Budgeting and your energy bill
Budgeting each month can be tricky. To help you understand your bill and energy use, we’ve broken down an average bill and other important living costs.
What contributes to your bill
The following appliances contribute the most to your energy bill:
| Appliance | % of home energy use |
|---|---|
| Air conditioning and home heating | 40 |
| Water heating (hot water tank) | 21 |
| Lighting | 6 |
| Television | 6 |
| Cooking | 5 |
| Fridge and freezer (standard-size combined) | 5 |
| Dishwasher, clothes washer and clothes dryer | 2 |
| Other appliances (including computers, tablets, gaming consoles) | 15 |
Appliance running costs
Knowing the real costs of running your household appliances can help you manage your energy use. The key to managing your energy use is knowing how much electricity the appliances in your home use.
Our handy guide to understanding your energy use (PDF 83.7 kb) lists the most common average household appliances and their indicative running costs, so you can add it all up.
Other living costs
Other monthly living costs for an average family of four in Queensland include:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent | $1200 |
| Food and drinks | $1484 |
| Health insurance | $497 |
| Transport – includes petrol, registration, insurance and maintenance | $1236 |
| Mobile phones | $20 to $150 |
| Water and sewage | $128 |
Need help paying your bill?
We have ways to help manage your budget and pay your bill on time. For more information, see our support programs.