Mersey residents pay £42 more than Yorkshire households to power five most energy-hungry appliances
North Wales and Mersey residents spend £42 more a year than Yorkshire consumers on powering the five most power-hungry household appliances[1]
These five appliances cost UK households £606 a year in energy based on prices from 1st October[2], but prices vary due to regional unit rates
The average household will spend £213 a year showering[3] and more than £132 a year cooking on the hob[4]
People will spend £89 a year using the tumble dryer[5], £87 a year cooking with the oven[6], and £85 a year boiling the kettle[7]
Ironing clothes costs households £38 a year, trendy air fryers run up a £34 bill, while internet routers cost us £18 annually[8]
Uswitch.com’s free mobile app Utrack connects to your smart meter to help track home energy use and find ways to save money.
The five most expensive household appliances to power will cost the average bill-payer more than £600 a year in energy based on October 1 unit rates[2] – but residents of the North Wales and Mersey region will pay £42 more than those in Yorkshire[1], according to new research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
The price cap means that the average UK household will pay 27.35p per kWh of electricity from October 1, but prices vary across the country due to the differing costs of running the energy grids.
The North Wales and Mersey region will pay 28.26p per kWh and the Yorkshire region is charged 26.52p – a 6.6% difference[1].
| Region | Electricity unit rate (p/kWh) | Gas unit rate (p/kWh) | Cost of running five appliances currently | Cost of running five appliances from October 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 28.43 | 6.9 | £692.67 | £629.18 |
| North Wales & Mersey | 28.26 | 6.93 | £688.53 | £625.42 |
| South East | 28.1 | 6.92 | £684.63 | £621.88 |
| Eastern | 27.93 | 6.78 | £680.49 | £618.11 |
| Southern Western | 27.8 | 7.1 | £677.32 | £615.24 |
| Southern | 27.51 | 6.99 | £670.26 | £608.82 |
| South Wales | 27.45 | 7.05 | £668.80 | £607.49 |
| Northern Scotland | 27.26 | 6.85 | £664.17 | £603.29 |
| North West | 27.21 | 6.9 | £662.95 | £602.18 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.88 | 6.85 | £654.91 | £594.88 |
| Midlands | 26.85 | 6.82 | £654.18 | £594.21 |
| East Midlands | 26.76 | 6.77 | £651.98 | £592.22 |
| Northern | 26.58 | 6.82 | £647.60 | £588.24 |
| Yorkshire | 26.52 | 6.83 | £646.14 | £586.91 |
| AVERAGE | 27.35 | 6.89 | £667.47 | £606.29 |
Using the five most power-hungry household gadgets – an electric shower, electric hob, kettle, tumble dryer and oven – will cost the average UK household £606 a year in electricity[2].
Electric showers top the list of the biggest energy guzzlers, costing an average £213 a year in electricity at October 1 unit rates[3].
Showers are used for two hours a week on average[3], but the Energy Saving Trust estimates that keeping your shower time to just four minutes could save a typical household £95 a year on their bills[9].
The second most power-hungry household appliance is the electric hob, which is found in 86% of homes. Owners use their hobs for almost three hours a week on average, costing them just under £132 a year[4].
| Rank | Device | Owned by | Hours used per week | Hours used per year | Average power (kW) | Annual cost per home currently | Annual cost per home (from October 1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shower | 85% | 2.0 | 104 | 7.5 | £235 | £213 |
| 2 | Electric hob | 86% | 2.6 | 134 | 3.6 | £146 | £132 |
| 3 | Tumble dryer | 45% | 2.5 | 130 | 2.5 | £98 | £89 |
| 4 | Oven | 88% | 3.0 | 158 | 2.0 | £95 | £87 |
| 5 | Kettle | 89% | 2.0 | 104 | 3.0 | £94 | £85 |
| 6 | Fridge/freezer | 81% | 168 | 8,736 | 0.3 | £74 | £67 |
| 7 | Dishwasher | 44% | 3.5 | 182 | 0.8 | £43 | £39 |
| 8 | Iron | 61% | 0.9 | 45 | 3.1 | £42 | £38 |
| 9 | Washing machine | 89% | 3.5 | 182 | 0.7 | £39 | £35 |
| 10 | Air fryer | 41% | 1.7 | 88 | 1.4 | £37 | £34 |
Tumble dryers cost £89 a year to run for those households that have them[5]. Switching to alternatives like a heated airer or drying clothes on radiators can save a lot of money.
Households use their oven for three hours a week on average, and with the average cooker using 2kW, this adds up to an £87 annual energy bill[6]. It’s no surprise that so many homes have turned to using air fryers instead, which costs only £34 a year to run.
Thanks to the nation’s love of a good cup of tea, it’s hardly surprising that the humble kettle is the fifth-biggest household energy guzzler. Many models use 3kW of power and, with the average home using theirs for two hours a week, it adds up to a £85-a-year energy bill[7].
Fridge-freezers are one of the few household appliances left running 24 hours a day, so it’s hard to save money here. However, modern fridges and freezers are much more efficient than older versions, and the average fridge-freezer only consumes 246kWh per year. This adds up to £67 annually for the average home[10].
Uswitch’s free app Utrack links to a home smart meter to help consumers understand their home energy consumption, monitor when they are using the most power and find ways to cut costs around the home.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “It’s sobering to think that using just five appliances can cost more than £600 a year in energy, but some households across the country may feel even more hard done by given they’re paying £42 more than others.
“The difference is due to the varying costs of supplying energy around the country, but it means that residents of North Wales & Mersey will look enviously at the people in Yorkshire.
“You might be surprised by how much some common household appliances are costing you, and tracking your energy use will help you find ways to save money around the home.
“For example, showers are one of the UK’s biggest energy guzzlers but big savings can be made by reducing your washing time from ten minutes to four.
“Tracking apps such as Utrack will help you see how much you can save from making small changes around your energy usage at home - such as avoiding overfilling the kettle and only running your tumble dryer, dishwasher and washing machine when they are full.”
Track your energy usage with Utrack by Uswitch here.
Notes
Research conducted online by Opinium, 6th to 9th June 2023, among 2,000 UK residents, weighted to be nationally representative.
1. See first table in release for unit rates by region.
2. Showering + electric hob + tumble dryer + kettle + fridge/freezer = £587.
3. Respondents were asked ‘For how long per week do you use each of these appliances?’ Shower users said 2.0 hours per week. Electric showers have a typical power rating of 7.5 kW. Cost per year per household = £213.
4. Respondents were asked ‘For how long per week do you use each of these appliances?’ Hob users said 2.6 hours per week. Hobs have an average power rating of 3.6 kW. Cost per year per household = £132.
5. Respondents were asked ‘For how long per week do you use each of these appliances?’ Tumble dryer users said 2.5 hours per week. Tumble dryers have an average power rating of 2.5 kW. Cost per year per household = £89.
6. Respondents were asked ‘For how long per week do you use each of these appliances?’ Kettle users said 2.0 hours per week. Kettles have an average power rating of 3 kW. Cost per year per household = £85.
7. Respondents were asked, ‘Which of the following do you have?’ 88% said oven. Ovens are on for 3.0 hours per week. Ovens have an average power of 2kW. Cost per year per household = £87.
8. See table below. 9. Energy Saving Trust: Top tips to save energy and money in the bathroom
10. Respondents were asked, ‘Which of the following do you have?’ 81% said fridge-freezer. Fridge-freezers are on for 168 hours per week.. Fridge-freezers use 245.5kWh per year. Cost per year per household = £67.
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.