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Original poster

I'm thinking about turning my electricity OFF over night

352 replies

LaurieFairyCake · 08/03/2022 05:48

So last night before bed I took a meter reading and right now another

I've used 6 units of electricity over night (only me and Dh, pretty sure the dogs aren't boiling kettles over night)

That works out at £0.85 a night, £25.33 A MONTH Shock

The things that are running every night is fridge freezer, phone chargers, laptop chargers, the clock on the cooker

I've read it's fine to turn off the fridge freezer (no meat in it) as it won't spoil in 8 hours

I can't believe I would save £25 a month doing this !

Anything I've overlooked?

OP posts:
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Krakenchorus · 08/03/2022 05:53

Would the fridge/freezer be working harder and using more electricity each morning to restore the proper temperature? Would you pay the same for charging the devices at home during the day (assuming that's what would happen)?

Worth an experiment...

Polyanthus2 · 08/03/2022 05:54

Isn't the charge less at night - we are being encouraged to use off peak electricity?

Footballsundays6777 · 08/03/2022 05:54

I’d imagine the fridge freezer would work harder to get to temp…. By the time it’s at temp you would then switch it off again. Might not be great for the appliance in the long run?

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Shesmyperson · 08/03/2022 05:55

I would suggest looking at how long the fidge can be off.

Also how much energy a fridge freezer (or separates) take when you switch them back on, to get to the right temperature. Turn off what you don't need instead?

DaisyTheUnicorn · 08/03/2022 05:59

Its not adding the standing charge overnight is it?

I havent worked out how to use our meter... i will check ours too!

A580Hojas · 08/03/2022 05:59

Following with interest. Will you take another reading before bed tonight and compare how much you use during the day to overnight?

OffCycling · 08/03/2022 06:03

6kwh overnight is a lot. We use 1 overnight and have roughly the same things running. You need to find out what's using so much (electric water heater maybe?). Perhaps buy an energy monitor plug and check your appliances individually first.

Flickasmum · 08/03/2022 06:03

We're currently still on the fixed tariff till April, yet our smart meter is now double what it used to be in the morning. I understood it to be the standing charge, which is a huge part of the problem as it can't be reduced by using less electricity.

AlaskaWaves · 08/03/2022 06:03

Ours adds the standing charge every night.

Soubriquet · 08/03/2022 06:03

I wouldn’t. Turn everything off at the mains apart from the fridge/freezer

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/03/2022 06:06

Don't switch the fridge off. Instead get milk jugs, fill with water, put them in the fridge in empty space. Not completely full but quite. Same with the freezer but leave room for expansion in the bottles.

It means when you open, less cold air is falling out and the fridge works less hard.

And switch off sockets.

TigerLilyTail · 08/03/2022 06:11

It's really not a good idea to switch your fridge/freezer off every night.

Is it quite an old model? Newer models are much more efficient, but of course expensive to buy.

CatNamedEaster · 08/03/2022 06:20

For things that you are charging overnight, do an experiment: charge them during the day to see how long they take to get to 100%. I bet it's not 8 hours. My phone charges from dead to 100% in about an hour.

If you charge things during the day or evening, turn off overnight, then top up if needed in the morning and turn off as soon as they get to 100% that should save energy.

Turn everything off at the sockets, including the cooker.

I wouldn't turn the fridge/freezer off. You are increasing the pressure on it when it starts up again in the morning and it could shorten the lifespan of some of the fresh food. We often buy meat that's discounted as it's on its use by date but will use it 1 or 2 days later. I wouldn't do that if the fridge is off for 8 hours overnight.

MorganSeventh · 08/03/2022 06:27

I guess there's no harm in trying it once to see if it makes any difference to the numbers, as long as you set yourself an alarm to turn everything back on again. However, I also think it might be the standing charge. And in either case, the risk with doing this every night is that you only have to forget once and you've lost far more than 85p in spoilt food.

silentpool · 08/03/2022 06:34

Some of these things make a difference - I switched off the pilot light on my gas fire (I don't like using it) and my gas usage dropped quite a bit. Admittedly I'm not a high user but it was noticeable.

On the electricity front, I did drop my use by switching off at outlets, using smart plugs and washing at 30c. I live alone so not a lot of fat to cut but it was at least 10%.

I probably would not switch off your fridge/freezer though.

Vampirethriller · 08/03/2022 06:37

I turn everything except the fridge freezer off at night, it makes a difference for me.

FawnFrenchieMum · 08/03/2022 06:39

That sounds more like your standing charge being added over night to me. That will still apply with the power on or off.
I can’t imagine it’s good for your fridge freezer or electric for it to be refreezing / chilling every morning. Bring off for 8 hours in an emergency is different to every night.

FawnFrenchieMum · 08/03/2022 06:39

@Polyanthus2

Isn't the charge less at night - we are being encouraged to use off peak electricity?
This only applies if you have an economy 7 tariff.
toomuchlaundry · 08/03/2022 06:41

From a fire hazard point of view you are not meant to charge phones etc overnight. And surely they don’t take all night to charge

Don’t think electricity is cheaper at night unless you are on Economy 7.

Mumdiva99 · 08/03/2022 06:42

We don't leave items charging overnight due to the fire risk. A faulty charger could catch fire.

For the person upthread who said electricity is cheaper overnight. Not for most people. Years ago there was a tariff economy 7 and the 7 hours overnight were cheaper....but I don't think many do that now.

Apatite4Destruction · 08/03/2022 06:44

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FourTeaFallOut · 08/03/2022 06:51

6kwh and 85p, those were the days. Anyway, that's a ridiculous amount of usage to be waking up to. We are up to 6kwh by 11am after the dishwasher has run/ the washing machine/ two electric showers/ endless rounds of tea and toast and the fridge freezer running all along.

At the risk of being patronising, you don't have underfloor heating running in a bathroom or an immersion heater kicking in, do you?

Sirzy · 08/03/2022 06:55

Adding the standing charge wouldn’t add kWh that is separate.

I wouldn’t have the oven clock plugged in at all. Doesn’t make a massive difference but every bit counts.

I would do the charging of devices during the day/evening so you can turn them off when done.

Mumdiva99 · 08/03/2022 07:01

Since midnight we have used 1.4kw which is fridge and freezer, things like cooker clock, microwave. Husband was up early so a few lights. I don't know if he boiled a kettle.

Norgie · 08/03/2022 07:22

Most of us are guilty of leaving things plugged in overnight unnecessarily.
I've just glanced round as I've read this and I can see three chargers plugged in but not in use, a laptop plugged into its charger but not in use, the TV on standby, the microwave plugged in, but not in use. That's just what I can see from where I'm sat.
In my bedroom there are two digital alarm clocks plugged in, which obviously don't get unplugged overnight.
I think we would all be surprised when we get really looking around our homes at how wasteful we really are.

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