Several household appliances can quietly drain standby power and add up over time on your energy bill – here are the five energy hogs an expert says you should never leave on standby
UK household electricity bills are set to increase in October(Image: LightFieldStudios via Getty Images)
Millions of households are set to see their energy bills rise again from October, with experts warning that the increase could be particularly painful for families relying on gas to heat their homes. The energy price cap is due to rise by 4% from October 1, pushing the typical annual bill from £1,663 to £1,723 for households on standard or default tariffs.
That works out at around £60 more a year – or roughly £5 a month – based on typical energy use. But the headline figure does not mean households are limited to paying £1,723.
The Ofgem price cap sets the maximum unit rates and standing charges suppliers can charge on standard tariffs. Your actual bill will depend on how much gas and electricity you use.
So households using more energy could face bills well above £1,723, while those who use less should pay less.
There is, however, some relief for electricity customers.
The Government is removing VAT from domestic electricity bills between October and March, helping to offset some of the pressure from rising energy costs.
Under the new price cap, the average electricity unit rate will rise only slightly, from 26.11p to 26.32p per kWh.
Gas prices, meanwhile, are set to see a much bigger increase, with the average capped unit rate rising from 7.33p to 7.97p per kWh.
However, many households might not realise that various home appliances can quietly drain small amounts of electricity, gradually bumping up your energy bill over time.
While they’re not the primary culprits behind soaring electricity costs, switching them off is a vital tactic for energy conservation in any home.
Eric Bramlett, a property expert and owner of Bramlett Residential, has identified the top five appliances you “should never” leave on standby, explaining why it’s important to power them down completely, reports the Express.
Older appliances
As household appliances get older, their efficiency drops and they begin drawing more power — often due to a number of worn or faulty components.
One of the biggest energy-guzzling offenders is an ageing fridge. While switching it off entirely isn’t recommended, upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient model could prove a shrewd investment.
Microwave ovens
Even when sitting idle, microwave ovens continue to draw power simply to keep their clock displays lit up.
You can, however, claw back some energy by unplugging your microwave or using a power strip to cut the supply, which could “lower your electricity bill” according to the expert.
Games consoles
These powerful devices feature energy-saving options but also come with substantial downsides. They have an on/off switch that places them into a low-power standby mode.
Yet many users forget to switch them off entirely, or they turn off the television while leaving the console running, which can prove costly. Eric noted: “They can be real energy hogs on standby. A client of mine saw their energy bills drop after turning off their console when not in use.”
Specialists from the Energy Saving Trust have revealed that games consoles account for roughly six per cent of a household’s energy bill.
While this may not seem significant, over time, switching off your console can result in considerable savings.
The Energy Saving Trust expert also stressed not to forget updating consoles as it “can improve energy management”.
Cable or satellite boxes
Keeping these appliances on standby can prove surprisingly expensive, according to Eric. He revealed: “A friend of mine found that unplugging their cable box when not in use made a difference in their monthly energy bills.”
When left on standby, these devices consume a similar amount of electricity to games consoles.
Desktop computers
Desktop computers have a well-earned reputation for gobbling up far more energy than laptops, so it’s worth making sure you shut them down completely when you’re finished.
Eric advised: “Don’t even get me started on those. Just shut them down when you’re done using them and watch your bills melt away.”
