Winter appliance swap that could save Tasmanians hundreds

Keeping warm during winter hikes electricity bills, but a new survey has crunched the numbers and found an unlikely, cheap alternative to stay warm. Would you swap out the heat pump?

Swapping out the electric heater for an electric blanket could save Tasmanian households hundreds a year, a new iSelect study has found.

Tasmanians finding the cost of running an electric heater is too high — there could be another option to slash electricity bills a new study indicates.

Skipping the electric heater, costing residents $300 a year to run three hours a day, in favour of an electric blanket could save hundreds, iSelect analysis has found.

An electric blanket costs Tasmanians $17 annually.

The study found heating with aircon was the most power hungry out of the electrical appliances tested, but Tasmania is cheaper than most states when it comes to running the device — at $109.68 less than the yearly national average.

It did account for an estimated yearly use of 183 days for a time period of five hours a day equalling a total of $1,519.60.

Overall, the Apple Isle was found to be one of the more affordable states when it comes to running household appliances when comparing the cost of the same energy consumption with others.

The costs were based entirely on the average usage rate $/kWh and not taking into account federal and state-based credits governments have handed out as cost of living relief.

iSelect found everyday tasks could chip away at the budget — particularly for Tasmanians.

A single load of tumble dryer costs Tasmanians $1.23 and drying clothes costs $1.23 per use, which is lower than five other states but not close to Victoria’s 99c.

The study found South Australia was the most expensive state with NSW ranking second most costly.

Victoria ranked top for households consistently paying less to run appliances according to iSelect.

Tasmanian Labor were out on Monday urging the Premier to stop privatisation of Aurora to stop power bills rising further.

Opposition Finance Minister Luke Edmunds said Labor was looking into legislation bringing Aurora back in line with the rest of the government business enterprises to ensure it couldn’t be sold without approval of both Houses of Parliament.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it was “prudent” and “sensible” to consider privatising GBEs that would deliver better services in private hands, including Aurora.