Western Australian energy consumers have been urged to consider more carefully the way they use energy to save themselves money.
Fuel and Energy Minister Geoff Gallop said today there were many small improvements and changes which both industry and individuals could make to reduce their energy bills.
Dr Gallop was opening Energy West '92 - an energy management trade fair providing information on energy-efficient products and the latest energy technology.
The Minister said one of the first things SECWA customers should do was to ensure they were on the right energy tariff.
"Commercial customers have made energy cost savings of up to 34 per cent in the past six months by changing to the most appropriate tariff," Dr Gallop said.
"Energy audits are also very useful for making sure that energy is used in the most effective and efficient way to minimise waste."
Dr Gallop said energy management had been brought into focus in recent years by the need to reduce costs, the introduction of a greater range of time-of-use tariffs and new environmental pressures.
"Energy management is not starry-eyed, idealistic stuff. It offers practical alternatives and solutions to help people use energy more wisely and efficiently," he said.
"The wise use of energy can make an important contribution to overall costs, especially in times of greater competition when greater efficiency is required in all processes.
"Of course this has implications for SECWA, which also is working hard to keep costs down by, among other things, avoiding having expensive generating plant standing idle.
"SECWA's aim is to flatten the peaks of demand so that all generating plant is being used with much less idle time."
Dr Gallop said this was being achieved through bigger reductions in tariffs to customers who were able to use electricity at off-peak times.
