Aussies are being warned to brace for higher electricity bills ahead of a hot summer. Australia has just sweltered through the hottest August on record, with temperatures topping 40 degrees in some parts of the country.

Running your air-conditioner can add a significant amount to your electricity bill, with Finder analysis finding Aussies can expect to spend between $132 and $707 extra to keep cool this summer. The exact cost depends on where you live, with Queenslanders and those in the Northern Territory set to be hit with the biggest costs.

“Temperatures the last week have been pretty astonishing and if global temperatures for everyone else’s summers are anything to go by, we should brace ourselves for some sweltering heat,” Finder utilities expert Mariam Gabaji told Yahoo Finance.

“While a really hot summer won’t automatically increase the price that you’re charged for electricity unless your provider decides to increase the prices, what will happen is that it’s likely that your energy consumption will go up.”

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Money-saving expert Joel Gibson said power price rises weren’t as high as last year but Aussies still needed to “be careful”.

“Cooling can make up 30 to 40 per cent of your summer power bill and it's often the number 1 factor that makes summer bills the biggest of the year in the hotter states,” Gibson told Yahoo Finance.

“Price changes this year are a mixed bag: I've seen some plans go down slightly, while others have gone up by $1,000 plus, so you really need to check what's happening with your rates.

“We've just had the hottest August on record so some households will already be cranking the air con in early Spring, which is a big red flag for high power bills.”

The average Aussie spent $385 on their quarterly electricity bill in August, Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker found.

Are you being hit with rising bills? Contact tamika.seeto@yahooinc.com to share your story

Expert tips to save

There are small changes Aussies can make around the house that can help them save and avoid bill shock this summer.

“If you do have an air conditioning, make sure that the filters are clean, so that they’re not working harder to cool your home,” Gabaji said.

“Every extra degree lower will add 10 per cent to your running costs. So you know, instead of setting your temperature at 18 degrees, try to bump it up to say 21 or 22 degrees.”