Keeping an eye on your usage is one of the best ways to find efficiencies and save! 

aurora+ power you can see 

aurora+ lets you see what you're using, when. Get ultimate control and visibility with usage and cost graphs down to the hour, live account balance, pre or post pay options,  and access to historical payment and bill information.

Connect to aurora+

Self monitor your meter

Basic meter - If you have a basic meter you can monitor your usage and find out what might be using the most energy in 3 simple steps. Find out more here. 

Advanced meter - Advanced meters record your usage every 15 minutes and that data is sent to us on a daily basis. While you won't be able to self read your advanced meter, you can contact us to get your energy data four times per year free of charge. 

Check to see which tariff you're using the most of your power on page 3 of your bill under usage and charges. 

Common causes of high usage- Lights and Power (tariff 31) 

• Plug-in heaters
• Clothes dryers
• Inefficient fridges/freezers or multiple fridges/chest freezers
• Computers
• Plasma televisions
• Game consoles
• Tropical fish tanks
• Outdoor spas
• Pumps
• Aging appliances
• Issues with solar panels
• Appliances being used outside
• Sheds connected to the house power
• Waste water treatment systems if the property is not connected to sewage.

Common causes of high usage- Heating and hot water (tariff 41) 

• High usage on tariff 41 is expected in Tasmania, especially during the cooler periods. On average 60-70% of total annual energy usage for Tasmanian households is made up of heating and hot water.   
• Eligible heating which is able to be wired in to tariff 41 attracts a lower kWh rate than plug in heating which is charged at the tariff 31 rate.  Just because a heater is wired in, does not mean that it is an efficient way of heating a room/home.
• Seasonal impacts (location of the hot water system, heating/cooling as temperatures change, amount of time spent at home)
• Washing machines
• Dishwashers
• Hot Water temperature
• Possible issues with hot water cylinder (steam valve not closing/water leaks)
• Inefficient wired in heaters (panel heaters/pure heat heaters).

Common causes of high consumption - Peak and Off-Peak (tariff 93) 

• Off-peak periods not being utilised
• Not being aware of appliances with continuous consumption which will consume during peak periods
• Issues with solar panels/invertor when generation ceases
• Appliances listed in the above information under T31 and T41 are all relevant to T93

Learn how to make the most of off-peak power here 

Are you on the right energy plan?

Did you know you could save just by being on the right energy plan? Find out if you're on the best plan for your household with our right plan calculator.

 Things to check on your bill. 

• Check your concession discount has has been added to your bill. 

• Have you paid off your previous bill in full? If a balance has been carried over from your previous bill, it might make your current bill higher than expected.
• Check your billing period. How many days have you been billed for? Quarterly bills are around 90 days. If you've recently moved house your first bill for that property might have been for a shorter time depending on when you moved and your quarterly billing cycle.   
• Has there been a price change? Each year prices for standing offer customers are reviewed. This year prices increased by 11.88%. Read more here.
• Has your bill been estimated? If the meter reader hasn't been able to access your meter to read it, where possible, your account will be produced based on your average usage at the same time last year.
• Estimated bills and solar. If you're a solar customer and your bill has been estimated, you'll notice that zero kWh will be displayed for the feed-in credit. Please be assured that you will not lose any credit for the solar power you have exported to the grid, you’ll see it all on your next account with a true read.

Basic meters 

You can do a self-read to confirm if the reads are correct. Use these instructions and compare your readings to your bill.

If your meter has been read incorrectly and you don't want to wait for the next read for the discrepancy to be fixed up, contact us to discuss your options. 

Advanced meters 

If you have an advanced meter (one which records your usage every 30 minutes and sends your data back to us remotely) you won't be able to self read your meter. We have your usage data in our system, so you can always contact us if you have any questions!  

If our normal payment options are not achievable, our industry leading hardship program may be able to help. 

YES (Your Energy Support) can help you take back control of your energy usage and get on top of your bills with tailored support, advice and payment options.

Find out more about YES 

There are many simple and cost effective ways to save energy and save money on electricity. Our experts have compiled a range of tips to help you save. 

Save energy and money 

If you're wanting even more control over your power, why not check out aurora+ which lets you see your daily usage and pay when you want, meaning you'll always know exactly what you're using and what you owe. You can say goodbye to bill surprises with aurora+. 

Find out about aurora+

Short term payment extensions

If you need a bit of extra time to pay, you can choose a one-off extension which will give you a few extra weeks to pay. Or, you can choose to pay your bill of in weekly or fortnightly instalments before your next bill is due. 

Apply for an extension

6-12 month payment plans 

If you're not able to pay your balance by your next bill, you can choose to pay off your bill, plus ongoing usage over 6-12 months. 

Eligible customers can have their balance split into equal weekly or fortnightly payments over 6-12 months. We'll also look at your usage and estimate your ongoing usage costs - this will be added to your weekly or fortnightly repayments. 

To make sure you're paying the correct amount, we regularly review your usage, if there are any changes to your payment amounts, we'll et you know. If you miss any payments, your payment plan will end, so please keep in contact with us if you are struggling to pay.  

Apply for a payment plan

If your bill has been estimated 

 If the meter reader hasn't been able to access your meter to read it, where possible, your account will be produced based on your average usage at the same time last year.

If you have solar, your export will also be estimated, and where possible based on your average exports at the same time last year.

Any discrepancies between the estimate and your actual usage will be fixed at the next account you receive with an actual read. 

If your previous bill was estimated 

If your current bill was an actual read, but the bill before was an estimate this may cause your bill to be higher, or lower, than expected. Where possible, we’ll base the estimates on your average usage at the same time last year, however, because this is an estimate it may not be accurate.

If you receive an estimated bill, you can use our bill estimator tool to check how accurate the estimation is which can potentially help you budget for your next bill.

Has something changed in your home?

Some common changes which could impact energy usage are:

• Guests.
• Housemates. 
• A new baby. 
• Working or schooling from home.
• Staying at home more often.
• Using appliances like heaters and dryers more often due to weather. 

Faulty or old appliances could also be the cause of high usage. 

If you're concerned about how much energy your appliances are using, look into a hiring (for free!) a HEAT kit and do your own energy audit. 

HEAT kits are available from local councils to assist to complete an audit of appliances within the home. They help customers understand consumption within the home and identify areas where consumption can be reduced.