<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australians are rationing their own comfort to survive the cold, with nearly nine in 10 households cutting back on heaters and hot water </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/groceries-prices-inflation-coles-woolies-supermarket-prices/a0b3c54b-ac98-41cd-9132-879fe1663b42" rel="" target="" title="to stay afloat."><span>to stay afloat.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New research from Compare the Market reveals 87.4 per cent of Australians are actively taking steps to slash electricity costs as households brace for </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/groceries-prices-inflation-coles-woolies-supermarket-prices/a0b3c54b-ac98-41cd-9132-879fe1663b42" rel="" target="" title="another expensive winter."><span>another expensive winter.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Turning appliances off at the wall was the most common measure, used by more than half of those surveyed.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/energy-bills-cost-of-living-groceries-heaters-winter-australia/a502640a-dbf5-4f3e-911c-79bb7954d69d" rel="" target="" title="The easy task millions are putting off that will slash hundreds from bills"><strong><span>The easy task millions are putting off that will slash hundreds from bills</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/IzAnXjxSgpds4nMBYSgS96pRgBs=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F03%2F762674%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>46.8 per cent said they were reducing their use of heaters or air conditioners, while 44.1 per cent had switched to energy-efficient light bulbs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another 23.2 per cent said they were taking shorter showers or cutting back on hot water use.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Compare the Market economic director David Koch said households were trying everything they could to keep bills manageable.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-energy-bills-australia-winter-heating-cost-saving-measures/f39a43fe-3728-4028-8563-3cb65d52a0c8" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/inflation-federal-budget-iran-war-supermarket-prices-coles-woolies-groceries-cost-of-living/1fa8fbe3-7021-41c0-97ab-19394c070eb6" rel="" target="" title="Inflation could hit 7 per cent – this is what it could cost you"><strong><span>Inflation could hit 7 per cent – this is what it could cost you</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Before we see anyone shivering through winter by switching off heating or taking cold showers, one effective bill buster is ensuring you're on the cheapest energy plan to begin with," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He stressed that many Australians were still missing out on critical savings by failing to compare providers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The number of people I've met who complain about high bills but haven't compared their plan in more than a year is astounding," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It takes just a few minutes to compare. And hot tip: check your latest bill for a better bill offer message."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Only 9.3 per cent have switched providers, even though ACCC data reveals a staggering 73.3 per cent are currently overpaying on the wrong plan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The findings come ahead of the upcoming default market offer and Victorian default ffer announcements, which help set electricity pricing benchmarks ahead of July 1.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They act as benchmarks for electricity pricing and can influence the wider market, with retailers often adjusting their own plans in response.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>