How To Compare Energy Plans And Switch Today

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Smart meters record customer usage and demand in real time and are remotely read in 30 minute intervals. Smart Meters can be linked to in-home devices so that you can make informed decisions about your energy consumption.

The National Electricity Market (NEM) has three types of meters for residential and small business customers: Basic, Interval and Smart. The different types of meters are governed by AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operator) as outlined in Chapter 7 of the NER (National Electricity Rules).

• Basic meter: The majority of residential and small business energy consumers in Australia have their power use measured by Basic Accumulation meters that have limited functionality. This results in them having limited information from which to make informed decisions about their energy usage and costs.
  There are two types of Basic meters - accumulation meters that measure only the total amount of power consumed over a period and are manually read by a meter reader, or Time of Use (ToU) meters that record total usage within set periods. These can be aligned to a Time of Use tariff to enable you to pay lower rates for your off-peak energy usage.
• Interval Time of Use (ToU) meter: These meters record how much power is used every 30 minutes. This means you can have different rates for usage at different times of the day, depending on the tariff you sign up to with your energy retailer. Some of the benefits of interval meters include more detailed information on your energy use and the opportunity for pricing plans that provide incentives to reduce your demand for electricity power during peak times. You can make some significant savings by choosing a plan with discounts for off-peak energy usage.



• Smart Meters, also known as Advanced Meters (AMI): These metres track consumption in real time so you can stay in control of your energy usage. You also need a market meter if you have solar panels to record how much energy you feed back into the grid.
  
  If you’re not sure which type of meter you have, you can take a look at your bill or give CheapBills a call to find the best energy rates to use with your meter.

You can practice these 5 free and easy strategies to lower your energy costs.

The single biggest source of energy consumption in Australian homes is cooling and heating, so it’s the best place to start to make some significant energy savings.

Make sure you set your thermostat to the recommended temperature - every degree you vary from these ranges increases your energy consumption by 5% to 10%.

• Set your air-conditioning thermostats between 25°C and 27°C during the summer.
• Set your heating thermostats between 18°C and 20°C during the winter.
• Keep interior doors closed, and only heat or cool the rooms you are using.

Energy Providers Compare Tip:The best power rates for a large cooling or heating system could be a controlled load tariff. Talk to a CheapBIlls expert to find energy Australia plans with the best energy prices to save you money.

Your windows could be letting up to 40% of your home’s heat escape and having a huge negative impact on your energy efficiency in the process. Use your curtains and blinds to reduce heat loss and lessen the strain on your heating and cooling systems.

• In the winter, while your heater is on, open your curtains to let the sun in and close them before it becomes dark to trap the heat during the cold evenings and nights.
• In the summer, close your curtains during the hottest part of the day to protect your home from the hot sun and open your curtains and windows at night.

Home appliances can make up to 30% of your energy bill. To be more energy efficient try:

• Air-drying clothes instead of using a dryer.
• Shorten the pool filter's runtime to the manual's recommended safe level.
• Cover pots with lids while cooking and use just enough water in the kettle and cooking vessels.
• When not in use, turn off extra refrigerators and freezers and consider getting rid of them.

Any device plugged into the wall is using power, often referred to as “zombie” or “vampire” power because it is sucking up your home’s energy without actually powering a device. Even when your phone is not connected, your mobile phone charger is still using energy. When you're not using an appliance, make sure you turn it off at the wall. This is a simple approach to energy savings, but it makes a big difference over time.

You should try to only use the dryer or washing machine at full capacity, wash your items in cold water and use a spin cycle before drying. Whenever you can hang your clothes outside to dry, instead of using a dryer.

If you have to use the dryer, never put damp and dripping clothes in and clean the lint filter regularly so that your dryer can work at its maximum efficiency.

Compare Energy Company Tip: When you choose energy providers compare their off-peak rates and try to run your laundry during your retailer's off-peak times to save money.

There are two primary categories of energy plans offered by retailers in Australia:

Every retailer is legally obliged to have a standing offer available to customers, often called the “Basic” or “standard” plan. When you compare energy company rates for a standing offer they are usually equivalent to the government’s regulated price cap and more expensive than a market offer. If you are on a standing offer, your retailer is only permitted to change the rate once every six months.

• In Victoria, standing offers are based on the state government’s Victorian Default Offer (VDO). Read more about it here: Energy Compare Prices - VDO.
• In New South Wales, South-East Queensland, South Australia, ACT and Tasmania, standing offers are based on the Default Market Offer. Read more about it here: Energy Compare Prices - DMO.

A market offer is a plan that includes discounts, special offers and promotions from the retailer. The terms of the offer usually last between 6 and 12 months, at which point you will automatically be transferred to your provider's standing offer.

Market offers can include a range of benefits, including:

• A discount on usage rates
• A discount on the daily supply charge
• Incentives for paying on time
• Rewards points
• Discounts from partner companies
• Bundle options for gas, internet and home entertainment
• Fixed or variable rates
• No lock-in contracts

When you look at different retailers’ energy bills compare each of these factors to find the cheapest option for you for the duration of your contract.

CheapBills is a 100% free energy comparison tool that can compare energy prices in your area. We can help you find the best energy providers Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and throughout Australia in every deregulated energy market.

In one easy phone call, we can recommend a plan from one of our preferred providers to help you save money when you compare energy bills.

There are also online government resources available for comparing energy prices that can help you find a low rate for energy in your area. Click here to find out more: Energy Compare Australia.

When you compare power rates you may also be interested in finding a plan that reduces your carbon footprint. Your retailer uses power from the national grid to power your home. The grid is made up of energy from both coal-fired power plants and renewable energy sources, so a retailer can't choose where your energy comes from.

However, many retailers are making huge improvements in their environmental impact by offering carbon-neutral or GreenPower plans.

• Carbon-neutral plans - your retailer will purchase carbon credits to offset the amount of carbon used to power your home.
• GreenPower plans - your retailer will buy an amount of energy from renewable energy sources that is equivalent to the amount you use in your home.

Talk to a CheapBills expert to find out more about renewable and green energy options from our panel of preferred suppliers, or read more here.

Given the competitive nature of the Australian energy market, energy providers will go the extra mile to provide exceptional service to earn customers' trust and loyalty.

Energy Compare Australia Tip:The best way to find out more about a provider's customer service and reliability is to look for existing customer reviews on Google, Facebook or Trustpilot to read firsthand accounts of customers’ experiences with the company.

When you compare energy bills with CheapBills, you can rest assured that we only partner with suppliers with exceptional service track records.