High Bills

The consumption of electricity in Tasmania can fluctuate significantly on a seasonal basis.  Tasmanian domestic consumers have a comparative high rate of consumption due to the cold weather from late Spring through to autumn.

The common domestic electricity tariffs in Tasmania are T31 (residential light and power) and T41 (residential space heating and hot water).  Subject to certain requirements, wired in heating can be billed on T41 which is significantly cheaper than plug-in heating on T31. Plug-in heating is a common cause of high bills, together with the use of inefficient forms of heating.

High bills can also be caused by:

• Poor insulation and drafts;
• Increased use of reverse cycle air conditioners in summer or winter;
• An increase in occupancy;
• An increase in Tariff charges;
• Use of pool pumps and spas;
• Faulty or old and inefficient appliances;
• A leaking hot water cylinder; or,
• Gas leaks.

High bills can also occur after one or more bills based on estimated consumption due to problems with access to meters.  If consumption has been under estimated a catch-up bill after an actual read can be unexpectedly high.

If you dispute a high bill you can request a check read of your meter or a meter test.  There is a charge for both of these which may be refunded if your meter was misread or your meter is not operating correctly.