Eversource: 'Vampire Power' Can Add Spooky Dollars To Electric Bills

CONNECTICUT — Yes, it's Halloween season, but Eversource on Thursday was alerting customers they may have already inadvertently "invited vampires into their homes and businesses."

Vampire power, also known as phantom load, ghost energy or standby power, is electricity that is consumed by some appliances and electronics even when they're turned off, officials fore the utility said. If not kept in check, it can account for up to 10 percent of a household’s energy use and cost as much as $100 a year, according to the Department of Energy.

One simple way to eliminate the energy drain is by unplugging devices like gaming consoles, laptops, toasters and coffee makers when not in use, Eversource officials said. Even without a device attached, a plugged-in charger is constantly using electricity, so once a device is charged, unplugging it prevents additional energy usage, Eversource officials said.

While it can be inconvenient to constantly plug and unplug certain devices, using a power strip with an on/off switch can help keep it simple because a quick flip of the switch prevents standby power for any device on the strip, they added.

"We all have electronics in our homes that are using electricity without us even realizing it, and the more electronics or appliances you have in standby mode, the more it can add up on your energy bill," Eversource Energy Efficiency Manager Ricardo Jordan said. "Taking the time to unplug devices or turn off power strips, especially when you’re going away on vacation, is just one simple way to lower energy use a little bit. But stopping phantom power from haunting your electric bill isn’t the only way to control usage; we have a variety of energy efficiency programs and solutions available that we hope customers will take advantage of."

For more information on the energy efficiency programs available that can lower usage and impact bills, visit Eversource.com.