00WHAT THE GUIDANCE SAYS

Off means
off.

A tidy living room in warm lamp light with the television switched off on a wooden TV unit and a games console on the shelf below — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

The little red light is still drawing power.

TVs, consoles, speakers and chargers often wait on standby, ready to wake up. The Energy Saving Trust says switching appliances off standby could save around £45 a year in Great Britain, and fire services add safety reasons to switch off at night.

SWITCH OFFat the plugUpdated 16 October 2026

Check a gadget

01Principles

Off at the wall
Some stay on
Charge while awake
Small habits, smaller bills

02THE SHORT ANSWER

Switch off at the plug,
with a few exceptions.

Most gadgets lose nothing when switched off at the wall.
A few need to stay on.

SAVINGS

About £45 a year

The Energy Saving Trust says you can save around £45 a year in GB (£55 in NI) by turning appliances off standby. Almost all can go off at the plug without losing their settings.

Check a gadget

THE RULES

Standby has a limit

Since 9 May 2025, EU rules cap most standby modes at 0.50 W, or 0.80 W with a status display, for household and office equipment.

See the numbers

ALWAYS ON

Speakers mostly wait

Smart speakers cost around £4.79 a year to run in GB, and the Energy Saving Trust says most of that comes from sitting on standby.

Habits to try

03A QUICK GADGET CHECK

Off at the wall,
or leave it on?

Pick a gadget to see what the guidance says. The bar shows how strongly the guidance points to switching it off when you are not using it.

Based on Energy Saving Trust advice and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service electrical fire safety guidance. Always check an appliance's instructions if unsure.

Gadget check

Choose a gadgetTV, console and speakersPhone or laptop charging at nightSmart speakerTV recorder set to recordFridge or freezer

TV, console and speakersSwitch off

Turn them off at the plug rather than leaving them on standby. Almost all appliances can be switched off at the wall without upsetting their programming.

Phone or laptop charging at nightCharge while awake

Fire services advise not charging devices while the household is asleep, because you have less time to react if a fire starts. Most homes don't get cheaper electricity at night.

Smart speakerYour choice

It costs around £4.79 a year to run in GB, mostly on standby. The Energy Saving Trust suggests asking whether you need it on all day.

TV recorder set to recordMay need to stay on

Some satellite and digital TV recorders need to stay plugged in so they can track the programmes you want to record. Check the instructions.

Fridge or freezerLeave on

The Energy Saving Trust notes that fridges and freezers need to be on all the time, so leave them plugged in and switched on.

Sources: Energy Saving Trust, Quick tips to save energy and Home appliances advice; Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Electrical fire safety.

04TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

Small watts,
real money.

One figure on what a household can save,
one on how low standby is now allowed to go.

≈ £45

A year saved by switching off standby

The Energy Saving Trust estimates around £45 a year in Great Britain and £55 in Northern Ireland, just by remembering to turn appliances off standby.

SAVINGS · ENERGY SAVING TRUST

0.50 W

Most standby modes, from 9 May 2025

EU Regulation 2023/826 caps off mode and simple standby at 0.50 W, and standby with a status display at 0.80 W. The off mode limit drops to 0.30 W two years later.

STANDBY LIMIT · EU 2023/826

The EU review estimated that products covered by the rules used 59.4 TWh in off mode, standby and networked standby in 2015. Equipment that wakes over a network is allowed more: up to 2 W, or 8 W for high-network-availability equipment.

05FOUR HABITS TO TRY

Fewer red lights,
safer nights.

None of these needs new equipment, though a switched extension lead or standby saver makes the first one easier.

Switch off at the wall
When you finish with the TV, console or computer, turn it off at the plug. A standby saver can switch several off in one go.
Charge while you are awake
Fire services advise against charging devices or running appliances while the household is asleep.
One plug, one socket
Don't overload sockets. High-powered appliances such as washing machines and heaters should go straight into a wall socket.
Register your appliances
Register products, including older ones, at registermyappliance.org.uk so you hear about safety recalls.

A small fabric-covered smart speaker on a kitchen shelf beside a plant and some cookbooks — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

06BUYING CHARGERS

Cheap chargers,
costly risks.

A finger pressing the switch of a white UK wall socket to turn off a plugged-in charger — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service says more than 28,000 house fires a year are reported as caused by electrical faults, accidents or misuse. It warns that fake, counterfeit and substandard products, including chargers, are a fire risk.

Buy chargers from reputable retailers and manufacturers, follow the maker's charging instructions, and check cables for fraying and sockets for scorch marks. If something seems wrong, unplug it and contact the retailer, manufacturer or a qualified repairer.

07Questions

Questions people ask

How much does standby cost?

The Energy Saving Trust estimates you can save around £45 a year in Great Britain, and £55 in Northern Ireland, by remembering to turn appliances off standby.

Will switching off at the plug reset my gadgets?

The Energy Saving Trust says you can turn almost all electrical appliances off at the plug without upsetting their programming. Some satellite and digital TV recorders need to stay on to record.

Is it safe to charge my phone overnight?

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service advises not to charge devices while the household is asleep, because you will have less time to react if a fire starts.

How much power can standby use under the new rules?

EU Regulation 2023/826, applying from 9 May 2025, limits off mode and simple standby to 0.50 W and standby with a status display to 0.80 W for household and office equipment.

Should I unplug my smart speaker?

That's up to you. The Energy Saving Trust puts its running cost at around £4.79 a year in GB, mostly from standby, and suggests considering whether you need it on all day.

08Sources

Off means
off.