How to reduce your gas bill

There’s a possibility your energy provider (otherwise known as your retailer) might have charged you the wrong amount on your gas bill. Incorrect charges can happen if your energy distributor is unable to read your meter. In this scenario, your provider produces an estimated reading to charge you for your usage.

If your estimated gas bill is higher than the actual amount, your provider will often take the overcharged amount (usually if it’s less than $50) off your next bill.¹ If the overcharged amount is more than $50, you may have the choice of deducting it from your next bill or having it refunded if your provider has not already adjusted the previous bill.

You should contact your provider if you have a query about your gas bill. Alternatively, you can contact your state or territory’s energy ombudsman if you’re not able to resolve your query.

For more information, check out our guides on how to read gas bills and electricity bills.

Your gas bill might’ve unexpectedly risen for any number of reasons, like:

• Seasonal changes. The difference in temperature throughout the year could impact your gas bill. If you live in Victoria, your provider may offer seasonal tariffs which charge you more for gas during the winter. This is because the demand for gas is higher in the winter, so the cost increases.
• Your house. If you’ve recently moved into an older home, you may find your energy costs increase due to its less-efficient structure. Perhaps the house isn’t insulated so you might be consuming more energy due to heat loss.
• Changes in your lifestyle. If you’ve recently moved in with a partner or friends or started working from home, you might notice an increase in your usual gas usage and general energy consumption. If this is the case, look through these tips and try to utilise them in your household routine.
• Gas leaks. It’s possible that a gas leak at your home could be responsible for a high gas bill. If this is the case, it’s vital you turn off all appliances, including electrical appliances and pilot lights, and shut off the gas at your gas meter or cylinder. If safe to do so, open all doors and windows to your house for ventilation. Next, you should contact a licensed gas fitter to come investigate the problem. However, if the gas smell comes from the gas meter or pipe leading to the street, contact your distributor to alert them of the issue – details are located on the first page of your gas bill.

It’s important to understand that external factors can also affect your bill such as increased network or administration costs, weather conditions and international influences such as global demand or supply issues. While you can’t typically take specific action on these issues, there are still other ways to save.

Gas ovens can reach cooking temperature quickly, so preheating your oven isn’t always necessary.

What’s more, once your oven’s preheated, opening the oven door to put in your food lets out a lot of heat, defeating the purpose of preheating it in the first place! Try turning on the oven when your food’s ready to cook; it could save you money on your next gas bill.

It can be difficult to save on gas in winter when it’s cold. But if a chill sets in, don’t go straight to pumping up the heating, and in doing so, your heating bill. Instead, try putting on socks and a jumper and add an extra blanket to your bed at night. You’ll still feel cosy, and you won’t be spending extra dollars on your gas bill.

If you do need to turn the heating on, consider some energy-efficient heating options. Generally, gas is cheaper than electricity and can be used to power gas appliances such as gas heaters, underfloor heating, furnaces and more. If possible, focus the heating in the living areas of your home rather than trying to maintain the same temperature across the whole house; this will decrease the amount of energy needed to keep you comfortable.

If you’re looking for how to reduce your gas bill further and you have a gas hot water system, try having a shower instead of a bath. It could save you on both water and heating, since showers generally use less water and, in turn, less heating. Taking shorter showers can also help with your utility bills. Try installing a low-flow showerhead and fix any leaking taps to help you save even more water and heating.

Be more conscientious of energy use by switching to washing laundry with cold water when possible and only washing a full load. Just switching to the cold wash function could cut the energy usage of your washing machine by 80%.² Try lowering the temperature settings on your dishwasher and washing machines as well, so heating the water consumes less gas.

You might also want to consider the Energy Rating Label of your appliances to understand their energy and water efficiency. Upgrading to a more efficient appliance can cost more upfront but may save you money in the long run.

An easy gas-saving tip to help have a reduced gas bill is to turn the gas hot water system off when you’re going away from home for a while. Some gas meters may even come with a ‘holiday mode’ function, which lowers the temperature of your water while that setting is on. This way, your gas isn’t wasted by heating water that goes unused.

Adjusting both your water heating and central heating thermostats could save you on your gas bill. If you lower both thermostats by just a few degrees, your heating systems won’t need as much gas to reach the new setting. It’s also likely you won’t notice the difference in water temperature, but you might notice a decrease in heating costs.

If you want to save money on gas but don’t want to always manually adjust your thermostat, why not consider purchasing a programmable one? You’ll be able to set a schedule for your heating, so it won’t use up gas when you’re away from home, asleep or otherwise not using it.

Another tip on how to reduce your gas bill is to maintain your gas heating system. As with any other appliance or system, regular maintenance will keep your gas heating system running efficiently for longer. When it’s due, organise a service on your heating system and check your heater’s filters for built-up dirt or dust to make sure everything is in top condition.

Regular maintenance also helps identify any cracks or issues that may cause carbon monoxide or gas leaks. This allows the appliance to continue to run safely and efficiently and address any potential issues promptly.

Having proper insulation in your home can keep it both warm in the winter and cool in the summer. If you want to lower your gas bill in the winter, this is one way to do it.

Seal any gaps or cracks in your windowsills or door frames. These gaps could be letting the heat out and cold air in.

You should also try to contain the heat to particular areas of your home by closing doors to rooms that don’t need to be heated, like the laundry or bathroom. This keeps your heating system from overworking to heat a larger area and helps warm the rooms quicker. You can even turn the ceiling fans on low to circulate the warm air throughout the room.

If you live in an apartment or small house, an on-demand gas hot water system may be the best cost and gas-efficient option for you. An on-demand system will only heat water when it’s needed. On the other hand, bigger hot water systems keep a supply of water constantly heated, using more gas in the process.

Those who live in bigger houses may find a solar-powered system with a gas booster a better option to save gas and money. The sun will heat the water during the day, so your water heater will be ready for peak-time use in the evening and night. The gas booster is then used as a backup when the sun isn’t warm enough. You can also use solar energy systems for swimming pools and spa heating.

Find out more about solar energy or other renewable energy options in Australia.

Of course, a great way to save on your gas bill is to find a new gas plan that’s better suited to your usage and budget. You don’t have to be moving to a new house to switch both electricity and gas plans; you can switch at any time.

Finding – and switching to – a new energy plan is easy when you use our handy energy comparison service. Just enter a couple of details about yourself and your gas usage, and, within minutes, you can compare a range of quotes, plan features (like usage rates and discounts) and providers.