This winter take the heat out of your energy bills by following some practical energy saving tips from AGL Energy (AGL) and tracking your winter energy usage on AGL’s newly released mobile app.

Winter energy bills are the highest of the year with Australians using more electricity to stay warm in winter (daily average 16.5 KWh during winter 2014) than they do to stay cool in summer (daily average 14.3 KWh during summer 2014/2015) (1).  Gas bills also spike in winter.

In most states, electricity usage increases by around 10 percent (1). Gas usage more than doubles for the chillier states (South Australia and Victoria), while consumers in New South Wales and Queensland experience a modest increase in their gas bills.   

AGL’s new mobile app lets customers track their energy consumption and smart meter electricity customers can also set up usage alerts. The app has a great selection of practical, seasonal energy savings tips to help consumers to lower their bills. AGL customers can also monitor their energy usage through My AGL IQ, a free online energy tracking tool.

General Manager of Marketing & Residential Customers, Mark Brownfield, said following a few simple tips will help keep your energy costs under control this winter.

“As the weather gets colder, it is tempting to turn up the heating to warm your home quickly. However, setting your heater’s thermostat to between 18°C and 20°C, rather than higher, will have a significant impact on your winter energy bill. Every 1°C higher can increase your heating costs by up to 10 percent.

“It’s also important to only heat rooms you are using. Closing doors to bathrooms and laundries will also help lower your heating costs.

“Another easy and affordable way to make your home more comfortable and reduce your heating costs is to seal gaps and cracks in external walls, floors and ceilings. This can be done using draught stoppers or door snakes. Closing blinds, curtains, windows and doors on chilly days will also stop heat escaping outside,” said Mr Brownfield.

Five ways to keep your energy costs under control this winter

1. Take it down a notch. Set your heater's thermostat to between 18°C and 20°C. Every 1°C higher could increase your heater’s running costs by up to 10 percent. If your heater has a timer, make a note of when people are normally home during the day and set it to activate only during these periods.

2. Seal all leaks and save. Heat can escape through cracks around doors, windows, and electrical outlets. Draught proofing your home is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of lowering energy costs.

3. Using rugs and carpets on slab floors can help retain heat in your home, increasing the effectiveness of your heating. Limit the use of portable electric fan heaters wherever possible.

4. Shut the door on wasted energy. Closing doors to rooms that don't need heating (like bathrooms and the laundry) can prevent up to 75 percent of heat loss.

5. Using a clothes airer to dry clothes rather than an electric clothes dryer will also help lower your energy usage.


(1) Source: AGL Customer data based on the National Energy Market (NEM).


About AGL:

AGL is one of Australia's leading integrated energy companies and is the largest ASX listed owner, operator and developer of renewable energy generation in the country. Drawing on over 175 years of experience, AGL operates retail and merchant energy businesses, power generation assets and an upstream gas portfolio. AGL has one of Australia's largest retail energy and dual fuel customer bases. AGL has a diverse power generation portfolio including base, peaking and intermediate generation plants, spread across traditional thermal generation as well as renewable sources including hydro, wind, landfill gas and biomass. AGL is taking action toward creating a sustainable energy future for investors, communities and customers.


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