HomeBillLab prioritises primary and official sources that match the country, jurisdiction and equipment being discussed.
Source hierarchy
- National or federal government agencies and statutory regulators for rules, programs, consumer information and official datasets.
- Official energy-market bodies, efficiency programs and recognised government-backed labeling resources.
- State, territory or local government and regulator sources for jurisdiction-specific tariffs, rebates, concessions and programs.
- Manufacturer technical documentation for product-specific rated power, capacity, tested consumption or efficiency data.
- High-quality secondary sources only when a primary source is not practical, with material claims checked against the strongest available evidence.
Australia
Core Australian sources include:
- energy.gov.au — Australian Government household energy guidance and program information.
- Australian Energy Regulator (AER) — consumer, retail-market and regulated-offer information.
- Energy Made Easy — official comparison information for covered jurisdictions.
- Energy Rating — appliance and equipment energy-efficiency labels and guidance.
- Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) — market and system information.
- Clean Energy Regulator — renewable-energy schemes and related program information.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) — official national statistics where relevant.
United States
Core U.S. sources include:
- U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) — electricity prices, consumption, fuels and household-energy datasets.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) — household energy, equipment and program guidance.
- ENERGY STAR — product efficiency information and recognised specifications.
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — EnergyGuide labeling rules and consumer information.
- State public utility commissions, energy offices and utilities when a claim depends on a specific jurisdiction, tariff or program.
Time-sensitive information
Electricity prices, gas prices, retailer plans, rebates, tax incentives and government programs can change. When HomeBillLab publishes a time-sensitive number, we aim to show its market, jurisdiction, source and relevant date. Historical data should not be presented as a current household quote.
Product specifications
For a specific appliance or system, current manufacturer technical documentation can be the best primary source for rated input power, capacity or declared energy consumption. Those specifications are kept distinct from real-world household consumption, which can vary with installation, conditions and use.