Improving Utility Bills in a Share House

LGrazz989 on 08/08/2020 - 14:10
Last edited 08/08/2020 - 21:03

Hi all, not sure if this is the right place to post something like this - If so, please just let me know where might be more appropriate.

In short, I'm hoping for some classic OzBargain advice on how to save on my utility bills - Which I feel are quite high (we use ActewAGL for power/gas and Icon for water - Which I suspect are bad deals). Specifically, how do I best find and compare utility provider options?

I live in a large 4-bedroom share house in Canberra, although due to people coming and going (I'm the only long-term renter it seems), there's usually only 2-3 people renting rooms at any one point in time. Here's a short summary of the quarterly bills for the last year:

Bill Type 04-07 2020 01-04 2020 10-01 2019-2020 07-10 2019
Water: $235 $230 $265 $255
Gas: $633 $230 $228 $505
Electricity: $352 $340 $434 $723
My Share: $444 $200 $232 $371

The bill is pretty random e.g. some residents will over-use the (gas) central heating while others will use loads of power, and some periods are split between 4 people while others I'm paying more than a third of the bill myself. Naturally, I can't really influence the other residents' usage, but I'm keenly aware that they've been pretty wasteful in the past, perhaps because they're only paying for less than half of their own usage.

The Landlord is happy to switch plans or providers to whatever I request (he has not changed plans from when this place was owned by a small single family), but it seems very difficult to research and compare what the best plan might be for this complex situation.

I'd be very grateful for any advice given. Cheers!

General Discussion

Comments

  • thatonethere on 08/08/2020 - 14:48
    +1

    Definitely check the plans for gas and electricity. Eg they can give signed for a 2 year deal then quietly go back to a worse rate.

    Gas is a $$ hog if you make it too hot. May have to get a thermostat that secretly cuts out at a certain temperature (you see them in hotels). Or convince landlord to ditch it and replace with reverse cycle - especially if you can remove all gas appliances and avoid the fixed supply charge.

    Check for poor insulation in the roof- go up yourself to see that it hasn't been unlaid by an electrician in the past or if it is incomplete coverage. Drafts in windows and doors- even ceiling lights - gotta be eliminated.

    • Grazz989 on 08/08/2020 - 17:06

      Thank you for your comment.

      I'm not sure how to 'check the plans' though … I don't think even the landlord would know if there was an introductory rate.

      And yeah, gas is definitely a hog when it's such a large house, and there may only be 2 or 3 people living here at a time. That's why I've encouraged just using a space heater in individual bedrooms rather than heating a large, large house. Removing the gas altogether I don't think is really an option - Our stovetop runs on gas, and the landlord is loathe to do anything at all that involves outlaying cash. Speaking of which, I'm definitely not comfortable checking in the roof myself (I'm still recovering from a leg injury) … Do you think that's the type of thing I might be able to convince the landlord to send someone for? … I suspect there's tonnes and tonnes of drafts, but since the landlord would have to pay to have that fixed, whereas we pay for the heating bill, I'd imagine he'd tell us to go suck a lemon.

      • thatonethere on 09/08/2020 - 08:36

        They must have invoices from the gas and electricity provider. They then check the rate on the invoices with what the deals are on the website.

  • Antikythera on 08/08/2020 - 15:11

    i'm curious why the landlord is involved. are you each renting a single bedroom + shared areas? I would have thought in such a situation, surely the rent would be higher and include the utilities. If you have no choice of housemates why would you be expected to pay a share of their bills?

    I've only been in a situation where the tenants know each other and are all on a single lease. A compromise can, and must be, negotiated like only using electric heaters very sparingly and rely on the main gas heating or not using air con except the heatwave days.

    • Grazz989 on 08/08/2020 - 17:09

      We are each renting a room apiece, direct from the landlord, yes. And of course shared areas. And no, in this case the utilities are simply split - However many days you've spent in the property = your fraction of the bill. i.e. if you stayed for 45 days, and there were two other tenants who stayed for the full 90, then you're expected to pay 1/5th of the bill. That's just how it is, and it's not uncommon in this area from what I understand.

      The problem is that the house is huge, and often there is only 2 or 3 people staying in the house - Which means that using gas central heating is probably more expensive, as the losses must be massive. As opposed to using an electric heater in each person's bedroom only…. Or at least, that's my logic - Not sure if it's sensible.

  • PissLUR on 08/08/2020 - 15:31
    +3

    I don't think it's worth fussing on this matter as you are in a share house. Just consume as much as possible and pay your share.

    If others in the house don't have the same concern, there is nothing much you can do.

    • Grazz989 on 08/08/2020 - 17:10

      I understand where you're coming from, but it seems that a simple change in utility provider might save some cash while not requiring any change in behaviour (mine or theirs) … or at least what's what I was hoping for.

  • elgrande on 08/08/2020 - 15:55

    I lived in a six bedroom share house .. there used to be a rule that heating could not be above 23 degrees.

    • Soluble on 08/08/2020 - 16:19

      I would have thought 23 is quite high? We have ours on 19, any hotter and its a sauna

  • AustriaBargain on 08/08/2020 - 18:25

    You'd be insane to not run the heating or have long hot showers/baths during cold snaps like this. What's the point of even having heating if you're not going to overindulge in it. Whatever it costs per hour, it's worth it.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2020 - 18:41
    -1

    🤦‍♂️

    • Grazz989 on 08/08/2020 - 18:43

      Cheers for the insightful contribution!

  • AustriaBargain on 08/08/2020 - 19:12

    Also you could get all coin operated meters installed, like in The Young Ones.

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