What are your best power-saving tips? $$$

[alishakihn]

With elec prices thru the roof, my boyfriend recently asked if he could turn off the fridge during peak time to save money. That's a really dumb idea, but I would like to hear some good ones. The stingier the better!

I always use the timers on my washer and drier to only run them at cheap times, and I never overfill the kettle (uses a surprising amount of power to boil a full kettle)

[sojolee]

I didn't know that as split system don't necessarily have a PowerPoint to turn of is it same as hot water system they have pilot light to

[Caban]

The part of the system inside the house can be turned off with the remote. This is what is called "Turning Off" and it is assumed that the unit now does not consume any power. This is true for the inside section.

The outside part can be different. When it is turned off from inside some models still continue to consume power due to the presence of a Crank Heater. If this is in your model then the only way to turn it off is at the circuit breaker on the switchboard. This can be done if the unit will not be used for some time. When you wish to use it again turn it back on a few hours before use.

[Easysaver]

Because I have an EV, plan is 8 cents/kwh between 12 and 6am. I use smart plugs to charge up devices, including the jug at 5.55am. I have the Tapo Smart Plug with a TP LINK wifi. You can set the days and time you want devices to charge. I also use the plugs to turn off power to TV'S, roller doors when leaving for work.

[Easysaver]

For convenience I fill the jug up and put the hot water into a Thermos so it is hot for the rest of day. At 4pm it gets a little warm, but it is OK.

[Caban]

@Easysaver wrote:

 I also use the plugs to turn off power to TV'S, roller doors when leaving for work.

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Think this has been covered before in this thread. The quiescent power drawn by the Smart Plugs is probably  more than the device on standby being controlled. This is just using more power and adding complexity. 

[Lester]

..

@Easysaver the EV plan is great, if one has the EV to get onto that plan . . . all power between 0000 and 0600 at 8c, so yes, time whatever you can to use at that time.

Thankful our sons EV is regoed here, 7kw charger, he's home from interstate often.

We have our HWS (3.6kw single element 250lt tank storage) on a timer for this through winter, usually uses about 5kwh - 6kwh / 40c - 48c or so daily on that rate . . . it's just safer for winter and the usual lower solar production.

In summer I will get it timed for solar soak for free heating, only takes about 1hr to 1.25hrs daily to do its thing, or if I also leave the timer for 0100-0500 it will top off in EV rate time too, when it will do a very quick heat for only a few cents.

If you have solar too, on regular decent production days, you can run whatever you like free from that.

Only the gloomiest days, dark grey cloud cover, rain etc sees us possibly touching through the usual 500w tick over running the home led lights, cameras, computers etc.

Through the night, it's usually 340w ticking over, but we have the IT stuff going, and 10 or so security cameras running 24/7.

Winter or summer, and shoulder months our usage rarely changes, good insulation, 4 splits for zone cooling when (rarely) needed.

A slow combustion wood heater does the house nicely for winter warmth, burning well dried, clean burning gum.

I source from fallen branches wherever we find them, season for a year in rotation as collected, rarely have to buy it.

We put a kettle on this pre heating water for cuppas, then kettle to boiling for just a minute on the gas hob (plumbed on 9kg LPG bottle) for early morning / evening, when solar isn't there free for the electric kettle.

I don't think there's much more we can do to help keep power bills as low as we can . . . within reason.

We don't turn anything off at the power point, standby uses such a pitiful amount of power it's just not worth it.

Does anyone here that does go the whole hog, with turning off appliances at night, have any idea what their tickover usage is ??

As mentioned, ours is about 340w.

[John-T]

You would be surprised at the people that I know of who are on the EV plan but have no EV. They have home battery's though and recharge at night, load shifting as they call it.

Several family's....

[Lester]

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@John-T I agree that's probably happening.

When I first went onto the plan, I expected to have to provide some proof of EV rego at the address.

I had my sons rego papers and also a screenshot of the charger here ready if needed.

But nothing was requested.

When recently with the July 1 increases in tariffs as happens every year, I was just looking through the AGL plan options, and noticed they had a plan up called AGL EV Night Saver plan, versus the one I was one simply EV Night Saver plan.

So I clicked on it, and was surprised to see the rates were about 3c less per kwh across the board, supply charge a little less, and EV rate same.

Well, I clicked to switch to it, and up comes a message asking for EV rego # to confirm, and I believe it had something there about confirming using some sort of rego check site they use.

Submitted that and all went through fine.

So I think if it was unchecked previously, it is likely to be getting checked now.

Perhaps at plan end annually, these things will be getting checked more using the new method.

Yes, if you have a small PV and battery, or indeed just a battery, you can do that with the cheap charging and using battery power during other various tariff times.

[John-T]

@Lester 

I guarantee it is happening, and I know of several households friends without EV's but on the EV plan the one thing they most have in common is Solar & home battery's. One household only has battery's 3 X 9.6KWh units, and this is how he runs midnight the battery's start charging 6AM the cycle repeats.

I will wait and see what happens as their plans renew.

I burn at not having an EV though these days I am unable to afford one. I do have a wall charger as at the time I thought I would be going the EV route not taking into account other financial factors in my life.

I was going to go the whole hot water heat pump and electric cooktop thing but alas the NSW Government will not subsidise moving from instantaneous Gas hot water, it has to be a tank to be able to get the subsidy.

Plan: Solar Savers

DNSP: Endeavour Energy

State: N.S.W

[Lester]

John, I'm sure it is happening.

As said, when I signed up sometime last year, no checks present.

With small PV and battery, or indeed just the battery, that would be a VERY efficient way to load shift.

Really even with battery only, as long as you had the reserve to cover all usage, you'd be able to pay daily supply and effectively all usage for 8c / kwh.

How much cheaper could you get with say a $12k - $15k or so investment for small 6.6 kw PV and say 15kwh / 20kwh or whatever you wanted in batteries, allowing there for govco battery rebate ?

I guess as long as your battery can charge ok in the 6 hours, not sure if there is any sort of throttle on that like there is for solar export limits . . . suspect not, as the sons tesla charges at 7kw 6 hours solid, plus the HWS comes on for another 1.5 hours at 3.6kw, and then the usual 6 hours of 0.34kw the home uses during the wee hours.

So during that 6 hours, we generally import about 50kwh, but for a cost of only $4.

I feel for you with the EV.

We too would like one for ourselves, even a low range 2nd hand one just for suburban use, as we could have virtually free running cost, with just rego and tyres, minimal other maintenance, insurance etc, to cover.

I'm biding my time, as I'm in the auto body repair trade (46 years), I can repair damaged cars, hail damage, etc, so something will come up one day at the auctions for around half normal price.

I miss out on them now because they usually bid too much, or they are new hail damaged and still pulling $30k.

Cheers, keep looking to improve the home power situation, and maybe a lotto ticket now and then 🙂