Appliances making energy bills more expensive - from hairdryers to smart TVs

25 January 2024 , 13:25

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KNowing how much your appliances are costing you can help make changes to cut down your costs (Image: Getty Images/Westend61)

The cost of energy bills continues to remain high, so households should be aware of how much their appliances are costing them.

The Ofgem January price cap rose by 5% going from £1,834 a year to £1,928 for a typical dual fuel household paying by direct debit. This £94 rise is set to hit households hard as unlike last year, millions of Brits are not receiving support from the Government to help with their energy bills.

With many actively trying to cut energy costs, energy expert Catherine Storer from ESS says knowing how much you are spending when using your household appliances can help you make small adjustments which can help make huge savings over the year. Using data from Octopus Energy, Catherine highlights which appliances could be costing you more than you think.

Catherine says whilst tumble dryers "offer convenience" they are costly and if households can, they should try and swap to more energy-efficient options. She said: "While tumble dryers offer convenience and quick drying, it's important to recognise their impact on annual energy costs. Two cycles a week could amount to about £133 per year. Consider using a conventional clothes rack instead to help lower the overall cost.”

Hairdryers are another "overlooked" appliance - which Catherine says is likely due to its "compact size". She said: "Hairdryers are actually a big energy consumer. It’s definitely something to bear in mind as using it once a day can end up costing nearly £35 a year.”

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Lightbulb is also another thing many households overlook, with Catherine warning that the daily expenses to leave them on can "accumulate". In a typical home, lighting accounts for around 10-20% of the electricity bill according to Uswitch, and if you swap your old-fashioned incandescent lightbulbs you could save from £20 right up to £32 a year.

Catherine says: "Opting for energy-efficient bulbs not only conserves energy but also helps financially, with the possibility of saving up to £32 over the year."

Alongside this, Catherina notes that leaving phone charges on and having appliances on standby can also add extra expenses that can "pile up" over the course of the year. Catherina added: "Unplugging chargers when not in use is a quick and simple way to save energy. Other smart devices connected to the wifi and on standby such as speakers or game consoles can also end up spending a lot of energy. One device alone could end up totalling to around £57 per year.”

"Smart TVs contribute to daily costs through standby power usage - leaving them on standby throughout the year could cost you an extra £35, depending on your provider. Turning off at the socket is a cost-effective way to slash electricity bills down."