This page describes where you can usually find the information
you need to use this website. However, each retailer's bills
are set out differently. If you do not understand your bill, please
look at your retailer's website or contact your retailer.
Click here for links to retailer
websites.
General information on energy bills
The first page of an energy bill usually shows a summary of your
account, including the amount you paid for the previous billing
period, the total new charges for the current billing period, any
amount owing from the previous billing period and the date payment
is due. The period the bill covers (usually expressed in
days) may be on the first or second page of the
bill.
The second page of the bill usually provides itemised
information on the amount of electricity (expressed in KWh) or gas
(expressed in MJ) you used during the billing period, the price you
have been charged per kWh or MJ, and the price you have been
charged per day for being connected (the 'service availability
charge' or 'supply charge').
If you have a time-of-use meter for electricity and are being
charged time-of-use tariffs, the itemised information will show the
different prices you have been charged per kWh or MJ you used
during peak, shoulder and off-peak periods. If you have an electric
off peak hot water system, it will also show the price you have
been charged per KWh for this 'controlled load' and may show a
second 'service availability charge' or 'supply
charge'.
Where to find the information
required to use the calculator
When you use the calculator, it will ask you for the following
information which is included on your bill:
- For electricity offers only, whether you have a time-of-use
meter or a standard meter. If you don't know, look in the itemised
information usually on the second page of your bill. If different
prices are shown for peak, shoulder and off-peak periods, then you
have a time-use-meter. If not, you have a standard meter.
- For electricity offers only, if you have an off peak hot water
service. Again, if you don't know, look in the itemised information
usually on the second page of your bill. If a charge for a
'controlled load' is shown, you have this kind of hot water
service.
- How frequently you receive bills. If you don't know, you can
work this out by looking at the period covered by the bill, which
may be on the first or second page of the bill. If this period is
approximately 3 months or 90 days you are billed quarterly; if it
covers around 2 months or 60 days you are billed bi-monthly; and if
it covers around 30 days you are billed monthly.
- Either:
- How much you spent in the billing period (usually on the first
page) or
- The amount of energy (kWh or MJ) you consumed in the billing
period (usually on the second page).
If possible, we recommend you provide the calculator with
information on the amount of energy you consume rather than the
amount you spend, as this is likely to result in a more accurate
estimate of your annual bill under each offer.
In addition, we recommend you calculate your average quarterly
energy consumption rather than using the consumption for one
billing period. Most households' consumption of gas and electricity
varies throughout the year, due to variations in the weather and
how they use their large appliances. Therefore, the amount of
energy you consume in one billing period may not provide an
accurate indication of the amount of energy you are likely to use
over a whole year. For information on how to calculate your average
quarterly energy consumption, see below.
Calculating your average quarterly energy
consumption
To calculate your average quarterly energy consumption:
- find your electricity or gas bills for the past 12 months
- find the amount of energy you used in each billing period (in
kWh or MJ, usually in the itemised information on the second page
of your bill)
- add these amounts together to give your annual energy
consumption
- divide by 4 to give your quarterly energy
consumption.
This is likely to provide a more accurate annual bill estimate
than one based on the energy consumption of a single bill
period.