15 Ways to Reduce Your Electricity Bill in Western Australia

WA electricity prices go up every year. Your bill doesn't have to. These 15 changes -- from free habit shifts to bigger investments -- can cut your costs by 30% or more.

Quick Wins (Free or Low Cost)

1. Switch to LED Lighting

Still using halogen downlights? They're energy vampires.

| Light Type | Power | Annual Cost (per bulb) | |------------|-------|------------------------| | Halogen | 50W | $29 | | LED | 7W | $4 | | Savings | | $25/bulb/year |

If you have 20 downlights, that's $500 per year just in lighting savings.

Cost: $5-15 per LED bulb Payback: 2-3 months

2. Adjust Your Thermostat

Air conditioning is often the biggest energy user in WA homes. Small adjustments make big differences:

• Summer: Set cooling to 24°C instead of 21°C
• Winter: Set heating to 18-20°C instead of 23°C
• Savings: Each degree change = 5-10% on cooling/heating costs

Cost: Free Savings: $100-300 per year

3. Use Fans Before Air Con

Ceiling fans use about 1/30th the energy of air conditioning:

• Run fans to feel 3-4°C cooler
• Use air con only on extreme days
• Combine both for efficiency

Cost: Free (if you have fans) Savings: $200-400 per year

4. Wash Clothes in Cold Water

Heating the water is 80% of your washing machine's energy use:

• Modern detergents work effectively in cold water
• Clothes last longer in cold wash
• Hot water = 80% of washing machine energy use

Cost: Free Savings: $50-100 per year

5. Fix Standby Power Vampires

Appliances on standby can account for 10% of your electricity bill:

Worst offenders:

• Gaming consoles: 15W on standby
• Pay TV boxes: 20W+ even when off
• Computer monitors: 5W
• Phone chargers: 0.5W each (adds up!)

Solution: Use power boards with switches, turn off at the wall

Cost: $20-50 for power boards Savings: $50-150 per year

Medium Investments ($100-$1,000)

6. Install a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats learn your patterns and optimise energy use:

• Schedule: Heat/cool only when needed
• Geofencing: Turn off when you leave
• Learning: Adapts to your preferences
• Remote control: Adjust from your phone

Popular options: Sensibo, tado°, Nest-compatible systems

Cost: $200-400 Savings: $150-300 per year Payback: 1-2 years

7. Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances

When replacing appliances, check the energy star rating:

| Stars | Efficiency Level | |-------|------------------| | 1-2 | Below average | | 3-4 | Good | | 5-6 | Excellent | | 7+ | Best available |

Priority replacements:

1. Old refrigerators (run 24/7)
2. Air conditioners (high power draw)
3. Washing machines (if using hot water)

Cost: Varies by appliance Savings: 20-50% on appliance running costs

8. Seal Your Home

Air leaks make your heating and cooling work harder:

Check these areas:

• Door seals and weatherstripping
• Window frames and seals
• Gaps around pipes and cables
• Exhaust fans and vents

Cost: $50-200 for DIY sealing Savings: $100-200 per year

9. Install Window Films or Blinds

WA's harsh summer sun heats your home through windows:

• Window film: Blocks up to 80% of heat
• Cellular blinds: Excellent insulation
• External blinds: Most effective but more expensive

Cost: $200-500 for DIY film, $1,000+ for blinds Savings: $150-300 per year

10. Switch to a Better Electricity Plan

Many WA households are on the wrong plan for their usage:

Compare these Synergy options:

• Home Plan: Standard flat rate
• Midday Saver: Low rates during solar hours
• EV Plan: Cheap overnight charging
• Smart Home Plan: Time-of-use pricing

Use our bill analysis tool to find your best plan.

Cost: Free to switch Savings: $100-400 per year

Major Investments ($1,000+)

11. Install Solar Panels

The single biggest thing you can do to reduce electricity costs:

• Typical system: 6.6kW
• Cost after rebates: $4,000-6,000
• Annual savings: $1,200-2,000
• Payback: 3-5 years

After payback, you're essentially getting free electricity for 20+ years.

Learn more about solar in WA

Cost: $4,000-8,000 Savings: $1,200-2,000 per year Payback: 3-5 years

12. Add Battery Storage

Maximise your solar investment by storing excess power:

• Use your own solar at night
• Reduce grid dependence
• Backup power during outages

Read our battery guide

Cost: $8,000-15,000 Savings: $500-1,000 per year Payback: 8-15 years

13. Upgrade to a Heat Pump Hot Water System

Electric hot water storage heaters are expensive to run. Heat pumps use 1/3 the energy:

| System Type | Annual Cost | |-------------|-------------| | Electric storage | $500-800 | | Heat pump | $150-250 | | Solar hot water | $100-150 |

Cost: $3,000-5,000 installed Savings: $350-550 per year Payback: 6-10 years

14. Install Ceiling Insulation

If your home is poorly insulated, you're paying to heat/cool the outdoors:

• R-value: Higher = better insulation
• Recommended for WA: R4.0 or higher for ceilings
• Installation: Professional recommended

Cost: $1,500-3,500 Savings: $200-400 per year Payback: 5-10 years

15. Get a Home Energy Audit

A professional audit identifies your biggest savings opportunities:

• Thermal imaging to find air leaks
• Appliance energy assessment
• Personalised recommendations
• Prioritised action plan

Cost: $200-500 Value: Identifies $500+ in annual savings

Your Savings Action Plan

Start Today (Free)

1. Adjust thermostat by 2 degrees
2. Turn off standby appliances
3. Switch to cold water washing
4. Compare electricity plans

This Month ($100-500)

5. Replace halogen lights with LEDs
6. Seal doors and windows
7. Install power boards with switches

This Year ($1,000-10,000)

8. Install solar panels
9. Upgrade inefficient appliances
10. Consider battery storage

Calculate Your Potential Savings

Every home is different. Use our free tools to get personalised recommendations:

• Analyse your current bill - Upload your bill for instant insights
• Calculate solar savings - See what solar could save you
• Compare products - Get quotes from trusted installers

Pick the easiest win from each section and start there.

Last updated: March 2026. Savings estimates are indicative and depend on individual circumstances. Always get professional advice for major investments.

Ready to act? Start your energy walkthrough → — a guided step-by-step plan to cut your WA electricity bill, tailored to your home.