What wastes the most electricity in a house?

Electric showers, tumble dryers, electric ovens, and immersion heaters are typically the biggest electricity consumers in a UK home. An electric shower can use 7 to 10kW while running, and a tumble dryer around 2 to 5kW per cycle.

Leaving appliances on standby also adds up over a year, with televisions, gaming consoles, and set-top boxes being common culprits. Old fridges and freezers running continuously with poor efficiency can quietly use a surprising amount of electricity. Electric storage heaters and plug-in electric heaters are also costly if used frequently.

Replacing older appliances with A-rated models, using appliances at off-peak times, and reducing standby usage are practical ways to bring your electricity bill down.