How Much Power Does Your Home Really Use? A Simple Guide for Wanaka Households

With power prices rising across Central Otago, more homeowners are trying to understand where their electricity is actually going. The good news is you don’t need to be an electrician to make sense of it — just a few key insights can help you cut costs without changing your lifestyle.

The biggest power users in a typical wanaka home

In Wanaka households, the main culprits are usually:

1. Hot water (25–35%)
Your cylinder is one of the biggest power consumers. Long showers add up fast.

2. Heating & heat pumps (20–30%)
Central Otago winters are tough. A well-set heat pump uses far less power than a panel heater or oil column.

3. Appliances (15–25%)
Fridges, dishwashers, washing machines — older models especially.

4. Lighting
Switching to LED saves around 80% compared to old halogens.

5. Standby power
TVs, chargers, sound systems — all quietly drawing energy.

How to understand your own usage

You can look at your power bill, but the easiest way is to check:

• Your average daily kWh

• When your usage spikes (e.g., evenings, winter months)

• What appliances you run daily

We can also install a smart home energy monitor that shows real-time usage on your phone — perfect if you’re trying to bring costs down.

Two quick ways to save money

• Set your heat pump between 19–21°C (biggest savings)

• Make sure your hot water cylinder is on a timer or well insulated