State Pensioners Urged to Unplug Two Appliances as Energy Bills Rise and Winter Fuel Payments End

State pensioners, who've had their £300 Winter Fuel Payment taken away just as energy bills rise by 10 percent, are searching for ways to save money during the colder months.

State Pensioners Urged to Unplug Devices to Cut Energy Bills

Consumer magazine Which? has offered a useful tip to help lower costs this winter—by unplugging devices that quietly use electricity and add to your bill, even when they’re not being used. While it's clear that running appliances like tumble dryers, ovens, or boilers comes at a cost, at least these are actively helping around the house.

On the other hand, some gadgets quietly add to your electricity costs by staying on standby without doing anything useful, reports the Express. According to Which?, wireless and smart speakers, along with soundbars, are the biggest culprits for using energy while on standby. They cost around £6 per year for 20 hours of standby per day. While £6 may not sound like much, it adds up—especially when it's £6 per device for doing absolutely nothing.

Other Tips to Save Energy Costs for State Pensioners This Winter

As winter arrives and energy bills rise, state pensioners should check their check other devices like PCs, gaming consoles, and TVs. These gadgets are often designed to stay in standby mode instead of fully shutting down, so they’re always ready to use right away.

But modern PCs only take a few seconds longer to start from being fully off than from standby, meaning leaving them on standby just adds to your energy costs without any real advantage. This comes as state pensioners face losing their £300 Winter Fuel Payment unless they're receiving Pension Credit. Martin Lewis says up to 800,000 people are missing out on this support when they qualify for it.