Saving money on energy is more important now than ever before. The energy bill in the UK is expected to increase again on April 1, 2025.
The energy price cap covers 26 million households in England, Wales and Scotland and is set every three months by energy regulator Ofgem. It fixes the maximum price that can be charged for each unit of energy on a standard or default tariff for a typical dual-fuel household which pays by direct debit.
As of January 2025, the current energy price cap in the UK is set at 24.86 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh) for electricity and 6.34 pence per kWh for gas. The cost of your energy bill will depend on your usage and supplier.
EnergyAdviceHelping.com has highlighted the top five energy-draining devices to never leave on standby. If a device is left on standby and not switched off it can quietly drain energy and increase energy bills.
Energy consumption will be lower than when a device is fully powered but it will continue to make your bills more expensive. The energy advice website says high powered game consoles are among the worst energy-draining devices. While consoles may come with energy-saving features, many users may forget to fully switch them off or turn off the TV while the console is still running.
According to experts, gaming consoles account for around 6% of a typical household’s energy bill. The Energy Saving Trust recommends keeping consoles updated, as this can enhance energy efficiency.
Satellite boxes can impact on energy bills, most feature a standby mode but overusing this can consume a ‘surprising’ amount of power according to the energy experts. Turning them off properly while you’re not using it may make a noticeable difference to your bills.
Microwaves are one of the main culprits when it comes to energy bills racking up. According to estimates, a microwave left on standby can cost you around £3 to £6 per year in electricity. When combined with other devices not switched off it is a lot more costly than it sounds.
Other devices include desktop computers and older appliances Older appliances are usually less energy efficient than newer ones. They can require more energy to run properly. The experts warn: “Running an old fridge could cost you around £408 to £816 per year. Newer, energy-efficient models can use half as much energy.”
Making sure these devices and others around the home are unplugged properly when not in use can amount to huge savings long-term. It can also reduce your household’s carbon footprint.