Hot water

Hot water can quietly chew through a big slice of your power bill. Most of it happens in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen. A few simple tweaks can keep your showers steamy and your energy costs cool.

Hot water energy-saving tips

  1. Pick the right‑sized system You want enough hot water for everyone without paying to heat more than you need. If your system’s too small, it’ll run out fast. Chat with your local hot water specialist - they’ll help you size it right.
  2. Set your thermostat to 60°C It’s the sweet spot for safety and efficiency.
  3. Switch to Tariff 33 Connecting your hot water system to Tariff 33 can save you on water heating costs. Learn more about economy tariffs.
  4. Try four‑minute showers Cutting shower time from eight minutes to four can halve your hot water costs. Pop on a timer or your favourite short song.
  5. Fix drips fast A tap dripping 60 drops a minute wastes about 9,000 litres of water a year. Catch it early and save water and money.
  6. Install a low flow showerhead You’ll use less hot water without losing water pressure.
  7. Wash in cold water About a third of your home’s hot water can pour into the laundry. Modern detergents are made for cold washes, and your clothes will still come out clean.
  8. Keep your system close to where you use the water Shorter pipe runs mean less heat lost along the way - and less waiting around for hot water.
  9. Insulate the hot water pipes This helps keep the heat in so your system doesn’t have to work as hard.
  10. Upgrade your old hot water system Newer electric systems with high energy star ratings, heat pumps or solar systems can make a real difference to your bill.
Hot water calculator

Lost hot water?

If your water’s gone cold, there could be a few reasons. Your best bet is to call your local electrical contractor so they can check what’s going on. For more information see Ergon Energy Network’s Hot water issues (cold water) web page.

Types of hot water systems 

If you’re replacing your system, here’s a quick guide to what’s out there.

Electric storage

  • Heats and stores hot water in a tank
  • Lower upfront cost
  • Higher running costs if not on an economy tariff.

Best for: households with regular, predictable hot water use.

Gas hot water

  • Heats water using gas, either storage or instant
  • Fast recovery
  • Often cheaper to run than standard electric systems.

Best for: homes with higher hot water demand.

Heat pump

  • Uses electricity to pull heat from the air
  • Much more energy‑efficient than standard electric
  • Higher upfront cost, lower running costs over time.

Best for: households looking to cut long‑term energy costs.

Solar hot water

  • Uses the sun to heat water
  • Very low running costs
  • Usually has an electric or gas boost for cloudy days.

Best for: households wanting to use less energy and reduce emissions.

How to change to an economy tariff

You can change to an economy tariff by getting in touch with our regional Queensland team.

To add an economy tariff

  • You’ll need to engage a licensed electrician to complete work first
  • Once they’ve completed the job and submitted the paperwork, we’ll organise for a crew to attend the property to add the economy tariff
  • There’s a one‑off cost of $199.24 inc. GST for standard residential properties, which will be charged via your electricity bill.

Not sure if you’re already on an economy tariff?

Check your power bill for charges under Tariff 31 or 33.

If it’s still unclear, check My Account or call our regional Queensland team

Where can I find more information?

There are guides available to help you work out which type of solar hot water heating is the best for your home and lifestyle.

Find out what size hot water system can connect to an economy tariff.