If you’ve ever opened your winter electricity bill and felt your jaw hit the floor, you’re not alone. Many Australians, especially those of us with busy households, are left scratching our heads at the seemingly endless rise in energy costs.
But what if the culprit isn’t just the heater or the air con? What if a sneaky, silent drain on your wallet lurks in every room—something experts have dubbed ‘vampire energy’?
Let’s take a closer look at how these hidden energy suckers could be haunting your home, and what you can do to finally put a stake through the heart of your power bill.
For one Australian mum, the struggle to tame her electricity bill was too real. With three kids aged 21, 17, and 15, her household was always bustling, but never particularly large.
Despite her best efforts—choosing the most affordable plan, switching providers, and even scoring a $300 sign-up bonus—her monthly bill still hovered between $600 and $800.
She tried all the classics: running the washing machine only with full loads, minimising dryer use, and giving the kids a crash course in air conditioner efficiency (set to 26 degrees, only when needed, and for heaven’s sake, turn it off when you leave!).
Yet, the numbers barely budged. The breakthrough came when she stumbled upon some eye-opening data from iSelect. The real villains weren’t just the obvious appliances but the ones quietly sipping power even when ‘off’.
This is known as ‘vampire energy’—the electricity used by devices left plugged in and switched off at the wall.
According to iSelect’s survey of 1,000 Australians, most are guilty of leaving appliances plugged in, blissfully unaware of the cost.
And the worst offenders? Gaming consoles. Left on standby, they drain a whopping 7.16 watts, costing nearly $20 per console annually. With almost a quarter of Australians admitting to leaving their consoles plugged in all year, it’s no wonder the bills are creeping up.
In this mum’s house, her sons’ gaming setups—complete with high-powered desktops, consoles, soundbars, and all the bells and whistles—ran 24/7. No wonder her bill was through the roof!
The true cost of convenience
It’s not just gaming gear. Speakers, smart home assistants, and even that old stereo in the corner all add up. Speakers and stereos left on standby cost over $4.50 yearly, while intelligent assistants like Alexa or Google Home add another $3.54.
It might not sound like much, but these leaks can cost a household more than $50 annually.
Multiply that by millions of homes, and Australians collectively burn through more than 446 million kilowatt hours—and $135 million—annually on standby power alone.
Sophie Ryan, a comparison expert at iSelect, points out that even computers in ‘sleep’ mode draw power—about $3.14 a year.
Add in dual monitors, speakers, and other accessories, and a full gaming setup left on standby could cost you up to $28 a year in wasted energy.
So, what can you do, especially if you don’t want to ruin your kids’ gaming dreams or your own Netflix marathons?
- Instil good shutdown habits: Encourage everyone in the house to switch off devices at the wall before bed. Make it part of the nightly routine, like turning off the lights.
- Group devices: Plug related devices (like monitors, consoles, and speakers) into the same power board. That way, one flick of the switch turns them all off.
- Watch charging habits: While charging phones and tablets overnight is convenient, it can add up, especially if you have a family full of devices. Unplug chargers when not in use, or consider charging during the day so you can unplug them once fully charged.
- Try smart plugs: These nifty gadgets automatically cut off power after a set period, so you waste energy on fully charged devices.
- Upgrade to energy-efficient chargers: Some chargers stop drawing power once your device is fully charged, helping to prevent unnecessary trickle drain.
Have you discovered any sneaky energy drains in your home? Maybe you’ve got a tip for getting the kids (or grandkids!) to turn off their devices, or a horror story about a sky-high bill. We’d love to hear about your experiences and solutions. Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Also read: Lights on, wallet closed: The bold move that might slash energy bills
