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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

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

givemeallthecheese · 08/03/2022 09:05

It seems so extreme... taking yoghurts and milk out the fridge to leave outside overnight, using your phone torch in cases of emergency (what if you haven't charged your phone that day as an oversight?!), potentially buggering up your fridge/freezer by turning off every night, having to reset blinking clocks on the oven every morning...

My first step would be to get a smart meter installed to actually see where the electricity is going. As others have pointed out it could very well just be your standing charge being added each night!

Mrsjayy · 08/03/2022 09:07

What will you do with your £25 saving ?

Alfiemoon1 · 08/03/2022 09:08

Wouldn’t the fridge freezer use more electricity getting back to the correct temperature?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living

Original poster

LaurieFairyCake · 08/03/2022 09:13

No I use the 4 hour eco wash setting

I never set my cooker or microwave clock - never have, they just blink away all day in a room I'm not in

OP posts:

EmmaH2022 · 08/03/2022 09:15

@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.

I've been doing this since forever and had no trouble

Recently there were line ugrades in the area and the engineer expressed surprise but he said the main risk was someone thinking it was an unused line and connecting it to someone else.

I am surprised that could happen but so many people talk out of their arse, I don't even know if it's correct.

Templeblossom · 08/03/2022 09:16

@givemeallthecheese

Exactly! But running 6 extension leads with 8 lights / devices running on each of them.

EmmaH2022 · 08/03/2022 09:16

@LaurieFairyCake

No I use the 4 hour eco wash setting

I never set my cooker or microwave clock - never have, they just blink away all day in a room I'm not in

Does that use more leccy than setting the time?

EmmaH2022 · 08/03/2022 09:18

@wearingtheT

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.

My washing machine is at least 14 years old but I mostly use the 1 hour setting. Why is bad for the machine to use 30 mins? I would do that if the option was there!

DockOTheBay · 08/03/2022 09:19

@wearingtheT

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.

It doesn't always cost much more. Our quick wash used 0.15kWh whereas the eco programme uses 0.99kWh for the same weight of laundry.

The quick uses around 20% more water, but in terms of cost saving water is cheaper than electricity.

The eco setting no doubt washes clothes more effectively, but if its just freshening up things which have been worn once or low soiled items like jumpers then quick wash is fine.

DockOTheBay · 08/03/2022 09:20

@LaurieFairyCake

No I use the 4 hour eco wash setting

I never set my cooker or microwave clock - never have, they just blink away all day in a room I'm not in

How much electricity do you think the microwave clock uses!? Next to nothing is the answer.

collieresponder88 · 08/03/2022 09:24

I wouldn't switch the fridge off. You could unplug everything else but the fridge. I would check that's right as we barely use anything overnight once everyone is asleep !

ivykaty44 · 08/03/2022 09:28

having searched for any reason that the 30 minute wash would damage the machine - I can't find any information that this was setting would damage a machine - in fact why would a machine be developed with a wash setting that would damage the machine?

If you use a quick wash then it will not be over 30. degrees and therefore it is for lightly worn items and not a deep wash at higher temperatures

what will damage your machine is, leaving wet washing inside the machine for long periods, leaving keys and bins in the pockets of items that may damage the drum, using to much washing powder, over filling the machine with laundry - which is a common fault

Icemast · 08/03/2022 09:33

A 30 minute wash won't damage the machine, not maintaining and cleaning it properly might though. I wouldn't turn the freezer etc off overnight, I'd really carefully see what's left on and using electric that doesn't need to be. Charging phones etc is often cheaper at night.

Templeblossom · 08/03/2022 09:33

I think this is a wind up thread.
Op has a rental property and spends £700 a year on botox

Im out!

Tilltheend99 · 08/03/2022 09:34

Maybe you would be better of saving up for a more energy efficient fridge freezer. Think it’s a bad idea to keep unfreezing and refreezing the contents of the freezer www.sust-it.net/energy-saving/fridge-freezers-large

etulosba · 08/03/2022 09:35

Does that use more leccy than setting the time?

It will probably use less because the lights are on intermittently.

Whatamesssss · 08/03/2022 09:38

If you look at your fuse box, you should be able to turn off different circuits. You could turn them all off except for the kitchen plug sockets so the FF stays on.

If you are not sure which ones to turn off, take a picture of the fuse box and post it here, hopefully I should be able to tell you which ones to turn off.
See if that makes a difference.

RobinBlackbird · 08/03/2022 09:38

As per every other poster dont turn off your fridge.
Use it wisely, keep the freezer full, even if it's just air in empty containers. If yours is anything like my house tell everyone not to stand in front of the open fridge door slowly cogitating on what might make a nice snack..
When we are going to be in for a while drinking coffees and teas I pour a jug of milk and leave it out to stop all the opening and closing for that.

FortunaMajor · 08/03/2022 09:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skyeisthelimit · 08/03/2022 09:40

My oven and hob are only switched on when I use them, which isn't every day and the same with the microwave. I switch off the tv, fire stick overnight and only leave the sky box on as it updates or records. Chargers are never on unless actually being used.

I have done that for years. It does make a small difference. I would never turn off the fridge or freezer though.

Ariela · 08/03/2022 09:41

@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

Why? I understood ovens etc had to be wired in, not on plugs. My oven is wired into its own 30A circuit, separate from the rest of the mains supply around the kitchen, with an on/off switch on the wall above. When that switch is off, no electricity goes to the oven at all, there is no plug socket on the wall, you cannot plug it in or unplug it.

FourTeaFallOut · 08/03/2022 09:42

I don't think I could be so rich that I wouldn't want to know why 6kwh were disappearing in the night. It's still annoying not knowing what your home is up to when you are asleep.

TacoCats · 08/03/2022 09:45

No don't do that that's how people get food poisoning. You'll also work your fridge/freezer harder and it'll cost more on the long run. You will use electric as things are still drawing electricity, I tend to switch off the plug and unplug at night so it's not drawing electric still.

Landedonfeet · 08/03/2022 09:47

I find many peoples view on energy spend…. Baffling

Warmth
Comfort
Cooking
Light
Tv
Charging phones / iPads
Hot water

Yes I knows it has gone up significantly but all the above for £100? £150? £200 a month

I don’t begrudge It and when I see people saying that theirs has increased from £80 to £150 or similar - I think £80 for Al that was incredible! And even £150 is pretty bloody good
When you factor in what many happy to pay for take aways, sky etc

CornishGem1975 · 08/03/2022 09:48

@Flickasmum

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.

If you're still on a fixed tariff - why has your standing charge gone up?

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