Although power prices have skyrocketed, analysis carried out by Consumer show there are savings to be made if you shop around.
With scepticism I entered my own details, asking the internal question 'how much could a household of two people, working during the day actually save by changing companies?'.
The answer surprised me - more than $200 a year for a low user.
Soaring bills can be unexpected and put added strain on finances, so it is important to start by looking at the most affordable heating solution for your home.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council's Heatsmart insulation and clean heat funding assistance programme helps ratepayers with the cost of fitting ceiling and underfloor insulation and replacing non-compliant burners and open fires.
This is the last winter those with fires installed between 1996 and 2005 can legally use them and, already, Grant Burney from Abode Heating and Insulation, has been busy arranging quotes for replacement options. Either wood/pellet/gas fires or heat pumps, all of which had their pros and cons.
"We find wood burners are still 75 per cent of sales, they are more popular than the heat pump," Mr Burney said.
"Heat pumps are great for warming rooms, but not whole houses, they heat the air enough and when it reaches a certain temperature they will turn off and the heat goes away."
For a standard home you would need at least two heat pumps, but bedrooms were still likely to need additional heating methods.
Fires pumped out more warmth and could spread throughout the house but take about an hour to warm up, and the temperature was not as easily controlled - leaving the top of the room hot and the bottom cooler.
Modern models, however, can bring air into the home from outside resulting in a more even heat throughout, alleviating drafts.
The cost between fireplaces and heat pumps was comparable - a cord of wood came to about the same as running a pump when spread over four months.
Earthquakes in Christchurch made people more aware about being self sufficient, Mr Burney added, meaning many favoured fires which would keep families warm and provide a place to cook if the power went out.
Lighting is another area to consider with halogen bulbs proving seven times more costly to run than LEDs, they also required a foot gap between the bulb and any insulation, leaving space for heat to escape.
A well insulated home was the best way forward as it helped to keep the chosen form of heating inside.
Turfrey Plumbing, Roofing, Heating and Gas found anyone under the age of 55 preferred a trusty wood fire, however landlords, elderly people and those with small homes were leaning toward heat pumps.
"They tend to take out fire places and put in heat pumps, they are low maintenance and there's no fire hazards," operations manager Rich Hutchinson said.
Central heating has always been big in Europe but was becoming a more affordable solution for Kiwi families. Installation prices have dropped from about $20,000 to $30,000 and could now be achieved for between $10,000 and $12,000.
It was suitable for older homes that could get very cold, and worked well for anyone with health issues such as asthma.
"The main benefit is every single room is the same temperature, you can control it too, say if you don't want the lounge as hot as the bedroom," Mr Hutchinson said.
Gas fireplaces were another good choice, particularly for anyone living in Hastings, Napier or Havelock North, where natural gas pipes could be tapped into.
Many also switched their water to gas by having bottles installed outside - so you only heat what you use, unlike some more traditional methods.
Consumers should concentrate on water and space heating if they want to reduce energy bills, as these account for between half and three-quarters of the total energy use in most households. Anyone with hot water cylinders should ensure they are wrapped so heat does not escape, you can also insulate the hot water pipes. Wraps cost about $60 and pipe insulation is about $5 a metre from hardware stores.
For an older (pre-1987) cylinder and pipes Energywise estimates you could save up to $85 a year.
