Managing your gas and electricity use can get complicated - especially when there are so many energy myths floating around. Some are harmless misunderstandings, but others could be adding real money to your bills every month. We've broken down six of the most common misconceptions about home energy use to help you sort the fact from the fiction.
Myth 1: If a device is switched off, it's not using power
You might think that if a device or appliance is switched off, it's not using electricity - think again. Even if a device is completely off (not just on standby), it can still draw power while it's plugged in. This is known as 'phantom load' or 'vampire power'.
Phantom load accounts for around 10% of the UK's annual electricity use - meaning you could cut your electricity bill by up to 10% just by unplugging devices you're not using.
The fix is simple: unplug devices at the wall when you're done, or use smart plugs to cut the connection automatically overnight.
Myth 2: Green energy tariffs get their electricity from renewable sources
Plenty of energy tariffs advertise themselves as environmentally friendly, but how green are they really? Due to a loophole in the way renewable energy is regulated, energy tariffs can claim to be 100% renewable even if the electricity they sell is produced by burning fossil fuels.
A Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificate costs as little as 50p per megawatt-hour - meaning a supplier can label a full year of household electricity as "100% green" for under £2 per customer, without purchasing any renewable power directly.
To make sure your electricity actually comes from an eco-friendly source, look for suppliers that own their own renewable generation or buy directly from renewable generators via long-term contracts - not just paper certificates. Our guide to renewable energy tariffs explains what to look for.
Myth 3: Setting your thermostat higher warms your home up faster
This is one of the energy myths that could be seriously hurting your wallet. Some people believe that cranking the thermostat up to 25°C will heat the house faster, then turn it down to their preferred temperature once it's warm. In fact, your thermostat just tells your boiler what temperature to aim for - it doesn't affect how quickly your home heats up.
You'll actually wait longer for your home to reach the higher temperature, and you'll be paying more while it does. Set the thermostat to the temperature you actually want, and leave it there.
Turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can cut your heating bill by around 10% - roughly £100-£115 a year for a typical UK home, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Myth 4: A fixed energy tariff means the same bill every month
With the name 'fixed energy tariff', it's easy to see where this energy myth comes from. A fixed tariff doesn't mean you pay the same amount each month - it means you pay a fixed price for each unit of gas and electricity you use during the contract period.
Using more energy will still increase your bill; saving energy will lower it. What is fixed is the unit rate - so you're protected from supplier price rises, but not from your own consumption.
UK household energy use can vary by 30-40% between summer and winter. Even on a fixed tariff, expect your bills to fluctuate significantly through the year.
Myth 5: It's more efficient to leave lights on than turn them off
You might have heard that it's more energy efficient to leave a light on if you're only leaving a room for a short time, rather than switch it off and back on again. The truth is that this only applies to one specific bulb type: CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lighting) bulbs, which use a brief surge of energy when first switched on.
Modern LED bulbs - now the most common type in UK homes - don't have this issue. LED lighting doesn't use extra energy when first switched on, so it's always better to turn the lights off when you leave a room, even for a minute.
LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs - and switching them off when you leave a room saves every bit of that energy.
If you still have CFL bulbs, the old rule applies: switch them off only if you'll be out of the room for more than 15 minutes.
Myth 6: There's no way to avoid an energy price rise
News reports about rising energy bills and price cap increases can make it feel impossible to avoid higher costs. But one of the most persistent energy myths is that you're powerless in the face of market rises - you're not.
A fixed energy tariff (see myth number 4) can protect you from price cap increases. Under a fixed tariff, your per-unit gas and electricity prices are locked in for the duration of your contract. Even if the price cap rises, the amount you pay per unit won't change until your deal ends.
The UK energy price cap has risen more than 70% since 2021. Households on variable tariffs absorbed every increase - those on fixed tariffs were shielded from the full impact.
With energy prices remaining volatile, opting for the longest fixed-rate tariff available is one of the most effective ways to keep your bills predictable. With energy prices trending upwards over the last five years, we recommend looking for the longest term fixed rate tariff you can find.
Frequently asked questions about energy
Does leaving devices on standby waste a lot of energy?
Yes. Standby mode still draws power, and phantom load across all devices in a typical UK home can add up to £30-£40 a year. Switching devices off at the plug - or using smart plugs to cut the connection automatically - is one of the simplest ways to reduce your electricity bill.
Are all green energy tariffs genuinely renewable?
No. Many tariffs labelled "100% renewable" rely on buying REGO certificates rather than actually purchasing renewable electricity. To find a genuinely green tariff, look for suppliers that buy directly from renewable generators via Power Purchase Agreements, or that generate their own renewable power.
What temperature should I set my thermostat to?
The Energy Saving Trust recommends 18-21°C as a comfortable range for most homes. Dropping your thermostat by 1°C can cut heating costs by around 10%, so finding the lowest temperature you're comfortable with makes a real difference.
What is a fixed energy tariff?
A fixed energy tariff locks in the price you pay per unit of gas and electricity for a set period - typically 12 to 24 months. Your bill will still vary month to month depending on how much energy you use, but you won't be affected by price cap increases during your contract term.
Is it worth switching to LED bulbs to save energy?
Yes. LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last significantly longer. The upfront cost has fallen considerably, and most households recover the investment within a few months through lower electricity bills.
How do I find the cheapest fixed energy tariff?
Comparing fixed tariffs across suppliers is the best approach. Prices and contract lengths vary, so checking what's available for your postcode and usage level is key. Please Connect Me can do this comparison for you in a free call and handle the switch on your behalf.
Don't fall for the energy myths - get free expert advice and switch to the perfect energy tariff with one quick call to Please Connect Me. Book your free switch today.
