According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 4 in 10 Australians worked from home at least once a week throughout 2023.

And while most remote workers will agree that flexible working arrangements are good news for their work/life balance, it doesn’t always have the same positive effect on their electricity bills.

Like many other post-pandemic Aussies, you might have noticed that spending more time working from home has driven up the cost of your monthly bill.

But don’t worry – if you’re feeling the pinch, it doesn’t mean you need to give up your work from home Fridays. Cutting costs at home can be simpler than you’d think – so why not try these 5 energy saving tips for remote workers?

1. Make the switch from peak and off-peak pricing

If you’re still on a peak/off-peak electricity plan, you’re likely missing out on electricity savings during daytime hours.

Despite the market price of electricity typically being at its cheapest during the middle of the day, many electricity retailers will be charging you ‘peak’ rates during this window.

The easiest way to unlock electricity savings while working from home is by making the switch to a smarter residential electricity plan – like Flow Home. Our flexible pricing allows you to take advantage of cheaper, greener energy during daytime hours when solar energy fills the grid.

It’s simple – you use energy at the right times, and we’ll pass on the savings.

2. Invest in a smart home office setup

Optimising your home office setup can go a long way in reducing your electricity costs.

Small changes like switching to LED lighting, unplugging devices when not in use and using laptops instead of desktops can help reduce unnecessary usage.

Flow Power’s home energy management tools can help you track and manage your setup, so you can see the impact of efficient office upgrades.

3. Run energy intensive appliances while you work

Multi-task like an energy expert by scheduling your power-hungry appliances to run throughout the workday.

By aligning your usage with cheaper, more renewable time periods, you can actively reduce your electricity bills on an electricity plan like Flow Home, even if your usage remains the same – it’s all about timing.

Being strategic with the time you use your dishwasher, your washing machine, or even charge your electric vehicle can have a huge impact on your monthly electricity costs. See how shifting can help you save.

4. Optimise home heating and cooling

Heating and cooling are typically the biggest contributors to increases on your bill, especially during periods of extreme weather.

Adding an additional 4 hours of heating to your bill each day could contribute an extra $233 per quarter, while cooling could add an extra $250.

To use energy smarter, you can pre-cool or pre-heat your home when prices are low and reduce your use of heating or cooling when prices peak. Using more energy during low price periods on a smart plan like Flow Home can improve your monthly bill.

5. Plan your week ahead to save

Just like checking the weather forecast for which days or hours the sun will be shining for drying laundry, you can check the upcoming periods for when it’s best to use the most electricity.

Flexible energy use and flexible working arrangements go hand in hand. To maximise your savings, check out the scheduled electricity prices for the week ahead to identify the best days to work from home and power up your appliances.

We designed the Flow Power app to help you plan your usage with real-time electricity market price forecasts. It simplifies optimising your energy usage around your daily schedule – simply open the app to find out when to power down or power ahead.