This headline is clickbait, but unlike many viral claims, the underlying idea has some truth.
“I unplugged my TV, cable box, and kitchen appliances every night before bed for 4 weeks. This is what happened to my electric bill.”
Many electronics use a small amount of electricity while they’re turned off but still plugged in. This is called standby or “phantom” power.
However:
- Unplugging devices can reduce electricity use.
- For most households, the savings are usually modest, not dramatic.
- The biggest savings come from devices that draw more standby power, such as older cable/satellite boxes, gaming consoles (depending on settings), and some entertainment equipment.
- Many modern TVs and kitchen appliances use very little standby power.
If your goal is to lower your electric bill, these measures typically have a much larger impact:
- Adjust heating or air conditioning settings.
- Use LED light bulbs.
- Run large appliances efficiently (e.g., full loads in washers and dishwashers).
- Improve home insulation and seal air leaks.
- Use smart power strips to cut power to multiple devices when they’re not in use.
So the headline is likely exaggerating the results to encourage clicks. Unplugging electronics may save some electricity, but it’s unlikely to produce a surprisingly large reduction in your monthly bill unless your home has several high-standby-power devices.
