With no relief on the cards from high electricity prices, it could be time to identify where you could be saving on your energy use. 

While you may know some of the main energy-suckers (we’re looking at you, aircon), you might not know just how much power they use.

Here are some of the top household appliances that may be eating up your power bill, and how to use them efficiently to help cut down on costs.

What’s the average electricity bill in Australia?

A survey of more than 4,100 households by financial comparison site Canstar Blue identified the average quarterly electricity bills across the states and territories.

But keep in mind the cost of electricity in Australia can vary significantly depending on location, consumption, and energy providers.

Here’s the state-by-state breakdown, ranked from cheapest to the most expensive:

SOURCE: Canstar Blue. Research conducted in December 2023 for households of all sizes. Northern Territory excluded due to insufficient data

The big energy users in your home

So what appliances are sucking up all that energy?

Here’s which parts of your home use the most power so you can see where you may be able to make some savings.

The data was obtained from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, and the SA Department of Energy and Mining.

Heating/cooling — 40 per cent

It’s no surprise heating and cooling tops the list — we’re suckers for turning the air conditioner on when it’s too hot, and the heater on when it’s freezing.

In the summertime, try using a fan before switching on the air conditioner.

They are cheap to run at only around 2 cents per hour.

But if you find it’s so hot and humid that an air conditioner is desperately needed, try to set the temperature between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius.

The Energy Efficiency Council says each degree below this can increase your electricity bill by as much as 15 per cent.

If you’re looking to use the heating, set it between 18C and 20C.

But if you’re trying to keep cool, you could also combine your air conditioner with a fan. 

Instead of having the air conditioner on a low temperature, set it a bit higher and move the air around with a fan.

This could save you 70 per cent of your electricity usage, according to research by Ollie Jay, a professor of heat and health at the University of Sydney.

“If you move air more in an indoor environment, the temperature at which you [feel like you’re too hot] is hotter,” Professor Jay says. 

“So you feel the same at 23 degrees with still air as you will at 27 degrees with air moving, because we’re cooling the person, instead of cooling the air.”

And remember, if you’re heating or cooling a room, close off the areas that you’re not using.

Choice product category manager Chris Barnes has a few other cost-saving tips:

• Stop draughts and seal air leaks
• Clean the aircon regularly to help it run efficiently
• Use reverse-cycle aircons rather than gas heaters or portable electric heaters

Hot water — 25 per cent

Let’s break our water usage down even further.

This time, the data comes from Sydney Water:

• Showers use 26 per cent of a household’s water consumption
• Toilets use 20 per cent
• Washing machines use 12 per cent
• Inside taps use 12 per cent
• Bath tubs use 6 per cent
• Dishwashers use 1 per cent

So what’s the best way to reduce your hot water consumption?

Mr Barnes says it’s all about the shower.

“Have shorter showers [4 minutes or less], and install a low-flow shower head.”

The SA Department of Energy says some shower heads can use up to 25 litres of water a minute — so try installing one that uses 9 litres instead.

You may also find that replacing your old hot water system with a more efficient model could reduce your running costs.

“Check your hot water system occasionally to make sure it’s not leaking and that the exposed hot water pipes are properly insulated, as this can perish over time,” Mr Barnes says.

Electronics — 14 per cent

This includes appliances and devices such as:

• TVs
• Computers
• Gaming consoles
• Music and entertainment systems
• Home office equipment

And if you’re curious how much a 43-59 inch TV costs to run for 10 hours per day for 90 days, here’s that info:

• LED: $18-$81
• LCD: $18-$108
• Plasma: $27-$126