A large portion of Australians are cutting back on heating during winter due to concerns about high electricity bills.

Winter has been hitting Australia hard this year, with millions of people feeling the chill. Surprisingly, a new survey by comparison site Finder has revealed that many Australians are choosing to suffer in the cold rather than turn on their heaters. Out of the 1,049 people surveyed, 1 in 8 said they never use their heater, and 36% said they try to use it as little as possible. This means that almost half of all Australians, equivalent to 4.9 million households, are living without proper heating.

Even with the recent energy rebate from the government, many households are still struggling to keep up with rising energy costs. The rebate promises to give households $75 each quarter, adding up to a total of $300 over the financial year. However, for a large portion of Australians, this help is not enough. In fact, the survey found that receiving a power bill was one of the top three most stressful experiences in July for about 25% of respondents.

Mariam Gabaji, an expert in utilities at Finder, explains that the constant increase in electricity bills has put a strain on household budgets. She says, "A lot of Australians are facing the tough decision between heating their homes or buying food, as the cost of living crisis reaches a breaking point." This sentiment is echoed by energy providers, who have reported an increase in customers joining financial hardship programs and seeking bill relief.

One of the reasons why energy bills are so high is because many Australian homes are poorly insulated, with an energy efficiency rating of 2 stars or less out of 10. Gabaji compares living in an uninsulated home to living in a tent, with the cold seeping in and making it even more expensive to try and warm up. According to Finder, the average cost of running a gas heater is $274, while electric heaters cost around $239, depending on the state.

In July, the average Australian spent $387 on their quarterly electricity bill. Gabaji points out that in 2023, Australians paid a whopping $1.1 billion in "loyalty tax" on electricity. She advises people to regularly compare energy plan prices and switch to the cheapest option to save money. The government even has a free website where customers can easily compare energy plan prices.

It's clear that many Australians are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of energy, and as winter continues to bite, it's important to find ways to stay warm without breaking the bank. Whether it's through taking advantage of government rebates or switching to a cheaper energy plan, every little bit helps. Let's hope that in the future, more efforts are made to make energy more affordable for all Australians.

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