An El Niño weather system is set to heat up pressure on energy bills across Australia in the coming months.

It has already been an unseasonably warm spring, with parts of the country baking in mid-30C heat on some days. Moving into summer, it looks set to get very hot and dry, and households will need to prepare to pay more for electricity to stay cool, which can account for up to 40 per cent of our bills.

From fans, to portable heaters and air conditioners; Aussies are confused about how to stay comfortable without being slapped with an enormous bill, especially as the financial blow of 25 per cent energy price hikes start to trickle in.

Any relief from downward-trending wholesale electricity prices won’t come until July next year at the earliest, when energy regulators set new benchmark pricing.

But it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom if you make some changes around the home.

Also read:

• Energy rebates: Our state-by-state guide to getting cheaper electricity

• This one simple change could cut 7 in 10 energy bills

• Centrelink recipients to get energy bill rebate

Consider your air-conditioning costs and habits

Do you have a reverse-cycle air conditioner at home you’ve been too afraid to use because it’ll cause your bills to blow up?

It’s in fact a myth that just because they’re big in size, they’re more expensive to run.

Reverse-cycle air cons are the cheapest way to both heat and cool your home, thanks to their energy efficiency. You can look up your model online to see how energy efficient it is for peace of mind. The more star ratings it has, the cheaper it is to run.

But, regardless of what type of air conditioning you have, the following tips can help you stay cool this summer and keep your costs down:

• Make sure to clean your air conditioner filters regularly – at least once a year. Clogged filters due to dust, mould or pollen can lower the efficiency of the appliance.

• Given each extra degree can add 5-10 per cent to your energy bill, you’ll want to consider raising the temperature when you have the air con switched on.

• Reducing the number of hours you use your air conditioner per day can also help you cut back on costs. For example, dropping your use from five hours to four hours per day during summer can knock 25 per cent off the cost to cool your home.

• Make sure all doors and windows are closed so that your air con isn’t working harder than necessary to keep your rooms cool.

Tip: If the heat makes it too uncomfortable to sleep at night, consider setting a one or two-hour timer if the feature is available. This way you won’t have the air con running all night.