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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:
Thread gallery
5
Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 08/03/2022 08:31

We only turn the heating on by actually turning it on - it's not on a timer

OP posts:
Ariela · 08/03/2022 08:33

@LaurieFairyCake

And yes I'm going to take a reading tonight and see how much we've used during the day today

At the moment DH is working with the tv on

Surely the TV isn't necessary for working? I'd suggest the TV uses more than the rest of the house overnight?
EmmaH2022 · 08/03/2022 08:33

@LaurieFairyCake

Well I definitely don't have time to take about 40 plugs out the wall Grin(most of which I can't reach anyway)
Assuming you're in the UK, you don't have to take the plugs out, just switch off at the wall.

I can't see it helping the fridge/freezer cost though, it will have to get back to temp.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living
DockOTheBay · 08/03/2022 08:33

Yes, each extension lead has about 6 plug sockets on them - each with an individual light
Do you mean little lights next to the socket to show that its working? Those tiny little LED lights will use hardly any power at all. Nowhere near 6kWh - even if you have 48 of them.

A phone charger draws about 5W while charging and 0.5W while just plugged in, so it would take a LOT of chargers to get even 1kWh of usage. Plugged in for 24 hours will use around 0.01kWh.

If you mean you have 48 lights plugged into the sockets then your house must be very bright 🌞

FrDamo · 08/03/2022 08:34

When we got a smart meter 18 months ago I was perplexed that it would show £1.40 first thing in the morning. I even started a thread on it but got very little in the way of useful feedback.

Remembering that around 20/25p will be the standing charge I did my best to determine the rest. By turning off the underfloor heating (bathrooms) and getting rid of an old fridge freezer I managed to reduce the overnight cost down to £0.55.

At best in the summer months we ran at £1.50 daily and winter months are around £2.50 daily (some underfloor heating back on).

Even when no-one is here (holidays etc) the electricity cost is around £1.00+ daily.
We have heated bathroom mirrors that are on permanently (obviously erroneously fitted) that are my main source of contention but there's nothing I can do about those (short of spending more £££ to get them rewired).

We use an air fryer instead of using the main oven. I'm sure that has helped. I am semi religious about turning lights off, but life is too short to turn every device off at the wall daily.

Ariela · 08/03/2022 08:34

[quote toomuchlaundry]@Arghlife how do you take the plug out for the oven, ours is behind the oven![/quote]
Should have an on/off switch on the wall

pussycatunpickingcrossesagain · 08/03/2022 08:35

[quote toomuchlaundry]@Arghlife how do you take the plug out for the oven, ours is behind the oven![/quote]
I always turn of the washer, dryer and cooker off at the isolator switch and the microwave and telly at the wall. The only things on overnight are the fridge (kitchen) and the freezer and fridge freezer in the garage.
We have a booster for our TV aerial and that and the interweb are off at night too.

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 08/03/2022 08:36

I can't turn off the sockets without moving heavy furniture- I'm not doing that every day

OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 08/03/2022 08:38

But you can turn off the switches on the extension leads, so would that turn off the internet, tv etc?

toomuchlaundry · 08/03/2022 08:40

@Ariela the poster said the electrician told her you need to unplug things not just turn off at the wall.

pussycatunpickingcrossesagain · 08/03/2022 08:42

[quote toomuchlaundry]@Ariela the poster said the electrician told her you need to unplug things not just turn off at the wall.[/quote]
If it's an electric oven (and any type of hob), it should have isolator switches. Ours is off unless the oven is on.

happydappy2 · 08/03/2022 08:45

Definitely make sure the freezer is full-pack with packs of cheap white bread if necessary-that makes it cost less to run.

ivykaty44 · 08/03/2022 08:46

How old is your fridge freezer?
Sounds like a lot of electric for overnight, an old fridge freezer will use more electric

Why not try instead jyst turning the freezer off tonight and see how much electric it saves

Then if it is a lit you change that, as it all save you daytime usage

PenStation · 08/03/2022 08:50

Reorganize so that you can easily switch off everything that doesn’t need to stay on overnight. We bought some multi plug extension leads with individual switches for each appliance. Just do the maths to make sure you aren’t overloading.

Then with everything else switched off it should tell you what your fridge freezer usage is. Older ones can suddenly start chewing through electricity so it may be time to replace it.

EmmaH2022 · 08/03/2022 08:50

You're going to laugh at me but I can't reach the boiler switch without the aid of a long umbrella! Worth it though. It's an electric boiler and as one person, I don't need it to keep water hot 24/7. Might that work for you?

Re the plugs being pulled out, I looked into this a while ago. From what I can gather, it's based on the US where they don't have switches next to the plug.

I switch everything off overnight bar the fridge and freezer. Boiler goes off after I've had a shower.

EmmaH2022 · 08/03/2022 08:51

@EmmaH2022

You're going to laugh at me but I can't reach the boiler switch without the aid of a long umbrella! Worth it though. It's an electric boiler and as one person, I don't need it to keep water hot 24/7. Might that work for you?

Re the plugs being pulled out, I looked into this a while ago. From what I can gather, it's based on the US where they don't have switches next to the plug.

I switch everything off overnight bar the fridge and freezer. Boiler goes off after I've had a shower.

Sorry, this was to OP re inaccessible switches.
AlisonDonut · 08/03/2022 08:53

Why not turn everything off bar the fridge freezer and seeing what just that uses for one night?

Mumdiva99 · 08/03/2022 08:53

@Arghlife

Haven't read the while thread, but you also need to actually take the plugs out, not just turn it off at the wall. Recently had my oven installed and the electrician told me this
He may have told you this in answer to a question. But the question was not "how do I stop an appliance using electricity." Something plugged in but not switched on is not using electricity e.g. hairdryer, kettle, toaster, vacuum cleaner etc. Yes a phone charger may as it doesn't have an on/off switch.
jessieminto · 08/03/2022 08:54

Please don't turn off your internet router. Periodic updates are pushed out overnight that will keep it running smoothly.

But the worst thing for a router is regular interruptions of power. Dynamic Line Management from your ISP will see this as an unstable connection and will slow speeds right down, until stability over 7-10 days is restored. Your internet will literally get slower and slower every day until you complain it's unusable. Then they will ask if you switch it off at night, and tell you not to. Then you'll have to wait 10 days for it to speed up again before you will believe them. Please don't do this.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 08/03/2022 08:55

You will kill your poor fridge if you do this, apart from as part of your experiment. It will have to run continuously to get back to temperature rather than cycling happily to maintain the temperature, which will use much of the electricity you've saved and will risk burning out the motor etc.

thisplaceisweird · 08/03/2022 08:58

Would the fridge/freezer be working harder and using more electricity each morning to restore the proper temperature?

I think so. Fill all the empty space in the fridge with boxes/bottles/bags of water, it'll have to do less work then.

saleorbouy · 08/03/2022 08:58

Have you considered adjusting the temp on the fridge and freezer to reduce energy consumption, obviously food temps should be maintained adequately.
You could also ensure the equipment is working optimally by defrosting, pulling out the units and cleaning the condenser grill on the back of dust.
Stacking food on the shelves/drawers to allow air circulation between levels.
I think turning off the fridge/freezer overnight might just increase load in the morning.

thisplaceisweird · 08/03/2022 08:59

@jessieminto

Please don't turn off your internet router. Periodic updates are pushed out overnight that will keep it running smoothly.

But the worst thing for a router is regular interruptions of power. Dynamic Line Management from your ISP will see this as an unstable connection and will slow speeds right down, until stability over 7-10 days is restored. Your internet will literally get slower and slower every day until you complain it's unusable. Then they will ask if you switch it off at night, and tell you not to. Then you'll have to wait 10 days for it to speed up again before you will believe them. Please don't do this.

sounds very sensible, well researched advice!
uncomfortablydumb53 · 08/03/2022 09:01

It could well be the standing charge is applied over night..

wearingtheT · 08/03/2022 09:03

OP did you say that you wash on a 30min cycle?

It's terrible for your machine and costs much more. my economy setting is a 3 hour wash... that's why it's AA rated.