can find the thread I'll let you know who it affects it. Doubt it will be much :sign03:

From what i have been reading in the press since i arrived in oz it seems like SA imports a large proportion of its electricity from victoria as there is not the infrastructure to supply SA with the power needed to satisfy demand ,which is also one of the main reasons for so many power failures which I have noticed happen quite frequently .

I will probably be corrected here, but all the reasonable bills seem to be AGL?

:sign03: :sign03: then as we are with AGL.

lorraine

OMG we've just gone over to TRU Energy!! :68:

We're with AGL too, both gas and electric.

Our bill this time was $452, and I seem to remember they usually come in around the $400 - $500 mark.

That covers, pool, lots of air con, tumble drier (softens the clothes when i've cooked 'em), computer on most of day, t.v on quite a bit, washing machine and dishwasher on once a day.

I probably could do more to save a bit ;)

Sunshine.

I've read all you're posts and even more confused now.

We don't have a drier, the washing machine and dishwasher are on once a day (most days) no heating (solid fuel), air con only been on twice, cooker, TV, 2 freezers, no hot water, we have a sprinkler system that has been on the last 3 weeks or so. The only thing I can think of is the pool filter, but others don't seem to have a problem. We have put that on at night only now, for 5 hours a day! Have to wait and see what the next one is like! I don't think I can change companies without paying a huge penalty, but like the sound of AGL.

Sorry I know this is a boring thread.

Thanks Sheila I will look at doing that, with my uni fees going out from Feb it will be stale bread and water for us!!

Clare, Watch out for those spiders!!!

Nikki
xx

Switch off everything at the socket or you still use electric, and don`t leave TV on standby, use smaller light globes if you can, or get the energy saving ones they are dearer but you save in the long run, only use washer for a full load, you save on electric and water, if I think of anything else I`ll let you know,

Sheila

I try to do most of those sheila, but thanks for thinking of me .. Paul thinks we should go bak to candles and cook on the BBQ, ever practical.. ;)

Think I might sell the children to pay the bill, they probably use most of the leccy anyway!!

Only joking!

Although any good offers.. :P

Nikki
xx

Actually I might just check plugs again, the kids are forever plugging their gameboy and DVD chargers in, there is probably a small oil field going on them somewhere!!

Nikki
xx

Yea BBQs save a lot, and if you have one with a wok burner you can always get the guys to cook something different too

Sheila

Sorry .. 'Guys Cook' not in our house lazy ***'s. Like the wok idea though.

Had to go on a diet after Christmas, so cooking a huge vat of veg soup, that should save cooking for a day or too. :D

Nikki
xx

BBQ's are a nice way to cook in Summer to keep the heat out of the house but don't be fooled that they are more economical.

Gas usage in our houshold is around 90 cents a day and that includes the Hot Water Service.

In comparison a 9kg Gas Bottle costs around $23 a fill and you would get between 10-15 BBQ's out of it, dependant on what you are cooking.

Do the sums because unless your BBQ is a solid fuel one I know what my preference would be if trying to save money.

I do think that you should seriously consider the "selling the kids" idea. Yours are very cute. Do you think that if we threw mine in as a job lot we could get a good price (how long is it before they go back to school now??)

Have you considered getting a water wheel fitted to the pool, then as the kids swim round and round you could create your own generator!!!!!

I am just trying to help... honest!

Clare x

That's got to generate a lot of methane.....could be put to good use


perhaps run the bbq?


:blink:

Thank you both for your hmmm very useful suggestions.. :lol:

Made me smile!

Nikki
xx

Hi,

Just had our electric bill in for the period 22nd november - 16th january.... $236.99, we are with AGL

Didn't think that was too bad, especially as we are heavy electric users, even more so when the kids are on school hols...

lorraine

We went through Utility One for gas, electricity & phone & they put us onto Tru energy for gas/elec. & Telstra for phone/broadband. I thought this would be a bit like using U-Switch in the UK but now I'm not so sure :what?: will let you know when the bills hit the mat! :unsure:

we are with the same company. Had first gas bill of $35 for a month then just got first quarter $92 not bad but are still waiting for the electic bill. Dreading this as it will be a five month bill.Spoke to them asking for electric bill several times and quoted the account number but was asked if I was sure the bill wasn't going to a different address. Finally got through to them and still waiting for the bill. Will let you know how much when we finally get it if and when.

Julia :D

Still in UK, just got my quarterly gas & electric £306. Works out about $700 I think, so it doesn't seem too different there. Interesting to note that there are penalties for chaning suppliers, guess you have to get it right first time hey :unsure: