We bathe and swim in it, we freeze it to cool our drinks, and our bodies are mostly made from it. What are we talking about? Water, of course.

We take water for granted when we turn on the tap, yet we wouldn’t last long without it. And because water is so important to our health and lifestyles, shouldn’t it be of the best possible quality?

Filtered water from every outlet

Complete Home Filtration is an Australian-founded company, and its Adelaide-based team has firsthand knowledge of SA’s unique water challenges.

Complete Home Filtration founder and Managing Director Suzanne Dodds says customised, whole-home filtration systems are designed to tackle SA’s hard water and remove impurities.

“This gives you clean, fresh and great-tasting water from every tap in your house,” Suzanne says. “It’s also perfect if you have health problems, such as asthma or sensitive skin.”

When you install a Complete Home Filtration system, all the water entering your home goes through four stages of filtration.

“The pre-filter removes larger particles like sand, silt and rust,” Suzanne says.

“Subsequent filters can be customised to your needs – focused on removing unwanted chemicals like pesticides, chlorine, heavy metals, and excessive minerals like magnesium and calcium.

“Bathing in filtered water helps protect your skin and hair from harsh chemicals, leaving skin softer, less irritated, while helping your hair feel smoother, stronger, and more vibrant over time.”

What sort of system do I need?

There’s no one-size-fits-all filtration solution. Complete Home Filtration will give you a free consultation to see which system and what customisable options best suit your home’s water and your family’s needs.

Complete Home Filtration will test your local water quality, assess your water usage, and note any other specific requirements, including the best place to put your unit.

“With easy installation, minimal maintenance, and a system tailored to your home’s needs, a Complete Home Filtration solution makes it simple to elevate your water quality and support your family’s health and wellbeing,” Suzanne says.

Complete Home Filtration will even stay in touch with you after installation to ensure you have clean water for your home, for life.

“Even if you already have filtered drinking water, a Complete Home Filtration system offers a range of additional benefits that make it a worthwhile investment for SA households,” Suzanne says.

“From protecting your water-based appliances and tapware to improving your skin, hair, and laundry, you’ll take your water to the next level.”

How do I get cleaner water?

Book an in-home consultation today and turbocharge your water quality. RAA members save 10 per cent on whole-home filtration systems and replacement filters.

Disclaimer: This advertorial contains general advice from Complete Home Filtration. It does not consider individual circumstances.

The post Filter the bad, keep the good appeared first on samove.com.au.

When we turn on the kitchen lights or press start on the microwave, we don’t usually think about why they work. They just do.

But there are complex costs behind our readily available electricity. And like all costs, they’re subject to change. It’s easy to feel confused but read on and we’ll help demystify it for you.

There are key components that make up the cost of transmitting power to our houses and businesses. They include the price of wholesale electricity, labour and material costs, government schemes and maintaining the network’s poles and wires. These costs can change according to economic and market conditions, and the changes flow through to our power bills.

Who has the final say?

Each year, energy authorities such as the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) review the costs of electricity generation and transmission across certain states and regions. After the review, the AER updates the Default Market Offer.

What’s the Default Market Offer?

The Default Market Offer (DMO) serves as a safety-net price for electricity and protects consumers from excessively high prices on standing-offer contracts. The DMO is a reference price against other electricity offers, which makes it easier for consumers to shop around and see if they’re getting a good deal.

The AER has updated the DMO – effective 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 and known as DMO 8 – in South Australia. For residential customers on a flat-rate tariff, the DMO has increased by 1.4 per cent. For customers on a time-of-use tariff, the DMO has decreased by 1.1 per cent. 

The change to your bill may also depend on whether your plan includes a controlled load, which is usually separately metered on large appliances, such as hot water systems, pool pumps and underfloor heating.

What’s happening in South Australia?

Here are the changes for each component in SA, which show how the AER calculated the 1.4% increase (flat rate) to the DMO across 2026-27.

Wholesale energy costs (1.9 per cent decrease)
Average: 36.1per cent of your bill
This is based on the price energy retailers pay to buy electricity from generators. Wholesale costs have come down slightly this year as contract prices eased compared with last year.

Network costs 8.6 per cent increase)
Average: 41.7 per cent of your bill
Network costs are the biggest part of your bill and have increased this year. This is mainly due to how the cost is calculated; the AER now factors in the growing number of households with smart meters, which are charged a different network rate. This has pushed up the network cost component for flat-rate customers. 

Environmental costs (35.3 per cent decrease)
Average: 2.0 per cent of your bill
These costs have decreased for all customers, mainly due to decreases in government renewable energy target schemes.

Retail costs (1.4 per cent decrease)
Average: 14.1 per cent of your bill
Retail costs have come down slightly this year, reflecting lower day-to-day operating costs reported by retailers. These savings are partly offset by the growing cost of smart meter installations. 

Retail margin (1.4 per cent increase)
Average: 6 per cent of your bill
The increase in overall costs has affected the retail margin, which is set at 6.0 per cent of the DMO price for residential customers; this means changes elsewhere have a flow-on effect.

Dig a bit deeper

Of course, we’ve only skimmed the surface of this topic. If you’d like to learn more, you can read the AER’s May 2026 final determination on DMO prices here.

Summary of changes

The table below summarises the year-on-year movement in each cost component for SA residential flat-rate customers. 

Note: All figures are annual, inclusive of GST, and based on 4,000 kWh usage. Source: AER DMO 8 Final Determination, May 2026. 

The post Why do electricity prices change? appeared first on samove.com.au.

An energy-efficient house equals savings on your power bills. If you’re renting, you can’t necessarily make drastic alterations to your place, but there are ways you can save energy around your rental, with your landlord’s approval, of course.

1. It’s curtains for your power bill

Heating and cooling your house accounts for about 40 per cent of your household energy use. You’re paying big dollars for this comfort, so you don’t want it going to waste.

One way to help keep the heat in during winter and out during summer is by hanging block-out curtains around the windows and keeping them closed when the heating or cooling is on. These thick curtains block light, insulate against draughts and help prevent heat transfer through the window glass.

Even better, you can probably use a removable adhesive hook to hang the curtains without drilling or damaging the walls. Just make sure the hooks are rated to carry the weight of the rod and curtains.

2. Learn to love snakes

Another way to keep warm air where you want it is to block draughts around floorboards, doors, windows and skirting boards. Door snakes or rolled-up towels are a cheap way of blocking gaps under doors. It sounds simple, but it works. Rugs are also effective at reducing air flow through the floor, helping you save on heating and cooling costs.

In summer, stick some specially formulated reflective film on the inside of western-facing windows that cop the brunt of the afternoon sun. This reduces heat gain significantly, plus it’s removable, so it shouldn’t upset your landlord. You can also buy cheap and effective self-adhesive weather strips for doors and windows.

3. Splish splash, I was takin’ a… shower

After heating and cooling, hot water is the second biggest energy hog in most homes. There’s nothing like an invigorating shower to start or finish your day; but if you have an old-fashioned, water-guzzling shower head, expect a huge bump in your energy and water bills.

Some shower heads pump out 15 litres of water per minute, but according to the Australian Government, switching to a six-litres-per-minute model can save a family of four about 105,000 litres of water per year and approximately $315.

That’s not the only saving either. Just think how much energy you’re using heating that extra water. The good news is that most modern low-flow shower heads are comparable or superior to the water wasters on the market and installing them is non-permanent and DIY, so a plumber isn’t required.

4. See yourself in the right light

Got any incandescent or halogen light bulbs at home? Well, as Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman sang so tunefully, it’s time to say goodbye. LED light bulbs use 75 per cent to 90 per cent less energy than their halogen and incandescent counterparts.

LED light bulbs are also much cheaper these days, so when you buy them you’ll usually get your money back in long-term savings. Keep old light bulbs so you can put them back and take the LEDs with you when you move house.

Replacing non-LED downlights is more complicated. Along with the up-front purchase price, they typically require a licensed electrician to install them, so the costs add up. Reach out to your landlord if you want to explore that option.

If you’re renting your home for the long haul – and you have a good relationship with your landlord – they might even give the go ahead if you chip in for the lights and installation.

5. Some oldies (but goodies)

Although these apply whether you rent or own, here are some timely reminders about everyday energy savings you can make at home.

• Switch off unused appliances at the wall; they’re secretly using power, even in standby mode.
• Set the thermostat between 23C and 26C in summer and between 18C and 20C in winter.
• If you’re on a time-of-use tariff, use energy outside peak periods.
• Cook smaller meals in microwaves, air fryers or toaster ovens instead of your main oven.
• Use ceiling or pedestal fans on their own or in conjunction with your aircon; they improve its efficiency and are much cheaper to run.
• Shop around for a better energy plan.

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Preparing your home for winter can go a long way to keeping you toasty day and night – and maybe a lower power bill too. Here are five ways to prep your home for winter.

1. Swap out the summer bedding

Good sleep is vital to our health and wellbeing, so it pays to get your sleep environment right. In winter, that means staying warm without overheating, to prevent disrupting a good night’s rest.

That thin quilt, doona, duvet – whatever’s your preferred term – might cut it in February, but it won’t fit the bill when the mercury dips closer to zero. You can buy a huge range of quilts (that’s what this author calls them) in materials including wool, cotton, bamboo and goose down. Check the GSM (grams per square metre) rating – the higher the number, the warmer the quilt. A GSM of 500 or more is a solid winter choice.

As with dressing for the cold, layers give you options. Combine your comfy quilt with flannelette, cotton or linen sheets and a removable blanket until you find your ideal setup. An electric blanket is also worth considering because it heats your bed rather than the whole room, making it cheaper than running a heater. Just remember to switch it off before you drift off to sleep.

2. Check your smoke alarms

Colder weather means you’re using heating appliances and fireplaces more often, so now’s the time to check your battery powered and hard-wired smoke alarms. Vacuum them to remove sensor-blocking dust, change the battery, then press and hold the test button for five to ten seconds. No loud siren means the alarm’s expired or faulty and needs replacing. If the alarm is at least ten years old, install a new one, as sensors lose sensitivity over time. Get a qualified professional to help you if you’re unsure how to install a fire alarm.

For fireplace owners, have the chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional before first use, as creosote build-up can create a fire hazard. Check the damper opens and closes properly and look for any cracks in the flue. It’s also worth stocking up on firewood early and storing it somewhere dry. Demand for wood picks up quickly once the cold sets in, and so do wait times.

3. Clear your gutters

Despite being Australia’s driest state, SA gets its share of heavy downpours. Clogged gutters, downpipes and drains can overflow and cause internal water damage, so clear out any autumn debris, or hire a professional to do it for you.

While you’re outside, trim any tree branches that could come down in high winds and check exterior timbers for cracking or rot. Barbecues, outdoor furniture and anything else you’d rather keep dry should be moved undercover where they’re less likely to take a battering.

4. Wake up your heating from its long nap

Like a car, your heater needs regular servicing to perform at its best. Before winter arrives, have your heater professionally serviced to ensure filters are clean and it’s running efficiently. If you have a gas heater, have a qualified gasfitter inspect the appliance to make sure it’s working effectively and there aren’t any carbon monoxide leaks.

If you have ceiling fans, see if they have a winter mode and switch them over. This’ll help keep the warm air closer to the floor where you need it most and will also help cut your energy bills by increasing your heater’s efficiency.

5. Say goodbye to draughts

Draughts are prolific heat thieves, making your heater have to work harder – hello higher power bills. Look for gaps around windows, doors, skirting boards or anywhere else the cold air could be coming in the house. A candle can help here. If it flickers, you’ve probably found a draught. Reseal gaps with a caulking gun or attach self-adhesive weather seals around window frames to help block draughts. A door sweep with a rubber guard is one way to reduce the amount of air rushing under the doors from outside.

Inside, use door snakes or rolled-up towels to block cold air from unheated rooms. Consider rugs and carpets to cover gaps in the floorboards and ventilation covers that help stop warm air escaping through vents and exhaust fans.

Get some trusted help

Don’t want to do it yourself? RAA Trade Assist can connect you with qualified tradies for gutter cleaning, roof checks, smoke alarm installations, painting, air-con servicing, general maintenance and more.

The post Winter’s coming; is your home ready? appeared first on samove.com.au.

American statesman Benjamin Franklin once wrote that death and taxes were the only two certainties in life. If he were still with us, he’d probably add a third – electricity bills.

We can’t help with the first two, but you can save energy and money with these 20 tips.

1. Switch off

Switch off unused appliances at the wall. They’re secretly using energy, even in standby mode, so unplug appliances such as TVs, microwaves and gaming consoles when they’re not being used.

2. Upgrade your pump

If you have a pool, upgrade to a more energy-efficient pump, particularly if it’s getting a bit old. Look for one with dual, multi or variable speeds and run it outside of peak hours if possible.

3. Cold wash

Most laundry detergents work just as well – if not better – in cold water. Wash your clothes on the cold setting where possible; as a bonus, you’re less likely to shrink them or dull their colours.

4. Shorter showers

Hot water is a big energy hog, so try to limit your showers to four minutes and install low-flow shower heads. With some models, you wouldn’t even know they’re low flow.

5. Solar savings

If your bills are soaring, consider whether a rooftop solar system (with or without battery) is right for your circumstances. RAA provides free quotes and members can save 10 per cent.

6. Don’t overboil

Don’t overfill the kettle before you boil water. Only add the amount you need; and if you’re making a nice cuppa for one, don’t fill the kettle past the minimum level indicator.

7. Energy ratings

When buying a new appliance, choose one with the highest number of stars on its Energy Rating Label. The more stars an appliance has, the more energy efficient it is compared to similar products.

8. Dryer limits

Drying your clothes in the open air is free (and quick in summer), so avoid overusing your dryer. Try to limit the dryer to items you need quickly or that take longer to dry, such as bedding and towels.

9. Seal the gaps

Keep the hot air out in summer and the warm air inside in winter by stopping draughts. Seal gaps around doors, skirting boards, floors and windows and use door snakes where you can.

10. Thermostat tweaks

Heating and cooling contribute about 40 per cent to your electricity bill. In summer, set the thermostat between 23C and 26C and in winter between 18C and 20C. Each degree either way can increase your bill by about 15 per cent.

11. Rug up inside

When it’s cold, reach for a jumper instead of the heater’s on switch. Dress warmer inside and you can turn the heating down or off. At night, use thicker bedding instead of having the heater on while you sleep.

12. Dishwasher demeanour

Run your dishwasher with a full load. See if eco-mode will wash the dishes to your satisfaction or let them air dry with the door slightly ajar.

13. Fridge efficiency

Buy a suitably sized fridge for your space and needs. For maximum efficiency, it needs a gap around the sides, back and top of between 5cm and 8cm and should be about 80 per cent full. Ditch the drinks fridge if you don’t need it – it’s probably costing you a small fortune to run.

14. Tariff timing

If your electricity contract has a time-of-use tariff, use energy outside peak times. It’s typically cheaper to run appliances, like your washing machine or dishwasher, during the shoulder (10am to 4pm) and off-peak (12am to 6am) periods.

15. Close them up

Use your curtains and blinds to keep heat out, or in. In summer, up to 30 per cent of unwanted heat can enter through windows, so your air-conditioner will have to work harder to keep the house cool.

16. Insulation ideas

Insulation in your roof and walls helps keep in the heat in winter and out in summer and generally has a 15 to 20-year life span. Have someone inspect your insulation thoroughly and replace any that’s wet, dirty, dusty or compressed.

17. Meal methods

Avoid using the oven where possible, especially if you’re cooking something small. Microwaves, air fryers and slow cookers are a considerably more energy-efficient way to cook or reheat your meal.

18. LED logic

Install light emitting diode (LED) bulbs or downlights. They use about 75 per cent less energy than halogen light bulbs and last much longer.

19. Fan philosophies

Ceiling and pedestal fans can cost peanuts to run and may be enough to cool you down. You can also use them with your air-conditioner to make it work more efficiently.

20. Shop around

Don’t assume your current energy contract is the best you’ll find. In 2024, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that 79 per cent of residential customers could be paying less for their electricity. So, jump online or pick up the phone to shop around.

The post Power savers appeared first on samove.com.au.

Like all living organisms, ants play a role in our ecosystems. But they belong outside – not scurrying around the kitchen sink or setting up camp in the bathroom.

SA has several species of space-invading ants, including the black house ant, the ghost ant and the coastal brown ant.

Ants aren’t just annoying; they can contaminate your food and even start electrical fires. But you can take steps to prevent them from coming into your house or booting them out if they’ve made themselves at home.

Ants not welcome here

Common to all ants is their ongoing need for water and food, especially sugary and fatty foods. Leave traces of their favourite foods and they might start marching into your house and putting down chemical trails so their mates can join the party.

First, the kitchen. Keep the floors and benches crumb-free and clean up spills immediately. Try lemon and vinegar sprays as they’re natural deterrents and help break up the chemical trails.

Put sweet items, such as sugar, honey and maple syrup, and fatty foods, such as peanut butter (an ant favourite) in an airtight container. Place fried foods, nuts, and meat in the fridge to protect them from ants. Empty your rubbish bin regularly and don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.

If you feed your dog or cat inside, only give them an amount of food they’ll eat in one go, and if it’s outside, keep the feed bowl well away from the house. If your pet has leftovers (no such thing if you own a golden retriever), surround the feed bowl with a moat to help prevent ants from accessing it.

Get plugging

According to Complete Pest Control, ants can enter your home via cracks and crevices, especially during the warmer months. They can also establish nests in the ceiling or wall cavities before long.

Try to follow the ant trails to see where they’re entering your house. Check doors, windows, walls and any other gaps where they could be or are getting in and seal them. Silicone is ideal for smaller gaps but if you find bigger entry points, you may be able to use an expanding polyurethane spray foam.

Ants are attracted to damp areas, so repair any leaking taps or pipes. They can also nest in mulch and woodpiles so keep them away from your house’s foundations. Another trick is to keep tree branches and shrubs trimmed and at least 30cm from the house – any closer and tree-based ants can build a bridge to gain access.

Eradicate the ‘ten-ants’

When all else fails, it’s time to pull out the big guns. The only way to get rid of ants permanently is to destroy the nest and, depending on the infestation’s severity, a do-it-yourself solution is worth a try first.

You’ll find a variety of ant baits and treatments at your local hardware store or nursery, so try a few to see which works best. Dust and spray-based treatments can be applied directly to the nest; spraying windows and doors with insect sprays can also be done to prevent ants from entering the house. Granular, liquid and gel-based baits attract ants with the aim of destroying the queen and larvae.

If you’re looking for a home remedy, mixing borax with sugar and water to create a paste can be effective. The ants will take the mixture back to the nest and the borax will kill them. If you find the nest outside, pouring boiling water into it can help, but it may only be a temporary solution.

If you’re still having trouble with ant infestations, it may be best to call a pest control company to assess your property and provide a targeted solution.

The post 3 ways to an ant-free home appeared first on samove.com.au.

Oh, no, the power’s out. No heating or cooling, no Wi-Fi (the horror) and only candles to light the darkness. What about all the food in the fridge and freezer?

Along with the inconvenience, blackouts create health risks because fridge and freezer temperatures slowly rise. Bacteria and other nasties can start to grow and the risk of food poisoning increases. To improve your chances of staying healthy, follow these important steps.

Check the time

When the power goes out, note the time and record how long the outage lasts. The Australian Institute of Food Safety says your food will remain safe in the fridge during an outage for about two hours. If the outage lasts four hours or longer, you’ll need to throw out certain foods, but more on that later.

Generally, the following rules apply.

• If the power was out for less than two hours, you can use or refrigerate the food immediately.
• Between two hours and four hours, use the food immediately but don’t refrigerate.
• If the power was out for more than four hours, you must throw the food out.

If you’re unsure how long the blackout lasted, throwing out the food is the safest option.

During the outage

These tips will help preserve the food in your fridge and freezer while the power’s out.

• Avoid opening your fridge and freezer doors to help the appliance stay colder.
• If there’s space in the freezer, stock it with food from the fridge after two hours.
• If your freezer’s full, use a sealed esky filled with evenly placed ice bricks or frozen gel packs.
• If practical, take your food to a relative or friend and store it in their fridge or freezer.
• If you’re using an electric stove when the power goes out, throw out any partially cooked food if cooking can’t be completed within two hours; if the food was already properly cooked, either eat it within two hours or throw it out.

After the blackout

Thank goodness, the power’s back on. Now that you’re back in the 21^st century, it’s time to carefully check the food items in your fridge and freezer.

Fridge

• Throw out any food – particularly raw meat – that shows any signs of spoilage, such as discolouration, a slimy texture or putrid odours, regardless of the length of the blackout.
• Discard potentially hazardous food that’s been in the fridge for four hours or longer. This includes raw and cooked meats, dairy, poultry, seafood, creamy dressings, dips, soft cheeses, leftovers and processed meats, such as ham.
• Refrigerated items such as hard cheeses, salted butter, ketchup, mustard, fruits and vegetables are usually safe to use – regardless of the blackout time – but always err on the side of caution
• Never taste food to check whether it’s safe to eat.

Freezer

Frozen food in a full, properly sealed freezer at minus 15 degrees Celsius or below can keep for up to 48 hours. That time reduces to 24 hours if the freezer is only half full. 

• If the items in your freezer are still frozen hard and have ice crystals on the inside of the packaging, you can refreeze them.
• If any frozen food has signs of freezer burn from being thawed and then refrozen, discard the item.

Planned outage

If an extended outage is scheduled for your area, plan ahead.

• If possible, store your food with friends or relatives before the outage begins.
• Avoid buying food – or consume any that you already have – that needs freezing or refrigeration until your power is back on.
• Set your fridge and freezer to their coldest settings but remove fruit and vegetables from the fridge first to avoid spoilage.
• Have ice bricks or large blocks of ice in the freezer ready to use.
• Put appropriate items from your fridge into the freezer for later use.

Remember, if in doubt throw it out. It might seem wasteful but it’s better than making yourself or others sick.

Note: This article is a guide only. You’ll find plenty more information at SA Health or the Food Safety Information Council.

The post Power’s off: what about your food? appeared first on samove.com.au.

SA’s January 2026 heatwave was brutal, but most summers are hot across our state.

When the heatwaves hit, your air-conditioning becomes your best friend. Let’s look at how much it costs to beat the heat.

According to the South Australian Government, heating and cooling your house can account for about 40 per cent of your electricity costs and setting your air-con too low or using it inefficiently will spike your next bill. No surprise. It’s a bit like putting Christmas gifts on your credit card. Nothing to pay now, but a bigger bill later.

But a hot house is not only uncomfortable, it’s potentially harmful if you’re younger, older or have health issues. So, whether your air-con is on day and night or only when it’s necessary, what are the running costs, and how can you save money by using it more efficiently?

How do I calculate running costs?

To work out the hourly cost for any appliance, find out its input power in kilowatts (kW) and the electricity rate you’re paying in cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). Then, use the following formula.

Hourly cost = Power (kW) x Rate ($/kWh)

If you’d rather not get out your pencil and paper, this handy online calculator makes it easier. You can also use it to calculate how much your other appliances cost to run. We’ve used this formula to calculate the energy usage of three different air-conditioners: ducted refrigerated, evaporative and split system.

Note: We’ve based these costs on a maximum draw (peak cost) scenario, not an average real-world cost. This is a common and widely accepted method for estimating appliance running costs, used by many government energy calculators. However, an air-con switching off and on intermittently to maintain temperature will use less power on average.

Ducted refrigerated systems are a popular way to cool and heat your house, but they typically use the most energy. Based on a peak rate of 53 cents per kWh, a 12kW ducted refrigerated system costs about $6.36 per hour to run. A 15kW system sees the cost rise to $7.95 per hour, and an 18kW about $9.54.

If we use a shoulder rate of, say, 23 cents per kWh (yes, it can be that much cheaper), those hourly costs drop to $2.76, $3.45 and $4.14 respectively. The shoulder rate typically applies between 10am and 4pm, so it costs significantly less to use electricity during those hours.

Evaporative systems direct hot air through water-soaked pads to cool your home and push it out through an open door or window. They’re generally more energy efficient than refrigerated systems and ideal in SA’s dry heat, but less effective in high humidity. We’ve used the energy input for a typical ducted evaporative system, but you can also buy portable units.

At 53 cents per kWh, a 0.5kW evaporative system costs $0.27 per hour, a 1kW is $0.53 and a 2kW system costs $1.06.

At 23 cents per kWh, those respective hourly costs drop to $0.12, $0.23, and $0.46.

Split system air conditioners are a non-ducted refrigerated system, most effective in smaller spaces. They’re usually energy efficient and many models heat as well as cool rooms.

With a 53 cents per kWh rate, a 3kW split system costs $1.59 per hour to run; a 4kW unit is $2.12 and 5kW is $2.65.

A 23 cents per kWh rate drops those hourly costs to $0.69, $0.92 and $1.15 respectively.

For the exercise above, we used two different rates per kWh but check your latest electricity bill to see what you’re paying. If you’re on a time-of-use tariff, your electricity is likely cheaper during the shoulder and off-peak periods. Contact your retailer if you’re not sure.

Shop around

If you’re shopping for a new air conditioner, speak to a professional first. The heating and cooling capacity and energy consumption are only part of your decision, but you can check the Energy Rating Label online. The more stars, the more energy efficient the appliance.

How do I cut my air-con costs?

Try these tips and tricks to make your air-con work more efficiently and cut your electricity bills.

• Set your thermostat between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius during the day and around 22°C at night; each degree lower can add up to 15 per cent to your bill.
• Let your refrigerated air-con run, rather than turning it on and off; if you have a modern unit with an inverter, it will adjust its output efficiently to maintain the temperature.
• Use pedestal or ceiling fans to help circulate the cool air; fans typically cost a few cents an hour to run and make your air-con more efficient.
• Close doors, windows and blinds and use door snakes to keep the hot air out; service or clean your air-con’s filters at least once a year to improve their efficiency.
• Compare your energy plan and be prepared to switch; nearly 80 per cent of residential customers could be paying less for their electricity, according to a 2023 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) report.

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