Marydean, i went to a savings workshop this week, and the suggestion there was for all participants to get "energy audits" done of our homes, to reduce power bills. I found out about a REES (acronoym) scheme, which is operated by various power suppliers. My supplier for e.g is AGL, so i rang them, they took my details, when enough people in that area request an Energy Audit, i will be contacted and they will come out and do an Energy Audit in my home. (a few weeks they said). APparently they put some kind of meter on all your appliances, so that you can be aware WHICH ones are the high energy consumers, and which are actually low energy users (and adapt your usage accordingly).

the person running the workshop, gave an example, of one workshop participant, who had bought a $15 heater, and each quarter, it was costing her $720 in electricity, to run the $15 blow heater! So once she had the Energy Audit, apart from being shocked at this, she changed how she heated her home.

I have just changed from having EVERYTHING on standby (what my ex insisted on), to living in my own place, where i turn some things off now - like you, with a powerboard with multiple things plugged in, and all with individual switches. I turn the powerboard off at the wall, so for eg when i go to bed, i turn off EVERYTHING in the living room for the night.

i think the house you live in has alot to do with it too. i feel very fortunate to live in a place with gas for water, heat and cooking. I know if i lived in an all electric home, my bills would be much higher. i've been told it's too exxy to retrofit gas, the home is either built WITH the gas in it, or the home never has it.

I have met homeowners who installed enough solar panels, that they stopped receiving electricity accounts and actually sell their excess power to "the grid". not applicable to many, but wouldn't it be great to be able to do that?

as a renter, i am pro-active with the things i CAN do, like using extra clothing and blankets BEFORE switching on heating.