In the chaos of day-to-day living, keeping tabs on the energy bill is never the first thing on anyone’s mind. With ever increasing energy prices, it can be useful to spend some time taking inventory of the ins and outs of your energy bill to help manage costs and make sure you’re not overpaying for your electricity or gas.
Understanding your bill
Ask your energy provider for a paper bill if that is the way you would prefer to receive it. In New South Wales, your energy provider is not allowed to charge you for a paper bill.
Keep track of when your bills are due. While typically bills come quarterly, smart meters and your plan or payment method can mean bills come more frequently. Consider marking the due date on a calendar, planner, or list. Don’t assume a bill is not due just because you have not received one yet.
New and better plan discounts available to you must be listed on your bill. Check the front page of your bill or talk to your energy provider to see if better plans from your retailer are available for you. Alternatively, you can use Energy Made Easy to compare plans from all energy providers in your area.
Newer energy plans often provide discounts that are already applied to the bill, but many may still have pay-on-time discounts instead. These discounts are not applied if you are late making payment, including if a direct debit fails or is processed later than usual. If you find yourself frequently missing out on the discount, consider switching to a plan with a guaranteed discount instead.
Reading beyond the first page of the bill can help you pick up on mistakes, overcharges, and missed payments sooner. Check whether your bill is based on an actual or estimated read. Too many estimated reads can lead to high energy charges later. If your bills are being estimated, talk to your retailer about doing a self-meter read.
Fees and charges carried forward (that is, charges from a previous bill that have not been paid) can often explain a higher bill, and these details are on page two or three of your bill.
Take the time to review the payment history on your bill. Each payment is itemised with payment method, amount, and date so you can cross reference this with your bank or Centrelink statements to ensure it is accurate.
If you have questions about your bill or find anything that you don’t understand, talk to your energy provider. They can answer your questions and provide more information about your plans, rates, and charges.
Money saving tips
Government concessions may apply to your bill to help make energy costs more manageable. However, they are not always automatically applied, and some need to be applied for yearly or with special paperwork. Check with Service NSW (or via the Savings Finder | Service NSW) to discover what concessions you are eligible for and then talk to your energy provider about applying them to your account.
Bill smoothing can also be a great way to manage energy costs and avoid bill shock. This allows you to break up your energy bills payments into smaller portions each week, fortnight, or month to stay on top of the bill.
It is also a great idea to keep an eye on energy consumption, not just your bill. Sometimes a few simple changes can bring down your bill significantly. Home energy audits can help identify faulty appliances and inefficient energy practices that are leading to higher bills. You can do a self-energy audit or contact your energy provider or your local council to see if they provide a free energy audit in your area.
Where to get help if you’re struggling to pay
If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, ask your energy provider for support as a first step. They have hardship programs and can assist with bill extensions, payment plans, and more to help you get back on top of your bill and avoid disconnection.
For current, overdue bills, you may be eligible to apply for the Energy Accounts Assistance Program (EAPA). This NSW government support scheme provides vouchers to help pay your bill when you are in short-term financial crisis.
And if you encounter an issue with your energy company that you cannot resolve with an internal complaint, contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman of New South Wales (EWON) on 1800 246 545. They will assist with complaints up to 12 months from when the issue occurred and provide free, independent support mediating complaints.
If you are having trouble managing your bills, consider speaking with a free financial counsellor in your local area or calling the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 for options and support to get back on track.
Originally published in The Voice, February 2026 edition
