If you are asking “why is my power bill so high?”, the answer is usually a handful of appliances running longer, or less efficiently, than you realise. Smart Green Electrical is a licensed electrician helping homes across Geelong, Ocean Grove, Torquay and the Bellarine Peninsula find where the power goes and cut it with energy efficient upgrades and energy monitoring.
Quick answer: A high power bill usually comes down to heating and cooling, electric hot water, pool pumps, a second fridge and appliances left on standby. Compare your usage with the same quarter last year, check what is running on timers, and consider an energy monitor at the switchboard to see exactly where the power goes. Then compare plans on the Victorian Energy Compare website to make sure your rates are competitive.
Last updated November 2026.
What Uses the Most Electricity in a Home?
A few appliances account for most of a typical household’s electricity use. Check these first:
- Air conditioning: older units, or systems set several degrees colder than they need to be, are among the biggest bill drivers in a Geelong summer.
- Electric hot water: older electric storage systems can be expensive to run, while heat pump systems use far less power for the same hot water.
- Pool pumps: a single speed pump running all day uses much more than a variable speed pump on a sensible schedule.
- A second fridge or freezer: an old garage fridge running through a hot summer can quietly add a surprising amount to every bill.
Hidden Causes of a High Power Bill
Some energy use never shows up until you go looking for it. These are the most often overlooked causes:
- Standby power: TVs, game consoles, chargers and set top boxes draw power even when they look switched off.
- Halogen downlights: halogens use several times more power than LED equivalents, and they are often left on for hours. Our LED lighting upgrades pay for themselves through lower running costs.
- Old timers and schedules: a timer set years ago and never changed can run heating, pumps or hot water when nobody needs them.
- Faulty appliances or wiring: a failing element, a worn fridge seal or damaged wiring can draw more power than it should.
How to Find What Is Using the Most Power in Your House
You do not need to guess. Work through these steps in order, from free checks to professional testing:
- Compare the same quarter. Put this bill next to the same period last year. A big jump points to a change in usage or plan, not just the weather.
- Read your daily usage and rates. Check the daily supply charge, the usage rate and whether any discount has ended.
- Check your usage data online. Your retailer or distributor portal can show when during the day you use the most power.
- Do a switch off test. Turn off circuits at the switchboard one at a time and watch what changes. Only operate switches you are confident with.
- Fit an energy monitor. A licensed electrician can install a monitor at the switchboard so you can see usage by circuit in real time.
- Get a safety and efficiency check. If usage is high with no clear cause, residential thermal imaging can reveal overheating connections that waste power and create a fire risk.
Fixes That Cut Your Power Bill for Good
Once you know where the power goes, the fixes are straightforward. These upgrades are worth making:
- An energy monitor at the switchboard, so you can see usage by circuit in real time
- Ceiling fans, so the air conditioner can run a few degrees warmer. Read how ceiling fans and air con work together to cut cooling costs
- Timers or smart plugs on pool pumps, second fridges and standby appliances
- LED lighting throughout the home
- Smart controls that switch things off automatically. See our smart home ideas for summer
Is It Your Plan Rather Than Your Usage?
Sometimes the appliances are fine and the plan is the problem. Rates change, and discounts such as pay on time or sign up offers can expire. Enter your recent usage into the Victorian Energy Compare website to see whether a better offer is available for your home. Fixing your usage and your plan together gives the biggest saving.
When to Call an Electrician
Call a licensed electrician if your bill is high with no clear cause, or you notice any of these signs:
- Your safety switch keeps tripping. See why a safety switch keeps tripping and what to do
- A warm switchboard, a burning smell or buzzing sounds
- Lights that flicker or dim when appliances start
- An appliance that runs constantly or feels unusually hot
Electrical faults can be dangerous. Do not attempt repairs to wiring or the switchboard yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common reasons are higher cooling use in summer, a plan that has changed or lost its discount, or an appliance using more power than usual. Compare your daily usage with the same quarter last year to tell which one it is.
In most Victorian homes it is heating and cooling, followed by hot water, pool equipment and refrigeration. An energy monitor at the switchboard shows exactly which circuits use the most in your home.
Yes. A failing fridge seal, an old pool pump or a faulty hot water element can use far more power than normal. Damaged wiring and loose connections can also waste energy, and they are a safety risk.
Compare your bill with last year, check your daily usage on your retailer or distributor portal, and switch off circuits one at a time to see what changes. For exact answers, a licensed electrician can fit an energy monitor that tracks usage by circuit.
An energy monitor does not cut your bill on its own, but it shows you which appliances and circuits are costing the most so you can fix the right things. Most households find at least one surprise, such as a second fridge or a pool pump running all day.
Compare your current plan on the Victorian Energy Compare website using your recent usage. Check the usage rate, the daily supply charge and whether any discount has expired, because a lapsed discount can raise your bill with no change in how much power you use.
Why Choose Smart Green Electrical?
With more than 20 years of experience across Geelong, Ocean Grove, Torquay and the Bellarine Peninsula, Smart Green Electrical finds where your power is going and recommends the upgrades that actually pay for themselves. Learn more about our residential electrician services in Geelong.
Book an Energy Efficiency Check
Tired of bill shock? Call Smart Green Electrical on 0483 939 131 or email service@smartgreenelectrical.com.au to book an energy efficiency check. Lower bills, all year round.
