An article released by The Sydney Morning Herald reveals the December 2016-2017 Consumer Price Index (CPI) conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), with the figures showing that electricity prices had one of the most significant increases (up by 12.4 per cent) during the period.

If you ever had knots in your stomach before opening a power bill, then should read the below tips on ways to reduce how much electricity or gas your household uses. You might be surprised at the difference just a few small changes can make!

1. Assess how much energy your household consumes?

The first step towards reducing your household energy bills is to look at how much energy you use and tackle it the right way. Look at past energy bills and find patterns in the months (i.e. Summer vs Winter) that utilise the most energy and try to set a goal and aim for it before the next bill comes in.

2. Use appliances wisely

TVs, DVD players, computers, stereos and game consoles still use energy in standby mode. When not in use, switch these appliances off at the wall. They could be responsible for as much as 33% of your energy bill.

Savvy Tip: Use a powerboard. A power board can supply electricity to multiple appliances simultaneously and allows you to switch off all appliances using the same switch.

3. Switch the wall power off

I think we can all say we are all guilty as charged with this one. When not using a particular appliance, switch the wall power off for your own safety and for the benefit of your wallet. Just that little extra bit of effort can save more than 10% of your household electricity use, so get on it.

4. Save energy in the kitchen

No matter if you are cooking with a gas or electricity stovetop or oven top, turn the power off just before the food is done, allowing it to cook with the residual heat from the oven, frypan or pot.

Savvy Tip: Using a lid while cooking can trap the heat in better and also keeps your food from going cold too quickly if you plan to get seconds.

5. Turn your lights & aircon off

When the sun is out, pull the curtains and enjoy the natural sunlight in the house. On summer or winter days, you can try and go to a library or cafe to save on your own energy bills.

Savvy Tip: Shop for energy-saving globes for the house – change your old light globes to compact fluorescent ones.

6. Check energy star ratings

When shopping for a new appliance, such as TV, fridge or heater, look at the energy star rating to help you find the most efficient products and save you money in the long run.