1 Switch to a Better Electricity Tariff Up to $600/yr
Most NSW households are on a flat-rate tariff and have never compared plans. The difference between the best and worst electricity plan in NSW can be $400–$800 per year for an average household.
Use the Australian Government's Energy Made Easy comparison site to compare plans in minutes. Look for the lowest usage rate (cents/kWh) and a reasonable daily supply charge. If you have solar, also compare feed-in tariff rates — some retailers pay 3–4 cents/kWh while others pay 10+ cents.
Pro tip for solar owners: If you're generating more solar than you use (and exporting regularly), prioritise a high feed-in tariff. If you use most of what you generate, prioritise a low usage rate instead.
2 Schedule Appliances During Solar Hours $300–$800/yr
If you have solar, the single highest-impact habit change is running your heavy appliances — dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, pool pump — between 10am and 3pm when generation peaks. Each kWh you consume during solar generation instead of importing from the grid saves you the full retail rate (~32 cents). Running three appliance cycles per day during solar hours instead of evenings can save $350–$600 per year.
Most modern dishwashers and washing machines have delayed start timers. Set them before you leave for work in the morning to run at 10am.
3 Upgrade Your Hot Water System $500–$900/yr
Hot water accounts for roughly 25–30% of the average NSW electricity bill. If you're still on an old electric resistance storage system, you're paying full grid price to heat water with one of the least efficient technologies available.
A heat pump hot water system uses the same refrigeration technology as a reverse-cycle aircon to extract heat from the air, delivering 3–4 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity consumed. Combined with solar — run it during the day on free solar power — and your hot water cost drops to near zero. NSW ESS rebates are available to reduce the upfront cost.
4 Set Your Aircon Thermostat Correctly $200–$500/yr
Aircon is the largest discretionary electricity user in most NSW homes. The rule of thumb: every 1°C you raise your cooling setpoint (or lower your heating setpoint) saves approximately 10% on aircon running costs.
- Cooling: set to 24–26°C, not 18–20°C. A 6°C difference = ~60% less aircon energy use.
- Heating: set to 18–20°C, not 24–25°C.
- Use ceiling fans with aircon — they allow you to raise the cooling setpoint by 2–3°C with no perceived difference in comfort.
If your aircon is over 10 years old, it may be running at 30–40% lower efficiency than its original rating due to refrigerant loss and component wear. An aircon upgrade to a new high-efficiency unit (7+ star energy rating) can halve running costs even before any rebate.
5 Add a Battery to Your Existing Solar $800–$2,000/yr
If you already have solar and are still paying significant grid bills in the evenings, a battery is the most impactful single upgrade you can make. By storing your daytime surplus and using it overnight, you avoid importing from the grid at peak evening rates.
The Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program currently provides approximately $300/kWh of battery capacity as an upfront discount — making 2026 the most cost-effective time in history to add a battery. This rebate rate reduces after 1 May 2026 for larger systems.
6 Check and Seal Draughts $100–$300/yr
In many NSW homes, heating and cooling efficiency is undermined by draughts under doors, around windows, and through exhaust fans. A draught-proofed home maintains temperature more easily, reducing how often aircon needs to run.
- Door seals and draught stoppers: $10–$30 per door
- Window sealing strips: $5–$15 per window
- Exhaust fan covers (when not in use): $15–$25 each
Total investment of $100–$150 can save $200–$350/year in reduced heating and cooling costs. One of the best returns on any home energy investment.
7 Switch to LED Lighting Everywhere $80–$200/yr
If any halogen downlights remain in your home, replacing them with LED equivalents reduces lighting energy consumption by 75–80%. A home with 20 halogens running 5 hours/day uses approximately 1,000 kWh/year just for lighting. The same home with LEDs uses around 200 kWh. At 32 cents/kWh that's a saving of $256/year — and LED globes last 15,000–25,000 hours versus 2,000 for halogens.
8 Eliminate Standby Power $80–$150/yr
Standby power (devices left on but not in use) accounts for roughly 10% of the average Australian household electricity bill — around $150–$250/year. The main culprits are entertainment systems, gaming consoles, set-top boxes, and old appliances with always-on displays.
Smart power boards that cut power to devices when they enter standby are available for $30–$50 and can pay for themselves in a month.
9 Monitor Your Solar System's Performance Prevents $200–$600/yr losses
A solar system with a faulty panel, inverter fault, or dirty panels can be underperforming by 20–40% without any visible sign. Most modern inverters have monitoring apps — check yours monthly and compare generation to the same period last year or to the installer's projected output.
Common issues to watch for: generation significantly lower than expected on sunny days, error codes or fault lights on the inverter, or a sudden drop in generation after a storm (possible panel damage or debris).
Solar owners: Panels should be cleaned every 1–2 years in most Sydney locations. Dust and bird droppings on panels can reduce output by 5–15%. A professional panel clean typically costs $150–$250 and pays back quickly.
10 Claim Every Available NSW Rebate $500–$15,000+ once-off
Many NSW homeowners miss rebates they're entitled to simply because they don't know they exist or assume they don't qualify. In 2026, the available rebates include:
- Federal STCs for solar: Applied as an upfront discount by your installer — worth $1,700–$3,500+ depending on system size
- Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program: ~$300/kWh for eligible battery systems — worth $3,000–$15,000+ depending on battery size. Reduces after 1 May 2026 for larger systems.
- NSW ESS for aircon upgrades: Replacing an old system with a high-efficiency reverse-cycle unit can attract ESS rebates reducing the cost by $200–$1,200
- NSW ESS for hot water: Replacing an electric resistance or gas hot water system with a heat pump attracts ESS rebates worth $300–$1,000+
- NSW PDRS: The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme provides additional incentives for batteries and smart appliances
We apply every applicable rebate as an upfront discount on every job — you never fill in a form.
Find Out What You're Entitled To
Book a free assessment and we'll identify every rebate you qualify for across solar, battery, aircon and hot water — applied directly to reduce what you pay.
Check My Rebates →Quick Summary — Estimated Annual Savings
| Tip | Est. Annual Saving | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Switch electricity plan | $400–$600 | 30 mins |
| Schedule appliances in solar hours | $300–$800 | Set timers once |
| Heat pump hot water | $500–$900 | One-off upgrade |
| Correct aircon thermostat | $200–$500 | Free |
| Add battery to existing solar | $800–$2,000 | One-off upgrade |
| Draught sealing | $100–$300 | Weekend DIY |
| LED lighting | $80–$200 | Low effort |
| Eliminate standby power | $80–$150 | Low effort |