Is there any point?

Elegran

NotAGran55 Your 27p a Kwh looks like being 52p in the very near future. Prices are set to rise again soon and the price cap to 52p, and that won't last.

Yes I know that!
But what has that got to do do with the point of this thread?

Even if my rate rate rises to a million pounds a kWh ? it won’t change the consumption of any appliance on standby or otherwise.

NotAGran55 Your 27p a Kwh looks like being 52p in the very near future. Prices are set to rise again soon and the price cap to 52p, and that won't last.

Chestnut

NotAGran55

Chestnut

Callistemon21

27p per kWh

52p per kWh from October on average

Just what I was thinking. 27p per kWh seems quite low and I don't think anyone will be on that rate by next year.

I am on that rate now! That’s why I reported it, and many people are still on much lower fixed rates.

I get that people on fixed tariffs are still paying low rates at the moment, but these will go up hugely when their fixed tariff ends.

Yes obviously the rates will change over time and always have done .
However that has nothing to do with the original posters point.

The point being, what is the consumption of an appliance on standby? This is the constant in the equation.

Sorry, that was to DaisyAnne at 09:14:43.

NotAGran55

NotAGran55

I’ve plugged my microwave oven into my gadget and will report back tomorrow with the standby cost.

The results are in :
12 hours on standby @ 27p per kWh cost 1p overnight last night.
0.0059 kWh.
£7.30 per year.

As the plug is behind it and it involves lifting the oven out of it’s housing to get to it I won’t be bothering to unplug it.

DaisyAnne About twenty years ago we had remote control things that were plugged into an existing socket, then the appliance plugged into them. No replacing existing sockets. They were brilliant - you could switch things on and off at the plug without reaching into awkward spaces behind the furniture, or bending right down to skirting board level. They got a great deal of use for years. Then we lost the controller.

NotAGran55

Chestnut

Callistemon21

27p per kWh

52p per kWh from October on average

Just what I was thinking. 27p per kWh seems quite low and I don't think anyone will be on that rate by next year.

I am on that rate now! That’s why I reported it, and many people are still on much lower fixed rates.

I get that people on fixed tariffs are still paying low rates at the moment, but these will go up hugely when their fixed tariff ends.

simply simple

Chestnut

^I always unplug TV, Microwave, kettle, washing machine, radio etc when finished using them it’s simple enough to pull it out and put it back in when needed^

Not simple for me. The washing machine plug is behind the washing machine and unreachable. The TV, DVD recorder, Hi Fi system, hub, BT Vision are all plugged in behind the wall unit and unplugging one means unplugging everything.

I have a friend who had a fall recently, reaching to switch the TV socket off and turning quickly into the room. I could see how easily it could happen. She broke her wrist, sadly.

Her son put these remote controlled sockets in for her. As far as I can see, five is the maximum for one any remote. However, you could have more than one set if you wanted them in different rooms. I am intent on doing everything I can to keep my independence so I am going to invest in a set of these for the sitting room. It is there where sockets are most behind other things.

You switch each one off with the remote; it's as simple as using a TV remote. Even if this only saves a little, it will help, and help me stay safe.

You may have to ask someone to help you put them in the sockets (if that is difficult) and set them up, although there are Youtube videos and it seems very simply.

Chestnut

Callistemon21

27p per kWh

52p per kWh from October on average

Just what I was thinking. 27p per kWh seems quite low and I don't think anyone will be on that rate by next year.

I am on that rate now! That’s why I reported it, and many people are still on much lower fixed rates.

Callistemon21

^27p per kWh^

52p per kWh from October on average

Just what I was thinking. 27p per kWh seems quite low and I don't think anyone will be on that rate by next year.

I leave everything plugged in.
Wires, technology and anything of that ilk stresses me out, so it would have to be a pretty big saving for me to even attempt to unplug things.

27p per kWh

52p per kWh from October on average

Chestnut

^I'd be interested in knowing how much I'd save if I unplugged everything when not in use. It does seem like quite a lot of hassle and maybe not worth it.^

Maybe we should all just switch our electricity off at the fuse box. Then everything would be off and no worries about what each thing is costing. ?

?
Then the freezer and fridge would be on constant the next day to try to get back down to the right temperature.

Chestnut

^I'd be interested in knowing how much I'd save if I unplugged everything when not in use. It does seem like quite a lot of hassle and maybe not worth it.^

Maybe we should all just switch our electricity off at the fuse box. Then everything would be off and no worries about what each thing is costing. ?

Not so great if the fridge/freezer defrosts itself overnight.

Aveline

I read that it costs £67 a year to keep your microwave on standby just to see the clock. I know lots of people who do this. I stopped!

I dot believe you!

NotAGran55

I’ve plugged my microwave oven into my gadget and will report back tomorrow with the standby cost.

The results are in :
12 hours on standby @ 27p per kWh cost 1p overnight last night.
0.0059 kWh.
£7.30 per year.

As the plug is behind it and it involves lifting the oven out of it’s housing to get to it I won’t be bothering to unplug it.

I'd be interested in knowing how much I'd save if I unplugged everything when not in use. It does seem like quite a lot of hassle and maybe not worth it.

Maybe we should all just switch our electricity off at the fuse box. Then everything would be off and no worries about what each thing is costing. ?

Deedaa

Last year a chap came to check our insulation and, in passing, said "Why do you keep the microwave on when you're not using it? It's costing you about £16 a year" I've heard recently that it is now £28 a year.

These figures they keep throwing around are meaningless. When did it cost £16 a year, before the April rise or after? What will it cost a year by next March? The cost depends on how much you're paying per kWh for electricity, and we are all paying different rates for that anyway.

Last year a chap came to check our insulation and, in passing, said "Why do you keep the microwave on when you're not using it? It's costing you about £16 a year" I've heard recently that it is now £28 a year.

My last few electricity use bills (before VAT and standing charge) have been as follows:

Feb £49.01
Mar £47.93
Apr £49.16
May £48.46
Jun £42.08
Jul £47.06

I'm surprised at how consistent they've been - just over £10 a week.

I assume they'll increase by 80% when the new charges are announced, so I'd be interested in knowing how much I'd save if I unplugged everything when not in use. It does seem like quite a lot of hassle and maybe not worth it.

My heart sinks at the prospect of all that unplugging, battery operated lights and never using the oven. This coming winter feels unsurvivable!

I always unplug the TV (& DVD player) at night as it's what we always had to do when I was young (not yesterday, it has to be said), and it's always been a habit. We don't have anything on standby for clocks or any other reason. The washing machine & dishwasher are like yours, Chestnut and unreachable, but they have switches on the wall to switch them off when not in use. I see that some people say that they don't think they should turn off their router at night, but we always have and it's still working.

The only trouble when you already do all these things, and already have LED light bulbs and so on, is that there is no more slack to take up to save on the bills. It's like if you don't take sugar in your tea you can't give it up if you want to lose weight...

I always unplug TV, Microwave, kettle, washing machine, radio etc when finished using them it’s simple enough to pull it out and put it back in when needed

Not simple for me. The washing machine plug is behind the washing machine and unreachable. The TV, DVD recorder, Hi Fi system, hub, BT Vision are all plugged in behind the wall unit and unplugging one means unplugging everything.

I never really think to switch off the standby things like tvs and computers except if we go away but I have been told it is a bit of a fire hazard to leave them on all the time so it is food for thought.I try not to use the dryer much and now the weather is getting better for us it won’t be needed for a while. I like hanging the washing outside because it feels fresher somehow but in winter it is so damp it comes in wetter than it goes out sometimes.

People must think my husband and I have gone away as at night the house looks totally unoccupied! I have replaced the hall lamp with a battery operated one (Amazon!)'that comes on as you approach it and stays on for a minute or so then turns itself off. The two batteries last for months. We have one light in the sitting room and one in the kitchen, I dry everything on the line or on an airer, got rid of the tumble dryer, only run the washing machine and dishwasher when full and batch cook when the oven goes on. Our lovely very elderly cat has a "moon light" near her basket in the utility room so she can see her tray and food etc, that is battery operated too and gives a lovely warm glow with 3 settings. We use oil central heating but at the moment it only heats our water and if we don't have the radiators on it is very economical. We intend to cover ourselves with warm fleece blankets whilst watching TV when the weather turns cold. We don't leave things on standby as I turn everything off at the wall apart from the TV and the recorder.