Appliance Running Costs

The way we use our electrical appliances can have a big impact on our electricity bills. That old inefficient beer fridge in the garage, the heatpump and towel rail running 24/7 and appliances left on in standby mode could be costing you more than you realise. Read more about smart use of appliances.

Consumer publishes lists showing running costs for a wide range of different appliances.

View running costs for heating, cooling and lighting appliances

View running costs for kitchen, bathroom and laundry appliances

View running costs for other household appliances

  The running costs shown in the above links may be different from your home depending on the power of your appliance and the price you pay for electricity. The running cost of most appliances can be calculated simply by multiplying the power in kilowatts (kW) by the electricity cost in (kWh). The power in watts (W) is usually displayed on a sticker somewhere on the appliance. Remember 1 kilowatt (kW) = 1000 watts (W). To find the cost of electricity check the back of your latest electricity bill this should state the cost per unit in cents/kWh.

For example:

 a 2000W heater at a rate of 23cents/ kWh

= 2kW X 23cents/kWh = 46 cents/ hour.

Or

 a 100W light bulb at a rate of 19 cents/kWh

= 0.1kW X 19 cents/kWh = 1.9cents/hour

Some appliances such as heaters or fridges have thermostats which switch them on or off whenever they reach a set temperature. So actual running costs for these appliances will be lower than calculated because they are not actually running for 100% of the time they are switched on.

FAQs

Isn't it cheaper to leave the heat pump running 24/7? No. Running a heat pump or any heater continuously will cost considerably more than running it only when needed. Some people prefer to leave them running for increased comfort but this is unnecessary. It is better to use the timer on a heat pump so it will switch on before you need it ie 30 minutes before you get up in the morning or before getting home from work.

Do I need to switch appliances off at the wall? Many appliances continue to use a small amount of electricity even when they are not being used. When appliances are left switched on at the wall they are said to be in "standby mode". Standby electricity use accounts for around 6% of electricity use in the average home. Switching appliances off at the wall when they are not being used is the best way to reduce standby electricity use.