How you can reduce your electricity usage while the network is under strain

The combination of power station outages and cold weather is putting strain on the energy network, leading to warnings of blackouts and power shortages along the east coast of Australia.

Households in Queensland and New South Wales are being asked to cut back on their energy consumption to reduce the strain on the network.

"The main thing is in the morning peak and the evening peak — when you're getting ready for work and school and the evening meal time — be thoughtful about your electricity use," says Paul Simshauser, chief executive of Powerlink Queensland.

Here are some tips for reducing your energy use during peak periods.

Set your heater to between 18 and 20 degrees

While heating is energy intensive, it's important to stay warm in cold weather.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean says people should be conscious of their power usage, but that does not mean they need to turn off the heater. 

"We want people to stay comfortable and safe. It's at their discretion," says Emma Oliveri, a spokesperson for Queensland electricity distributor Energex.

"But where [people] can reduce their electricity use, without impacting their comfort or safety …it's good practice, regardless of the prospect of supply shortage."

If you're using a reverse-cycle air conditioner, or central heating, it helps to set the temperature to between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius, especially during peak times.

Keep in mind that every extra degree can add up to 10 per cent to your energy use, according to the Australian Government's energy resources website.

Choosing a lower temperature will make a big impact on your power usage, and it will also help you save on your bills. 

Run energy-intensive appliances outside peak periods

Besides heating, it's worth considering running other appliances such as your dishwasher, washing machine or clothes dryer outside peak periods.

For example, you could set your washing machine to run during the day and hang out your clothes once you get home from work.

Any appliances that use cooling or heating will be the most energy intensive, Ms Oliveri says.

While you can't avoid using the oven or fridge, you could try to avoid using something like a clothes dryer.

According to Energy Networks Australia, drying one or two medium loads of washing uses about the same amount of energy as 20 hours of television or one year of charging your phone.

Turn unused appliances off at the wall

While it won't make as big a difference as the other tips, you could also reduce your energy usage by switching off idle appliances.

Many appliances still draw electricity when in standby mode, which can add up to an estimated three per cent of household energy usage.

The solution is simple: if there are appliances you're not using, make sure they're not drawing power.

"If you've got any appliances in standby mode, maybe switch them off at the wall," Mr Simshauser says.