Brutal summer forecast could push household energy bills higher – here’s what you can do

Early weather modelling from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is in - this summer is expected to be hotter-than-normal, which isn't great news for our future energy bills.

October 2025 is already shaping up to be more summer than spring.

Heat records are set to tumble across multiple states as unusually high temperatures in the low to mid 40s are set to hit parts of New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

BOM's first long-range summer prediction is also expecting chances of extreme heat until January 2026 for most of the country, apart from the coastal parts of NSW.

Apparently, the days and nights are going to get dramatically hot and sweaty, with initial forecasts showing 60-80% of the minimum temperatures will be 'higher than usual'.

"Daytime temperatures for November to January are likely to be above average for much of Australia, while overnight temperatures are very likely to be above average almost nationwide," the Bureau said.

"November to January rainfall is likely to be above average for parts of northern Australia, particularly over far northern Queensland."

Summer forecast could spike your energy bills

Depending on where you live and your household setup, you might already be reaching for the air conditioner remote.

The problem is, our energy bills have never been higher, so you're probably stressing every time you turn it on, unless you've got a solar system set up.

In fact, 26% of Aussies listed their energy bill as one of their top 3 most stressful expenses in October, according to data from Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker.

So, whether you have air conditioning or not, here's how you can try to curb those energy bills and stay cool:

1. Clean your air con's filters if you haven't this year. They can become clogged with dust, pollen and even mould, making your air con less efficient and more costly to run.
2. Instead of setting your thermostat very low, like 16°C, try raising it by a degree or two. Each extra degree can save roughly 10% on your energy bill.
3. Buy one or more pedestal fans to keep your rooms cool. The more budget-friendly ones can go out of stock very fast, so you want to get in before summer officially starts.
4. If you're a homeowner, see if your state government is offering any energy rebates on upgrading to an energy-efficient cooling system, as this can drastically bring down costs. For example, in NSW, if you're eligible, you can get discounts of up to $560 if you install a new 6kW system or replace an old air con with a 6kW split system.
5. This is the simplest tip, but something we tend to forget about - closing the blinds or curtains on a hot day can help keep the room cooler. I've personally installed budget-friendly blackout blinds from IKEA in my bedroom (I'm renting an apartment), and they've really helped keep the room cooler than the rest of my apartment!
6. Insulation is expensive and also out of the question for most of us renting. However, DIY methods like using window and door seals, or a door snake, to stop cool air from escaping can be really helpful. This means even if you turn your air con on for a while and then switch it off, your room will stay cooler for longer.
7. Last but not least, make sure to compare energy plans to see if you can save money with a cheaper plan. There's as much as a $500 to $700 a year difference between the cheapest and most expensive electricity plans in our database, so it really pays to shop around.