In a sign of the mounting pressure electricity is placing on household budgets, Michelle Barbaro and her family decided to shift from their North Griffith rental home last year after consecutive power bills of more than $1500.

Now living in a smaller house in Murrumbidgee Estate, the Barbaros have introduced a raft of power-saving measures and reduced their quarterly bill to about $400 – a saving of nearly $100 a week.

“We’re actually paying extra rent in this place but we’re still saving money,” Mrs Barbaro said.

“We didn’t have any choice though – we were struggling.”

Mrs Barbaro has introduced a frugal electricity regime to her husband and three young kids, including a “lights off” policy in the home when the TV is on.

She has also taken a night light out of her two youngest children’s room and placed a shared one in the hallway.

The reverse cycle air-conditioning hasn’t escaped the cuts either, with Mrs Barbaro placing cling wrap over some of the vents to save on energy.

“I usually don’t put the air-conditioning on unless it’s freezing and I ask the kids to put slippers or a jumper on instead of just turning on the heating,” Mrs Barbaro said.

She has fitted heavier curtains and doorstops to further insulate the home, and ensures all power points are off if appliances are not being used.

Clothes hang in living areas throughout the house, with Mrs Barbaro only using the dryer in “emergency situations”.

All the lights – and even the television – have been swapped for their energy-saving equivalent.

“In the end, you just have to make the changes,” Mrs Barbaro said.

“Groceries have gone up, petrol has gone up, you need to save money where you can.”

As of July 1, electricity prices jumped across the board, with Country Energy customers wearing an 18 per cent increase.

Gas prices also increased by between nine and 14 per cent.

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