A spike in savings
A great way to save on your energy bill is by reducing your usage during peak times with Origin Spike. Spike members who hit their personalised energy-saving targets (we call them Spike Forecasts) during periods of peak demand accumulate SpikePoints. These SpikePoints can be redeemed for Paypal cash or gift cards. Small tweaks, like turning off lights and turning down your heat, can help you hit your Spike Forecast.
Work smarter, not harder
Speaking of smart ways to save energy, don’t waste time filling out spreadsheets, invest in smart devices instead. There are loads of tech savvy gadgets that can help you take control of your energy usage; from smart plugs and timers to remote AC controllers. You can even link your smart devices to your Spike account via our handy mobile app and automatically turn off appliances during SpikeHours –no more running around to switch everything off.
Keep tabs on your usage
The Origin app makes monitoring your energy usage easy. Available on Google Play and the App Store, you can login in minutes with your My Account details. On the app you can see your overall energy usage, track your seasonal trends and, if you have a smart meter, you can even break down usage by appliance type. You can also set up a payment plan in the app, to help make managing your bills easier, or request an extension if you need a little more time to pay.
Get rewarded for doing everyday stuff
With our Everyday Rewards Plan you can turn your regular energy use into Everyday Rewards Points. Get 1 Everyday Rewards point for every dollar (incl. GST) you are charged for your usage and supply. Watch your points grow and turn into Everyday Rewards dollars off your shopping.
Everyday Rewards Points can be redeemed at retailers like Woolworths, BWS, Big W and participating Caltex Woolworths/EG Australia stations, saving you more on your shopping.
Get the temperature just right
When you do have to switch on the heating or cooling, make sure you opt for the most energy-savvy temperature. When cooling, this means setting your AC to 24°C or higher (each degree under uses 5% more energy) and when heating up the space opt for 18-20°C (each degree over 20°C uses around 10% more energy).
To get the most bang for buck out of your cooling and heating, keep the doors shut and curtains drawn – make sure you trap that air! Repair any faulty door seals and opt for door snakes and weather strips to block any gaps where air can escape.
To switch off or not to switch off
When heating your home it may also be beneficial to keep your heating on all day. That’s right, if you have reverse cycle air-conditioning it’s efficiency will vary throughout the day.
Reverse cycle air-conditioners work by sucking heat from the air outside. So, theoretically if you set the temperature to 24 degrees when it’s 24 degrees outside, it would cost very little. As the majority of air conditioners have a sensor within them that regulates the temperature, it will work to heat your home to whichever temperature you set.
With this in mind, it’s best not to turn reverse cycle air-conditioning on and off. If you heat your home for a while, only to switch the heating back on when it gets cold again, your aircon is going to have to work hard to get back to that desired temperature.
Whereas if it’s on the same low temperature between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius – hopefully not too different from the outside temperature – it’s going to run much more efficiently.
If you’re relying on portable electric heaters or gas systems, flicking them on and off isn’t going to make much of a difference as these appliances don’t have the sensor functionality like reverse cycle air-conditioners do.
Switch off energy vampires
Un-fun fact: when you switch your device off, but leave the switch on at the wall, you’re not really turning it off; you’re just leaving it in standby. This all adds up and adds onto your bill. Instead of allowing this energy vampire to drain your usage, switch devices off at the wall, and this could save you up to $100 a year on your energy bill.
Cold as ice, but the savings are nice
Give your clothes the icy plunge when you’re washing, and you’ll save 90% of the energy. You won’t notice the difference, and as far as we know sweaters can’t catch the sniffles. Make sure you also take advantage of sunny days during the colder months and hang them out to dry rather than running the dryer. Compared to most appliances around your home – dryers and heating appliances chew up more energy on average. And if you do happen to have the heater on, consider hanging your washing on a clothes horse in the living room to dry.
Make the switch to LEDs
We all know switching off our lights helps reduce energy usage. But did you know you can also save while they’re on? By switching to LED bulbs you can save up to 80% of energy per bulb. Even better, they have a longer life. Meaning you’re replacing globes way less often – reducing your costs over the long run.
Have a night-in with friends
An easy way to save on energy is to share the load. How? By getting together with your friends to have a games night. Taking one night a week to all use energy in one household helps to save kilowatts of power, along with the greenhouse gasses that go with them. It’s win-win. Unless you lose at Cluedo, of course.
Reach out
We understand the rising cost of living is a very real concern for many households. If you need help with your energy bills, we have a range of support available. From extensions to payment plans and our Power On Program – we’re here to help. We encourage anyone needing some extra assistance to reach out, so we can provide tailored support.
