Quiz: Are you an energy expert?

Posted 30 December, 2025 Andrew Rasch

How do you feel about electricity? Does it ‘spark’ a Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Edison-level curiosity, or is it just another bill you have to pay?

Whatever your answer, it’ll pay to complete our latest quiz. Hopefully you’ll learn a fact or two about energy use and discover some money-saving tips along the way.

*Enter your answers, then click ‘see my results’ at the end to check your score.

Test your energy expertise

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1. If you have an SA-based energy plan with a time-of-use (ToU) tariff, it’s typically cheapest to use electricity during the shoulder or ‘solar sponge’ period. When does that generally apply?*

A. 6am to 10am

B. 4pm to 12am

C. 10am to 4pm

D. 10am to 3pm

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2. You’re reviewing your electricity bill and notice a supply charge included in the amount owing. What is a supply charge?*

A. A cost that varies according to your electricity use

B. A fixed daily fee that helps cover the cost of getting electricity to your house or business

C. A government-regulated charge that funds the Australian Energy Market Operator

D. A premium you pay for using electricity during peak hours

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3. It’s your turn to cook dinner tonight. What’s the least cost-effective appliance to use?*

A. Slow cooker

B. Air fryer

C. Microwave

D. Electric oven

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4. You’re shopping for a new fridge and notice each model has an Energy Rating Label with a number of stars. What do the stars mean?*

A. The more stars, the more energy-efficient the appliance

B. The stars indicate how expensive the appliance is compared to similar products

C. The fewer stars, the less energy the appliance uses

D. The stars represent the appliance’s customer satisfaction rating

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5. Heat-pump dryers cost more to use compared to condenser or vented dryers because they take longer to dry clothes.*

A. True

B. False

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6. Which of the following ISN’T a good way to save energy around the house?*

A. Running the dishwasher with a full load

B. Washing clothes in cold water

C. Leaving your appliances on standby, so they’ll use less energy when starting

D. Plugging gaps around doors and windows

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7. Which common household appliance typically contributes the most to your electricity bill?*

A. Air-conditioners and heaters

B. Televisions

C. Hot water systems

D. Fridges

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8. You’re looking to replace some light bulbs around the house. Which is the most energy efficient type?*

A. Light emitting diode (LED)

B. Halogen

C. Carbon fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

D. Incandescent

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9. It’s an extremely hot day and you’ve switched on the air-conditioner. Which of the following could you do to make it work more efficiently?*

A. Turn on your ceiling fans

B. Use a door seal or snake to stop drafts

C. Close the curtains

D. All of the above

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10. You’ve been researching solar systems for your home and have come across the term inverter. What is an inverter?*

A. It stores excess solar energy

B. It helps cool your solar panels on hot days

C. It converts DC electricity into AC electricity

D. It tracks the sun’s movement to increase solar energy capture

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