'Phantom' devices you need to switch off or risk wasting hundreds
Three appliances are quietly hiking your energy bill higher.
Energy prices are still sky high and keeping the bills down can feel like a full time job. Trying to save a bit of money has become part of life, from cutting showers short to cooking in bulk. However, one of the most common culprits of inflated bills is often overlooked as it is hiding in plain sight.
Leaving appliances on standby can suck hundreds out of your account and inflate your bills without you even noticing. Energy expert Justin Nielsen from Wolf River Electric has shared some of the top energy sucking appliances that you need to switch off entirely — not just let them sit there.
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According to Justin, this so-called ‘phantom load’ can cost households far more than they realise over the course of a year.
He said: “People assume that if a device is not actively being used, it is not costing them anything. In reality, many modern appliances are designed to remain partially active. They are connected to the internet, waiting for updates, or powering small internal components. That constant draw might seem tiny, but over 12 months it adds up.”
These are the three devices that you need to switch off at the wall to save money
Games consoles
According to Juston, these are the worst offenders when it comes to increasing your energy bills. He said: “Most consoles draw between 10 and 15 watts in standby. That does not sound like much, but left on all year, that can cost around £25 to £35 depending on your tariff.”
Even in rest mode, they are still using power. He explained: “In standby, consoles remain connected to WiFi, they download software patches, sync cloud saves and often continue to power USB ports to charge controllers. Internally, parts of the system remain active so you can jump straight back into a game. All of that requires electricity.”
Over a year, these consoles could add around £30 to your bill.
Almost every household owns a TV - and almost every household will be losing energy keeping it on standby. Justin said: “Modern televisions are far more efficient than older plasma screens when they are in use.
“But in standby, they still typically use between 3 and 10 watts, especially if they are connected to the internet for updates and voice activation.”
Another issue is the set top box for Sky, streaming or cable and the speakers. He explained:
“Set top boxes, streaming devices and sound systems can each draw 5 to 12 watts in standby. A Sky or cable box in particular is rarely truly off. Many continue recording scheduled programmes and maintaining network connections.”
If you combine a television at 5 watts, a set top box at 10 watts and a soundbar at 5 watts, that could total 20 watts constantly.
“At 20 watts running 24 hours a day, that is roughly 175 kilowatt hours per year. On a typical UK tariff, that could mean £45 or more annually just to keep your entertainment system waiting for you.”
Microwaves and kitchen appliances with digital displays
The third item that is sucking power is your microwave.
“Microwaves are in almost every UK kitchen, and most have digital clocks,” he explains. “Those displays are constantly powered. On average, a microwave might use 2 to 4 watts just to keep the clock and control panel active.”
While that may equate to roughly £5 to £10 per year, Justin says other popular kitchen appliances also contribute.
“It is not just the microwave. It is the coffee machine with a glowing display, the electric oven clock, the washing machine with a standby panel. Each one might be small on its own, but together they can easily reach 10 to 15 watts across the kitchen.”
All of these together could add another £20 to £30 annually. ipThe rise in smart tech means that bills are climbing higher as these appliances work to make life easier.
“Today’s appliances are designed for convenience. They are always ready, always connected, always listening for commands or updates. That means they are rarely fully off unless you physically switch them off.”
“Consumers love instant access. But that convenience has an energy cost. Even devices that appear dormant may be powering internal memory, network cards or sensors.”
