6 ways to lower your bills post winter!

The end of winter can be the light at the end of the tunnel for many Kiwis, especially those who have been facing tough times with their bills. However, post winter often comes with a final sting – the post winter power bill coming to bite! It can be quite eye-watering. If you are one of the unlucky folks who have had a few high power bills, fear not! There are a few things you can do to lower it. 

We have gathered our 6 best tips to lower your power bill and beat the post winter sting. 

1. Compare Power Plans

Comparing your power bill is an effective way to save money and lower your bill. Here at Power Compare, we are on a mission to help Kiwis find the best power plan for their unique needs, by empowering them to make a fully informed decision. Our user-friendly comparison platform makes it easy to compare different power plans available to you so that you can find a better deal, and one that offers better value for your money. Why pay a higher bill, when you can find a cheaper power plan?

Compare Power

2. Invest in Energy Efficient Appliances

You can lower your power consumption significantly by investing in energy efficient appliances. If you have an old fridge, chest freezer, washing machine, or heat pump sitting in your house, it could be the culprit to those high energy bills! Old appliances gobble up a lot of electricity. Upgrade your old appliance to a modern unit with a high energy star rating, and you will notice your power bill reduced. Energy efficient appliances use less energy to do their jobs, meaning you will save money. Jump on PriceMe to get the cheapest price on your new appliance. 

3. Choose Cold Water

Did you know that hot water can consume a lot of energy? So, if you are always running your washing machine on hot water, you may be unnecessarily increasing your energy bill. Modern detergents generally do just as good a job at cleaning your clothes and fabrics. Save money by reserving hot water washes for stained clothes and killing the microbes after you have been sick. It will also help to reduce the length of your showers. You can even try to pause the shower while you shampoo your hair. 

4. Don’t Let Drafts Escape

It takes some time for the winter chill to leave. So, you’ll still be using your heat pump. You don’t want that warm air to escape, making your heat pump work harder and consume more electricity. Check that all your windows and doors seal properly so you can trap in the warm air (or cool air in the summer!). 

5. Unplug Devices When Not In Use

Did you know that standby power, or vampire power, can be a small, yet nasty consumer of power? When you leave a device on at the wall, even when you have turned it “off” it can still consume electricity. For example, the remote control sensor on your TV will be using power so that it is ready to be turned on when you hit the button on the remote control. You can save power by turning your phone charger off at the wall. 

6. Curtains and Rugs

Make sure you close your curtains just before sunset to trap the sun’s heat in your home. Curtains act like a form of insulation, and can prevent you from needing to turn on the heat pump so early in the evening. If you have space, add a rug or two. They can also help trap heat and also keep your feet warm!