EVER been stung by a massive electricty bill that felt like it came from nowhere? Well, here's the bad news: most of the time it didn't come from nowhere. You've just not read your bill properly.

New research from energy comparison website 'Make It Cheaper' that was conducted by Galaxy Research shows that although 75 per cent of Australians got a larger electricty bill in the past 12 months - they didn't do anything about it.

"It's like people don't question that there are actually several different providers of gas or energy in Australia. Companies don't have to own the polls or the lines to sell you a product, they're actually just providers," said Tim Wolfenden managing director of the 'Make it Cheaper' an energy comparison website.

Small household changes, such as running an extra bar fridge in the garage over summer can probably add up to $100 in additional payments each month. But bigger charges can also occur when your contract - usually 12 or 24 months - expires without you realising.

"Then we just tend to let them roll over. The problem within that is we don't bother checking that the annual rate has not increased.

"We might still get the discount as arranged with the bill but the other price is going up," he said.

First, educate yourself about what you should be looking for on your bill.

*Discounts: If you're expecting a discount double check it has actually been applied. Also, make sure it's been allocated to the correct part of your bill.

*Are your charges GST inclusive? Check you haven't been charged at a rate including GST and then recharged GST on the final fee. You shouldn't be charged GST figures twice.

*Make quarter on quarter comparisons: Compare your quarterly bill with the corresponding quarter from the year prior. Look out for kilowatt usage to make sure you aren't using excess electricity and aren't being overcharged.

*Check your tariffs: Different tariffs are applied to your bill for charges such as supplying power to the grid or even general supply charges. Double check you aren't paying more for the tariff than you need to be!

*Be rewarded for paying on time: If you regularly pay your bill on time you may be eligible for "pay on time" discounts. These discounts mean your bill will be reduced each month if you ensure you meet the payment date.

*Payment deadline: If you are seeking a "pay on time" discount double check the final payment date. This can also help avoid any late fees

*Peak your usage at off peak times: Read through your bill to see if you are charged differently during peak and off peak usage times.

*Check your retailer's website: Every retailer details its bill differently. It's worthwhile looking online to see how they break out the information and exactly what each charge means.

Once you're aware of what you're looking for any changes should be raised with your provider.

'And don't be afraid to negotiate with your provider about the price point you actually want," he said.

Alternatively, you could also try Wolfenden's site, Make It Cheaper - it's free.

All you need to do is log onto their site, type in your contact details and someone will call you back to discuss your requirements, then follow up and do the research part for you.

They will also give you a courtesy call just before the contract expiries to make sure you are happy to go ahead or need another service.

In return Make It Cheaper receive a bonus from the companies they promote.

Keep the conversation going on Twitter: @lucyjk|@newscomauHQ