High bill checklist for houses

Very few things in life stay the same. Your energy bills are no different. They can go up and down for reasons that you might not even notice at the time.

These are some common reasons for high bills at home:

The weather can have a huge influence on your home energy use. Air conditioning will boost your energy usage in summer, while the short days and colder temperatures in winter mean you’ll spend more time with the lights, TV, computer, clothes dryer or heater on.

So to really see if your energy use has changed dramatically, we recommend comparing your energy usage (in kWh or MJ) with the same time last year.

If you were with us then, you’ll find your bill charges listed for the same time last year in your Payment history. You can also see a breakdown of your usage in the app or My Account.

The more people you have in your house, the more energy you’re likely to use. That’s why you’ll often see a spike in your energy costs if a friend or relative stays for a few weeks, or if your kids have been home for the holidays.

Has something changed for you recently? Bill increases often come with lifestyle changes like moving to a bigger house, installing a pool, or just from using old appliances that are less energy efficient.

You might be surprised at how much energy some home appliances use. For more information on their usage, take a look at the manual, the manufacturer’s website or its ‘energy efficiency’ label. You’ll find the power rating printed on the back or underneath many appliances or by visiting the Energy Rating website.

Energy bills rarely cover the same exact number of days per billing period. So if you notice a small variation, this could explain it. View your bills to take a closer look.

If you didn’t happen to pay the full amount of your last bill, the remainder will carry over to your next one – and continue to do so if you don’t pay the full amount each month. You can check your account balance in the app or My Account.

Prices increase from time to time. If this is the case, we’ll always let you know. You can check your current bill to see if your prices have recently increased or view our Energy Fact Sheets.

Your meter reader can’t always get to your gas or electricity meter, so sometimes we need to ‘estimate’ your property’s energy usage based on the year before.

For gas and basic meter customers, it's a good idea to check if the high bill you've received is an Estimated bill – you can tell if your bill is based on an estimated or actual reading by looking in the 'Total charges' section. You’ll see either an (A) or (E) after the meter reading numbers, A = actual and E = estimated.

You can share your actual energy usage with us by submitting a meter read, so you're only billed for what you've used.

Your plan, and any discounts it comes with, may have ended. If it has, then it’s time to choose another one. You can find a plan to suit your needs.

You can see which energy plan you’re on by logging onto My Account or looking at the front page of your bill.

If you have an eligible concession card, make sure we have your card details. If we do, you should see a concession amount on your bill. You can add or edit your concession card details through My Account or call us on 13 24 61.

South Australian residents – you can to register your details with the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Western Australia residents – concessions are only available for electricity in WA and we sell gas. Please contact your electricity provider.

We understand that it can be difficult when bills are higher than expected. If you need some help managing your energy bills, speak to our team to learn more about your financial and hardship support options.

For ideas on how to reduce your energy use, check out our energy efficiency tips.

Received a high bill at your workplace? We’ve also put together a checklist for small-to-medium businesses to help you understand fluctuations in your energy bills.