Electricity tips & checklists

There are a few things to check before assuming that your power bill is too high. Look at the following checklist. If you answer 'yes' to quite a few of the boxes, then it probably means you're using more electricity than you realised.

• Have I had visitors for an extended period?
• Has there been a caravan in my backyard connected to mains power?
• Have I recently started using bigger appliances - dishwasher, freezer, larger washing machine, pool pump?
• Does my air-conditioner need a maintenance check?
• Have I been using an electric welder or other power tools during the past few months?
• Have I taken up a new leisure activity that uses electricity, such as rolling gem stones or using a pottery wheel and kiln for my pottery?
• Do my hot water tap washers need to be replaced?
• Do I relax in a hot bath more often than taking a quick shower?
• Do I use hot water in the washing machine?
• Do my neighbours keep their air-conditioner set at a higher temperature than mine?
• Do I leave more doors and windows open during the day than the neighbours, making the air-conditioner work harder?