‘I didn’t realise’: The $422 mistake millions of Aussies are making every year

For Chloe Ashton, the wake-up call came in the form of a $1,400 energy bill.

What had started as a few hundred dollars quickly climbed, forcing the 23-year-old to take a closer look at the everyday habits quietly causing the sudden bill-shock.

“I didn’t realise how much electricity actually costs,” she told nine.com.au.

The spike, she said, came down to a few everyday acts that added up, including running a portable air conditioner overnight during the sweltering summer months.

“We both like the room to be super cold when we sleep, so we had the aircon on all night, which definitely chews a bit of energy”, she said.

Like many young Australians, Ashton said she didn’t fully grasp how expensive energy use could be until she had to pay for it herself.

“I honestly feel like you forget that anything that uses power, you’re paying for it,” she said.

Her experience comes as new research from iSelect reveals Australians could be wasting up to $422 a year on avoidable energy use. Nationally, that adds up to as much as $4.2 billion in unnecessary electricity and gas costs annually.

On average, households are wasting between $2.52 and $8.09 a week, roughly the equivalent of a streaming subscription or a small grocery shop.

In high-energy-use states like Victoria and the ACT, households with higher energy waste could be wasting around $9.91 and $11.84 per week, adding up to more than $500 per year.

The data found the biggest culprit is everyday appliance use, which accounts for nearly half of all household electricity consumption. 

Even small things, like leaving devices on standby or running appliances longer than needed, can add up and drive up bills over time.

Heating and cooling are the next major contributors, particularly as Australians rely on air conditioning in summer and heating in winter.

For Ashton, the bill shock prompted a series of changes at home.

“We changed all our lights to LEDs and we’ve started being a lot more mindful about how and when we use the aircon,” she said.

Instead of leaving it running, the couple now uses timers and smart controls to cool the house more efficiently, while also ensuring their pet cat doesn’t overheat when they’re away.

“I can turn it on from my phone and set it for an hour, rather than just leaving it on all day,” she said.

They’ve also started closing blinds early to keep heat out and reduce the need for cooling.

Ashton said the experience has completely changed how she thinks about energy use, explaining, “That was like a bit of a shock… It was definitely a learning curve.” 

Julia Paszka, a General Manager at iSelect, said Aussies can cut costs by comparing energy providers to ensure they’re not overpaying. 

“Cutting avoidable energy waste doesn’t have to be complicated,” she said.

Paszka said turning off appliances at the wall, adjusting temperature settings by a few degrees, running full loads in dishwashers and washing machines and reducing unnecessary heating or cooling can all help. 

For Ashton, the biggest lesson was simple.

“I totally get why my dad used to say, ‘Turn the lights off when you leave the room.’ I’ve been researching more ways to save energy,” she said.