Power Bill - Excessive or Not?

Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 09:45
Last edited 06/10/2025 - 09:59 by 1 other user

Is this excessive or not? 2 people WFH, wife home. 5.4KW solar, 40 square house, ducted air not used a lot over winter, probs not even averaged 1 hour a day NC NSW, pool filter on 1 hour day.
All led lights only use a few at night and 1 Tv for a few hours, 3 fridges though 2 big 1 small.
$402 after albo $150 back and $34 solar credits.
Origin.

Usage and supply charges Billing period: 02 Jul 2025 to 02 Oct 2025 (93 days)
Item Description Units Price Amount
Off-peak 519 kWh $0.271920 $141.13
Peak 476 kWh $0.433180 $206.19
Shoulder 238 kWh $0.409860 $97.55
Daily Supply 93 days $1.523390 $141.68

Total charges $586.55

Home & Garden Electricity

Comments

  • studentl0an on 06/10/2025 - 09:55
    +2

    Seems very expensive to me to charge $0.43/kWh if you are already paying $1.5 daily supply charge, but I don't live in Sydney. Even the off peak is less than what I pay for single rate kWh.

    I'm paying $0.21/kWh and $1.1 for the daily supply charge.

    Have you shopped around for better rates?

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 10:15

      I did swap but they went up so went back to Origin then they went up.

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 10:20

      This in Coffs NSW

      • JumpingUnicorns on 08/10/2025 - 13:45

        I'm in Coffs too with Red Energy. Supply fee $1.3218, anytime $.3045, CL1 $.1595 but I don't have Solar so not sure if that would increase the anytime rate?

        • JumpingUnicorns on 08/10/2025 - 13:45

          Also I run my pool filter from like 11pm to 5am to get that cheaper rate. Would need to check with your neighbours though if it's close to their windows etc.

    • Dr Phil on 08/10/2025 - 14:13

      Agree 100% with studentl0an

      OP's rates would be extraordinarily high if this was in the AUSGRID (Sydney) supply area.

      But Im not familar with rates with solar panels.

      And Im not familiar with NSW North Coast rates

      The simple answer is to get on the Government's Energy Made Easy web site and get some comparisons:

      https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/

  • apsilon on 06/10/2025 - 09:56
    +4

    3 fridges for 2 people? That certainly won't help. So you average around 13.x kw/day. I'm 1 person 1 fridge, no pool but otherwise similar and top out around 8kw/day so an extra 5kw/day for an extra person, extra 2 fridge and a pool so doesn't seem too bad. Can't comment on if you're getting the best rates but usage looks OK.

    • original15 on 06/10/2025 - 10:05
      +2

      3 fridges for 2 people is definitely excessive

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 06/10/2025 - 10:16
        +26

        Can you really put a price on running a dedicated beer fridge that’s been there for 20 years and still puts out the iciest summer garage beers known to man though

        • eddyah on 06/10/2025 - 20:46
          +4

          yes that's $200/month actually.

      • cameldownunder on 06/10/2025 - 21:26
        +1

        Fridges are not the problem, unless you leave them open.
        Pool is ~2KW an hour, try to limit the hours, and only run it at peak solar.
        My Computer draws about 600W. O dont know what yours look like.

        • Sawtell on 07/10/2025 - 13:51

          Depends on type of pump. Mine is variable speed but the low / mid / high setting power consumption looks like this:

          Low: 300w
          Mid: 500w
          High: 1200w

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 10:16

      Mrs freezes a lot of stuff and cooks a lot, also get plenty of family visitors.
      Could probs get rid of the smaller one.

      • kahn on 06/10/2025 - 10:26
        +6

        Do you call your wife Mrs Freezes because she hogs the blanket or from her cold hands when they venture downstairs?

        • timthetoolman on 06/10/2025 - 12:28
          +18

          I'm more concerned which smaller family visitor they're getting rid of

      • eddyah on 06/10/2025 - 20:47
        +1

        You're probably saving a lot of money from food/groceries/cooking at home so it's ok to have a lot of fridges.

        • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 20:58
          +2

          We do, only eat out on special occasions or when on holidays.

      • AustriaBargain on 06/10/2025 - 22:34

        Chest freezers are fairly economical because all the cold can't spill out when you open it. And if you keep it packed full of food it's more economical.

    • ID10T Error on 07/10/2025 - 12:27
      -1

      Fridges are a problem if:
      1. it needs repair, i.e. thermostat, door seals, regassing
      2. Door left open too long
      3. Empty or very little content. Content helps coldness stability, if empty it can cost you a small fortune as it will keep running..

  • JIMB0 on 06/10/2025 - 10:01
    +1

    Would’ve been brutal without the generous $150 from Albo. I hope you're sending him a Christmas card this year.

    • brendanm on 06/10/2025 - 10:05

      I thought power bills would be going down.

      • JIMB0 on 06/10/2025 - 10:59
        +12

        It has been shown that $150 doesn't make much difference when you're running 3 fridges, a pool pump and air conditioning a 40 square house.

      • jv on 06/10/2025 - 11:16
        -5

        I thought power bills would be going down.

        I'm pretty sure that is what Albo promised. What happened ???

        • brendanm on 06/10/2025 - 11:17
          +3

          Not sure, he wouldn't have lied to us, would he?

          • jv on 06/10/2025 - 11:17
            -4

            @brendanm: I hope not… I thought only Trump did that…

            • surg3on on 08/10/2025 - 14:23

              @jv: all politicians lie. Its just Trumps is a constant stream

              • jv on 08/10/2025 - 14:43

                @surg3on: Do you think he is deliberately lying though, or do you think he has some kind of mental illness where he thinks he is right?

        • Mad Max on 06/10/2025 - 23:27
          -1

          He has to pay China for all the solar panels, wind turbines and batteries they are sending over.

          • jv on 06/10/2025 - 23:35

            @Mad Max:

            He has to pay China for all the solar panels, wind turbines and batteries they are sending over.

            He's arranged for a mate to get some good prices…

            • Mad Max on 06/10/2025 - 23:36

              @jv: If that's the mate he has arranged, he will going bankrupt like Vic.

              • jv on 06/10/2025 - 23:37

                @Mad Max:

                he will going bankrupt like Vic.

                Pretty sure that is part of his and China's plan…

                (Belt and Road Mark II)

                • Mad Max on 06/10/2025 - 23:39

                  @jv: They have already sold them half the country. Now they want the other half at fire price from the liquidators?

                  • jv on 06/10/2025 - 23:40

                    @Mad Max:

                    They have already sold them half the country.

                    They want more…

                    and expect more of this to happen…

                    (issues including government corruption and media censorship.)

            • OzzyOzbourne on 07/10/2025 - 23:43

              @jv: He looked so comfortable with his comrades, now for that statue he wants erected in Melbourne

          • Goremans on 08/10/2025 - 19:12
            -1

            @Mad Max: Who else is going to make them….

      • tenpercent on 06/10/2025 - 11:17
        -6

        I remember someone said that too.
        A promise of $275 less per year by 2025 versus just before the 2022 election.
        Big fail.
        Big lies.

      • Purp on 07/10/2025 - 21:13

        Why would the energy companies lower prices when they are getting guaranteed bonus from tax dollars? They just bumped prices so people kept paying the same amount as their previous bills even with the NEBR on top.

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 10:18

      Also have a new heat pump on timer 8am-4pm.

    • cameldownunder on 06/10/2025 - 21:46
      -1

      Fuel discount would have been the bigger saving

      • JIMB0 on 06/10/2025 - 22:19

        That would unfairly benefit those who drive a lot.

        • jv on 06/10/2025 - 23:36

          or those who rely on buying food from stores.

    • wetsandwich on 07/10/2025 - 17:21
      -1

      Th-thanks for giving some of my tax money to a power company so they can keep prices high :)

  • Duckie2hh on 06/10/2025 - 10:10
    -2

    Very expensive. I run a 5 person household with electricity bills of $100/month without solar.

    • minniethemoocher on 06/10/2025 - 11:14
      +5

      Thats extremely cheap. Would love to know what plan you are on.

      • Duckie2hh on 06/10/2025 - 11:45

        Usage rate (peak): $0.24/kwh
        Daily supply charge: $0.91/day

        • original15 on 06/10/2025 - 15:11

          Damn that’s a low power bill. Also 5 person family and our kwh is 500+ a month
          And our usage rate is about 50% higher than yours too RIP

        • qtr pounder on 06/10/2025 - 20:38

          And what supply network do you fall under?

        • cameldownunder on 06/10/2025 - 21:47

          34cts flat rate about 88cts sservice

      • JimB on 06/10/2025 - 12:30

        "Turn off the fcken air cond, heater, computer and router off' plan.

        • Duckie2hh on 06/10/2025 - 13:53

          Pretty much. Everything within reason is switched off at the wall.

    • tenpercent on 06/10/2025 - 11:19

      OP's situation might be expensive, but yours is really cheap.
      Is it $100 after factoring churning bonuses/discounts?

      • Duckie2hh on 06/10/2025 - 11:44
        +1

        No bonus/discounts from churning. I assess my rates every quarter to ensure I am on the best plan that suits my usage. To be fair, my last bill was $109. Our usage is 393kwh last month

    • Craze on 06/10/2025 - 15:35

      Not sure which state you're in but doing really well for a 5 person household!

    • Muppet Detector on 06/10/2025 - 22:39
      -1

      Do you turn the lights on?

      • Duckie2hh on 07/10/2025 - 00:29
        +2

        Don't need lights when you live in a shoebox.

  • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 10:20
    +1

    We went from 3 to 2 people for that bill but hasn't changed much, hence asking the ??
    Water bill went down by 30%

    • JIMB0 on 06/10/2025 - 11:01

      Have you tried cutting the tv back to just 1 hour a day and turning off a few lights?

      • tenpercent on 06/10/2025 - 11:20

        Don't forget to skip the avo toast.

  • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 10:24
    -1

    Last bill was $487 no help from Albo.

    Rates have gone up twice since 1/4

    Billing period: 01 Apr 2025 to 17 Apr 2025 (17 days)
    Item Description Units Price Amount
    Off-peak 91.5 kWh $0.231740 $21.20
    Peak 75.2 kWh $0.369551 $27.79
    Shoulder 56.4 kWh $0.350540 $19.76
    Daily Supply 17 days $1.294370 $22.00

    Billing period: 01 Jul 2025 to 01 Jul 2025 (1 day)
    Item Description Units Price Amount
    Off-peak 5.4 kWh $0.271920 $1.46
    Peak 4.4 kWh $0.433180 $1.92
    Shoulder 3.3 kWh $0.409860 $1.36
    Daily Supply 1 days $1.523390 $1.52

    • 7ekn00 on 06/10/2025 - 18:18
      +2

      Don't you have solar? What is using all the solar PLUS an extra 4.4kWh per day during peak hours (it's consistent across all bills)?!?

      Cut the peak usage and drop 25%+ from bill (which is what solar SHOULD be doing) :/

      I have one fridge, three 1000L freezers and 4 aircons (not all on at once though) and they are all powered by solar alone :/

      I once did an experiment to see how long a 10kWh battery would run my fridge and freezers and it went for over 30 days … (so I doubt they are using that much power)

      • microsnot on 06/10/2025 - 22:04

        Are you confusing peak solar period and peak demand period? Peak here would be night time when solar isn't generating much energy, especially through winter.

        • 7ekn00 on 06/10/2025 - 22:10

          Yeah, probably, haven't had an electricity bill for years :P

          But even if off-peak = solar peak, there is still substantial use in those periods too!

          The point being, whenever solar is working, it's not wiping out the usage in that period - so device usage should be examined …

          • gromit on 07/10/2025 - 20:35

            @7ekn00: Off peak can be different between providers, here it is 10pm -7am so definitely no solar in that except height of summer. Peak is 7am-9am and 5pm-8pm, everything else is shoulder

  • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 10:39

    Compare the market doesn't give me anyone under $200 a month.

  • Summoner on 06/10/2025 - 10:47
    +1

    Hey, did you get a smart meter installed with the solar? If so, are your heat pump and pool pump timers set to run when the solar is actually generating power? Since those hours change seasonally, it's a good habit to check and adjust the timers a few times a year.

    Those two things could be why you'd be importing more power from the grid instead of just using the electricity your solar system is generating.

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 12:22

      no they are set for good solar times

      • Summoner on 06/10/2025 - 13:11

        If your solar is covering them, I guess the only culprit would be your electricity rates or tariffs.
        ​
        I have a pool and solar as well, with a Fronius Smart Meter. The first thing I noticed soon after installing solar was that I was running my pool pump when my solar system couldn't cover the total household usage. This was leading to unnecessary imported power. So, I now adjust my pool timer about 3–4 times a year to align with solar production.

        ​The consumption will depend on the pump type you have, but mine is a 1kW single-speed pump. If you run something similar for an hour when your system isn't covering your usage, that's like 27c-43c an hour (depending on your rate). It really does add up, especially when you consider how many hours a week a pool pump runs.

        • 7ekn00 on 06/10/2025 - 18:24
          -1

          Yeah, look at the bills, "peak" accounts for 25% of the bills, which means he is running out of solar at some point during "peak" hours :/

          • Sawtell on 07/10/2025 - 14:32

            @7ekn00: Thats not how it works. Peak is mostly early morning and evening where there is no solar.

  • tenpercent on 06/10/2025 - 11:10
    +2

    2 people … 40 square house

    Do you play hide & seek? Is it very echoey? Are you sure you don't have squatters occupying the west wing or spare rooms?

    In all seriousness, when you do run the air con are you heating/cooling all the rooms including the spare rooms and those rarely used?

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 11:27

      Family home last kid has just left this year in April.

      It's ducted but only has 2 zones, Daikin 18 years old, house is open plan, use cooling way more than heating. We can block off the 4 bedrooms.

      Seems nuts now living in a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3 living areas and office for 2 people lol
      Mrs loves her garden and pool ;)

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 06/10/2025 - 17:36
        +2

        Daikin 18 years old, house is open plan

        Sort of pertinent information don't think you?

        Couple the above with 40sq and a pool, 3 fridges (any of them 18 years old?) surprised your bill isn't double what it is.

        • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 17:46
          -6

          2 big Fridges are new small one is older.
          You happy now.

          • qtr pounder on 06/10/2025 - 20:40
            +2

            @Stealtho: Id bet the old fridge uses more energy than the 2 new ones combined. 🧐

      • 7ekn00 on 06/10/2025 - 18:25
        -3

        last kid has just left this year in April.

        Nice, Albo will have you renting those spare rooms to migrants shortly :P You will pay their electricity bills too !!

        • tenpercent on 06/10/2025 - 21:00

          Only if it's not separately metered ;)

  • Paul Atreides on 06/10/2025 - 11:36
    +1

    i'd call up your retailer and ask them what the single rate is and maybe look at switching tariffs

    you're almost at 50/50 split between peak and offpeak (ignoring shoulder)

  • RogerLoger on 06/10/2025 - 12:07

    That sounds a tad high to me. I left Origin when I phoned and told them the rate I was switching to and they did not match the rate. They had better deals to attract new business. When they received the transfer request, a 'relationship manager' phoned and offered a better rate. I said, "too late".

    Look to churn. The best deals are usage and region dependent. I did my comparison here: https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 12:29

      Thanks, had a look all are even more $$, even lowest Globird would be over $200 more than the full bill I have.

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 12:45

      Origin will only offer you a better deal if you actually swap, retentions will call you, happened to me last time I swapped.

  • JimB on 06/10/2025 - 12:31

    Usage doesn't seem very high but the rates does.

    Look at a new retailer.

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 12:32

      Any recommendations for Nth NSW?

      • JimB on 06/10/2025 - 12:33

        I don't know if NSW has a comparison tool like Victorian Government has.

        • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 12:39
          +1

          This was linked above, all $200 plus more than my current bill though.

          https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au

          • JimB on 06/10/2025 - 12:42
            -1

            @Stealtho: I guess you're out of luck.

            Look at getting a battery and increasing the number of solar panels.

            • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 12:44
              -1

              @JimB: Sure have thought about that but would take years to get the $ back, and may sell up before I do lol

          • qtr pounder on 06/10/2025 - 20:44

            @Stealtho: Also check out www.wattever.com.au

            Also, do the sums to check if single rate would suit you better.

  • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 12:38

    Supply rates for my area are between $1.60 - $2.20c a day.
    Coastal tariffs lol

  • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 12:49

    Not worth it, wow.

    Solar + Battery
    6.6kW Solar + 13 kWh battery: $15,000 - $20,000 installed
    13kW Solar + 16 kWh battery: $20,000 - $26,000 installed

    • Dogsrule on 08/10/2025 - 14:13

      Those prices were true before the federal battery subsidy kicked in, now you can pay as little as $5500 for a 42kWh battery if you already have a solar system (which you do):

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/922035

  • MS Paint on 06/10/2025 - 13:55
    +5

    Is this excessive or not?

    So you bang on in most other threads advising people to ignore advice from internet randoms yet here you are. FFS

    • Stealtho on 06/10/2025 - 14:43
      -6

      that all you got lol

  • Banks on 06/10/2025 - 16:34

    Looks normal to me. My household is similar to yours and we had a bill of $475 last quarter.

    This is mostly due to the installation of solar panels, and from what I can see from the calculations I find that mine and your electricity bills will on average be $200 more per quarter than the average household due to the differences in rates.

    To benefit from solar, you need to produce/use enough to offset around $800 yearly increase in costs, which is quite difficult in these trying times.

    However, the good times will be over for those on the old single tariffs as they are progressively moving everyone onto "time of use" and the more expensive "demand pricing plans".

  • Far Cough on 06/10/2025 - 19:36

    mine is 60 a month.

  • lgacb08 on 06/10/2025 - 20:17

    Unfortunately your in NSW where power price is dictated by government run monopoly that ironically seek to extort maximum benefits for its sole major shareholder (aka NSW government). Just look at your daily rates and see. Your energy usage is a bit higher than average, the only way to get away is get battery in and start trading against the grid, with 40kwh battery from fox ess at around $7-8000, you can go with those offering free lunchtime energy to fill it up and draw nothing at other time. I have 13.2kw solar systems, last year bill was around $300 a year, now it's creeping up to over $1000 a year with the same usage so I just spent another 10k for 32kwh battery, I figure I can cut myself off the grid completely for 9 months of the year if needed be.

  • microsnot on 06/10/2025 - 22:36

    Washing machine, dishwasher, hot water heater, gaming PC, cooktop, hvac temp? Like there are quite a few things and variables that could be contributing a lot of load. How old are the appliances? Are the seals on the fridge/freezer good? Have you defrosted the freezer? Are they set to the correct temp? Have you cleaned your ac filters?

    The easiest thing to do is to simply buy a few smart plugs with energy meters and just measuring each large appliance for a few days and extrapolate their load.

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