UK households are losing up to £630 each year due to ‘phantom load’ appliances—devices that continue to consume electricity even when turned off or on standby. Energy savings specialists are urging homeowners to unplug such power-hungry gadgets to reduce bills and save money.
Helen Rolph, an energy savings expert at Quotezone, highlights the surprising impact of these sneaky energy drains. “Nearly 60% of people leave appliances on standby, unaware that these phantom loads could be costing them hundreds annually,” she says. “Our survey found that one-third of Brits don’t realize how much they could save simply by unplugging unused devices.”
As energy prices remain high, cutting phantom power is one of the easiest and most effective ways to lower household costs. Rolph points out that it’s not just large appliances like extra fridges or desktop computers consuming energy — smaller, often overlooked devices such as towel rails contribute significantly to the overall expense. “This Halloween season is a perfect time to be mindful of energy vampires lurking in your home,” she adds.
The recent £35 increase in the energy price cap has already pushed bills higher, making these savings even more valuable. Reducing standby consumption could help compensate for the rise and, over the course of a year, lead to meaningful financial relief.
The top phantom load offenders identified include:
- Faulty set-top box recorders: £162 per year
- Outdoor lights: £135 per year
- Additional fridges: £104 per year
- Desktop computers: £86 per year
- Electric towel rails: £62 per year
- Digital TV boxes: £40 per year
- Multi-room speakers: £30 per year
- Routers: £8.13 per year
- Coffee makers: £1.80 per year
- Microwaves: £0.92 per year
With over one-third of people unaware that these “vampire appliances” could cost them more than £100 annually, simple actions like unplugging or fully switching off devices could produce significant savings and help ease household budgets.