British Gas, OVO, EDF, and Octopus customers warned of 'vampire devices' adding £140 to energy bills

Temie Laleye
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:58:42 +0000

British households are losing more than £100 annually to so-called "vampire" appliances that quietly consume electricity even when switched to standby mode.

Despite energy prices remaining elevated in 2026, many people remain unaware that devices they believe are turned off continue drawing power around the clock.

Energy experts have shared how customers of all major suppliers, including British Gas, OVO, EDF and Octopus, can save some extra cash before the six per cent increase in bills.

Gordon Wallis, an energy expert at Your NRG, warns that those small standby lights and digital displays are constantly pulling electricity in the background.

"Over a full year, that wasted energy builds up into real money leaving your pocket," he said.

Research indicates this phantom power consumption can represent up to 23 per cent of a home's total electricity usage, potentially adding between £80 and £140 to annual bills.

In extreme cases, some households face even steeper costs from these hidden energy drains.

The worst offenders lurk throughout the home, from living areas to kitchens.

Televisions and smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming devices, and games consoles rank among the biggest energy vampires.

Wi-Fi routers, which many people leave running continuously, also contribute significantly to wasted power.

Phone and laptop chargers continue drawing electricity even when nothing is connected to them.

Kitchen appliances including microwaves with digital clocks and coffee machines add to the problem, alongside smart speakers, printers, and baby monitors.

The financial impact varies by device but quickly accumulates.

Set-top boxes alone can drain more than £30 annually while sitting idle.

A television on standby typically costs households around £9 to £10 per year.

Microwaves and coffee machines each contribute several additional pounds to the total.

Mr Wallis emphasises that while individual devices appear to cost relatively little, the cumulative effect proves substantial.

"Individually these costs seem small - but together they can easily exceed £100 a year in wasted energy," he said.

The typical British home consumes approximately 2,700 kWh of electricity each year, meaning even minor inefficiencies create a noticeable dent in household budgets.

With energy bills remaining considerably higher than they were before the recent crisis, addressing this waste offers a straightforward path to savings.

"With energy costs where they are, cutting out waste is one of the easiest ways to save money without changing your lifestyle," Mr Wallis added.

He describes phantom power consumption as one of the simplest budget leaks to address, yet also among the most frequently ignored.

Fortunately, tackling these energy vampires requires no costly investment.

Mr Wallis recommends switching appliances off at the mains socket rather than simply putting them on standby.

Chargers should be unplugged when not actively charging a device.

Smart power strips offer a convenient solution, allowing multiple devices to be disconnected simultaneously with a single switch.

Households should also remain conscious of technology that runs constantly, such as routers and smart home devices.

"You don't need expensive upgrades - just better habits. Turning things off properly can make a real difference," Mr Wallis said.

He warns that phantom power represents one of the most overlooked drains on household finances.

"It's one of the easiest leaks in your household budget to fix - but also one of the most overlooked," he added.