The $150 energy rebate is one of a few schemes rolling out for households, with Victoria also offering a $100 power bonus for concession card holders. (Source: Supplied\/AGL\/Getty) <\/p>\n
Australian households will receive the final instalment of the $150 power bill rebate<\/a> in the coming weeks. The government rebate<\/a> has helped keep a lid on bill shock<\/a>, but energy price hikes are set to hit home once it expires later this year.<\/p>\n The final $75 energy rebate will be applied to electricity accounts from October. It comes after the Australian government extended the scheme<\/a> to the end of the year as part of this year\u2019s federal budget.<\/p>\n Finder energy expert Mariam Gabaji told Yahoo Finance households don\u2019t need to take any action to get the rebate<\/a> unless they live in an embedded network.<\/p>\n RELATED<\/p>\n \u201cThe payments will be directly credited to your account. Those in embedded networks may need to apply for it separately. For more information, you will need to visit your state or territory’s website,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Victoria is also offering a one-off $100 Power Saving Bonus<\/a> to concession card holders. Applications for the rebate have been open since August 25.<\/p>\n Households can also access rebates for installing solar batteries<\/a>, with the government rolling out a 30 per cent discount<\/a> on eligible batteries from July 1.<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share? Contact tamika.seeto@yahooinc.com<\/p>\n NSW customers on standing offer plans<\/a> saw increases of between 8.3 and 9.7 per cent from July, according to the Australian Energy Regulator.<\/p>\n Households in South East Queensland saw prices rise by between 0.5 and 3.7 per cent, while South Australian households experienced a 2.3 and 3.2 per cent rise.<\/p>\n Victorian households received a more modest 1 per cent average increase, according to the Essential Services Commission.<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t reviewed your energy plan<\/a> in the last 12 months, Gabaji said now is the time.<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s as much as a $500 to $700 a year price gap between the cheapest and most expensive electricity plans in Finder\u2019s database,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n It comes as a new Finder survey reveals how households are fighting back against power price increases<\/a>.<\/p>\n More than 22 per cent of the 1,014 Aussies surveyed say installing solar panels<\/a> had had the biggest impact on reducing their household energy costs.<\/p>\n \u201cSolar panels can make a real difference \u2013 while there\u2019s an upfront cost, the long-term savings can be substantial,\u201d Gabaji told Yahoo Finance.<\/p>\n \u201cIn fact, solar payback periods have generally dropped in Australia, meaning you’ll be able to recover those upfront costs sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n Story Continues <\/p>\n Efficient use of heating and cooling (17 per cent), switching off lights and unplugging electronics (15 per cent) were other strategies that Aussies said were helping to lower their bills<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other common tactics included taking shorter showers, upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, improving home insulation and switching to LED lighting.<\/p>\n Notably, 18 per cent of Aussies said no energy-saving measures had made a significant dent in their bills.<\/p>\n Separate Canstar Blue research also found Aussies could save $470 in winter<\/a> through simple tactics like cold machine washes, keeping the home airtight, opting for an electric blanket over a heater, and cutting down heater and shower time.<\/p>\n Gabaji said combining strategies could make a real difference.<\/p>\n \u201cNo single change will slash your bill overnight, but the impact of small adjustments can add up,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThink of energy saving like a toolkit \u2013 solar, insulation, shorter showers and switching to LED bulbs all work better together.\u201d<\/p>\n Get the latest Yahoo Finance news – follow us on Facebook<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Installing solar power, efficient use of heating and cooling, switching off lights and unplugging electronics were the top ways Aussies were helping lower their bills, Finder found. (Source: AAP) <\/p>\n