This lesson suits upper-intermediate to advanced learners. After listening, to test your learning.
Learning notes
Lesson language objective
How to talk about saving on electricity costs
Useful phrases when talking about saving on electricity costs
- My electricity bill was through the roof last month because they raised electricity rates.
- Electricity will cost a pretty penny this month.
- My kids are cranking up the heater every day.
- I set the thermostat between 18-20 degrees.
- I read somewhere that every degree above 20 adds 10% to the electricity bill.
- Hopefully, I don’t blow a fuse again once I see next month’s bill.
Useful phrases when talking to an energy provider about energy plans
- I’d like to enquire about switching to a new energy plan.
- One option is you can bundle your electricity and gas.
- What if we had solar panels installed?
- The initial investment is a bit steep, but we’ve been considering running the house on solar energy to cut costs.
Colloquial expressions:
When something is through the roof, it means it rises to a very high level. The price of petrol is through the roof.
When something costs a pretty penny, it means it is very expensive. The diamond necklace she bought cost a pretty penny.
To crank up means to turn something on and increase the volume, temperature, or output of something. He cranked up the volume of the TV.
A light-bulb moment is a moment of inspiration. I had a light-bulb moment when I heard him talk about his business.
To blow a fuse means to get angry. He blew a fuse when she failed to show up for the meeting.
To run on (something) means to be powered by it. The car runs on fuel.
To cut (costs) means to reduce (costs). In order to cut costs, he stopped ordering takeaways.
Vocabulary:
Electricity bill – A document that shows the amount of energy you’ve used for a given amount of time and its cost
Electricity rates – The cost of each kilowatt (unit of electricity) per hour
Thermostat – An automatic device for regulating temperature
Celsius – The scale of temperature we use in Australia
To switch – To change one thing for another
Energy consumption (or usage) – Amount of energy or power used
To bundle – To group together
Pay-on-time discount – A discount given when you pay your bill before or on the due date
Investment – Something you own or spend on that will eventually generate income or increase in value
Steep – Excessively expensive
Green energy – Energy that comes from natural resources such as the sun or the wind
Eligible – To have the right to do or get something
Solar feed-in tariff – What you can earn back on your electricity bill when your solar energy generates more power than what your household uses
Cultural information:
People who live in the ACT, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania are covered by the . The NECF outlines the protections that are available to energy consumers. In the NT, Victoria and WA, local legislation provides this protection.
Individually, consumers can also turn to strategies to make the most of the energy supplied to them.
As suggested by the , some simple ways to save on energy include minimising the use of hot water, using appliances wisely and heating and cooling efficiently.
Source: Getty/Mischa Keijser
(Learning English helps me save on electricity.)
Hi! This is the SBS Learn English podcast, where we help Australians to speak, understand and connect.
My name is Nikki and, like you, I’m learning new English phrases and words every day.
Today, we are practising phrases you can use when you are talking about saving on electricity and talking with your energy provider about different plans – that is, the way you buy your electricity.
Let’s listen in on a conversation between friends Maryanne and Allan about their electricity bills.
Maryanne:
My electricity bill was through the roof last month because the costs just went up.
Allan:
Ah, mine too! Electricity will cost a pretty penny this month as well. My kids are cranking up the heater every day.
Maryanne:
You know what I do to save on heating? I set the thermostat between 18-20 degrees Celsius. I read somewhere that every degree above 20 adds 10% to the electricity bill.
Allan:
Light-bulb moment! That’s a good tip! I’ll give that a try. Perhaps I won’t blow a fuse again once I see next month’s bill.
What interesting phrases to use, right? Let’s take a closer look at Maryanne and Allan’s conversation.
Maryanne said,
My electricity bill was through the roof last month because the costs just went up.
An electricity bill is a document that outlines the amount of power you've used over a particular length of time and how much it costs.
You can pay for your bill monthly, meaning every month, or quarterly, meaning every three months.
When the cost of something has gone "through the roof" it means that it has risen to a very high level. For example: "The price of meat has gone through the roof!". You can also use it to talk about other numbers that have risen, for example: "Sales of summer dresses have gone through the roof since the sun came out."
Allan agreed with Maryanne and replied,
Ah, mine too! My electricity will cost a pretty penny this month as well.
When something "costs a pretty penny", it means that it is very expensive. We can use this informal phrase to talk about all kinds of things. For example: "His new car cost a pretty penny." Or: "The house they moved into cost a pretty penny."
Allan also said,
My kids are cranking up the heater every day.
To "crank something up" means to increase the volume, temperature or output of something. For example: "Crank up the volume on the TV. I can’t hear what the reporter is saying."
Maryanne replied, giving Allan a helpful tip,
I set the thermostat between 18-20 degrees Celsius.
A thermostat is a device that controls temperature automatically.
Celsius is the scale of temperature we use in Australia. In other countries, such as America, Fahrenheit is used.
Allan liked what Maryanne suggested and said,
Light-bulb moment!
A "light-bulb moment" is a moment when you suddenly understand something or have a very good idea. For example: "I had a light-bulb moment when I heard him talk about his business. I suddenly understood what I should do with my life."
Allan also said,
Perhaps I won't blow a fuse again once I see next month’s bill.
To "blow a fuse" means to get very angry. For example: "I’m worried she might blow a fuse when she finds out I left all the lights on in the house."
Another way to cut down on electricity costs is to ask your energy provider about the energy plans they offer, and then choose the best plan for your power needs.
Listen in on this conversation between Maryanne and Allan. This time, Maryanne is a customer who is calling her energy provider, and Allan is the customer service employee who answers her call.
Maryanne:
Hi, I’d like to enquire about switching to a new energy plan. We’ve been very careful about our energy consumption, but our current bill is still quite high.
Hi, I’d like to enquire about switching to a new energy plan. We’ve been very careful about our energy consumption, but our current bill is still quite high.
Allan:
Of course. One option is that you can bundle your electricity and gas, and that will save you $10 a month. You’re also eligible for a pay-on-time discount.
Maryanne:
I see. What if we had solar panels installed? The initial investment is a bit steep, but we’ve been considering running the house on solar energy to cut down on costs.
Allan:
Green energy is a good alternative as well. It might be better for the planet and you'll be eligible for a solar feed-in tariff.
Maryanne and Allan talked about some options so she can save on electricity costs.
Let’s hear them again. First, we had Maryanne,
Hi, I’d like to enquire about switching to a new energy plan.
Maryanne said she’d like to enquire about switching to a new energy plan.
To "switch" means to change one thing for another. For example: "I switched seats with my friend." Or: "I switched from coffee to tea."
Allan replied,
One option is that you can bundle your electricity and gas and that will save you $10 a month.
To "bundle" means to group things together. When you bundle certain services together and get them from one company, you can get a discount on fees. In this case, bundling together electricity and gas will save Maryanne $10 a month.
Allan also said,
You’re also eligible for a pay-on-time discount.
To "be eligible" means to have the right to do or get something. For example: "He is eligible to vote this year because he is 18 now." Or: "I am eligible to apply for a visa because I have been here long enough."
A "pay-on-time discount" is a discount you get on your bill when you pay it before or on the due date. The discount will vary depending on the energy provider.
Maryanne said,
The initial investment is a bit steep, but we’ve been considering running the house on solar energy to cut down on costs.
An investment is something you buy or do that will eventually make you money or reward you in some way. Examples of investments include a house, jewellery, a business, or even an education, because once you have paid for these things, they usually make you richer in some way.
When the cost of something is "steep", it means it is very expensive. For example: "Air fares are steep at the moment because there are so few flights."
To "run on" something means to be powered by it. For example: "This car runs on electricity."
Maryanne is considering running her house on solar energy.
Allan replied,
Green energy is a good alternative as well.
"Green energy" is energy that is made using natural resources, such as the sun or the wind.
Allan also said,
It will lower your usage and you will be eligible for a solar feed-in tariff.
When you make solar energy in your home, you can often earn money back from the electricity company if your solar energy generates more power than your household uses.
This is called a solar "feed-in tariff". This means that you both save and earn if you use solar energy.
Our guest today is Mandarin News anchor, Rena Li, and she will be sharing something that everyone will find useful – tips on how to save on energy costs.
Rena:
One of the ways I save on energy is to use as little hot water as I can. Do you know that hot water makes up 25% of the average household bill? I try to reduce this by using cold water when I do the laundry and by taking short showers.
One of the ways I save on energy is to use as little hot water as I can. Do you know that hot water makes up 25% of the average household bill? I try to reduce this by using cold water when I do the laundry and by taking short showers.
Nikki:
Ahh, I see. Do you have any tips when it comes to heating or cooling? I find that my bills are especially high when it's very hot or very cold like now during winter.
Rena:
I’m the same. So what I do is I keep the thermostat between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius during winter and 25 to 27 degrees Celsius during summer.
Nikki:
That’s a good tip! What I’ve also found useful to do is to seal doors and windows to prevent cold air from getting into my house in winter. I do the same in summer, because if hot air gets in from outside, my cooling system has to work harder.
That’s a good tip! What I’ve also found useful to do is to seal doors and windows to prevent cold air from getting into my house in winter. I do the same in summer, because if hot air gets in from outside, my cooling system has to work harder.
Rena:
Yes, that will help a lot! Another really easy way to cut down your bill is to simply turn off your appliances at the wall when they are not in use.
Yes, that will help a lot! Another really easy way to cut down your bill is to simply turn off your appliances at the wall when they are not in use.
Nikki:
That’s easy! I hope these tips really do help me cut down on electricity costs, especially during these winter months.
That’s easy! I hope these tips really do help me cut down on electricity costs, especially during these winter months.
Rena:
Yes, but if you find that you’re being charged for more than you've used, or if you are having problems with your energy provider, there are laws that protect you.
Nikki:
Yes! And I know one way to keep up to date with news on energy and everything else is to tune into .
Rena:
SBS WorldWatch features languages other than English, with a line-up of news bulletins from leading international broadcasters in more than 35 languages – including Mandarin, which I present for.
Nikki:
That’s a great way to keep informed! Thank you so much for all the tips, Rena!
That’s a great way to keep informed! Thank you so much for all the tips, Rena!
A big thank you to our educational consultant Professor Lynda Yates, our guest Rena Li, and Paul Nicholson and Coni Laranjeira who voiced the characters of Allan and Maryanne.
