Energy bill high? Here’s how you can lower it

What really contributes to a high energy bill and practical tips to help you save.

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How to actually save on your energy bill

What really contributes to a high energy bill and practical tips to help you save.

Electricity prices have increased 4% in the past year, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. Experts say higher electricity prices are being driven by a combination of grid modernization costs, fuel prices, hotter weather that increases demand and growing electricity demand from sources including data centers.

A common recommendation to lower your bill is to unplug everything in your home, because appliances can quietly raise your energy bill when they’re plugged in. We set out to see how effective that advice can be and what other measures families can take.

What is phantom energy?

Phantom energy, otherwise known as “vampire power,” is a hidden power drain. “[It] is the electricity that’s consumed by devices throughout the home even when they’re not in use,” said Dan DiClerico, Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab Director at Good Housekeeping.

“It can be a couple hundred bucks if you think about it,” he said.

The biggest offenders of phantom energy are entertainment devices such as game consoles, sound systems and smart TVs. “All these things that are streaming content and taking in data and information 24 hours a day,” said DiClerico.

Watch the video above to see a device that can measure phantom energy consumption.

How much does phantom energy actually cost you?

To test how much phantom energy really costs homeowners, we tested three different products: a printer, gaming console and an air fryer. The air fryer, when not in use, cost about $1.50 per year, while the printer cost about an extra $10. The XBOX, though, cost about an extra $40 per year.

The Department of Energy says phantom energy makes up 5% to 10% of a home’s energy use. So if you’re looking to make even bigger savings, you might want to take other measures.

What are some better ways to save?

This summer, alone, cooling costs are expected to reach record highs and increase 10.5% from last year, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. That means households are expected to spend $792 on electricity, up from $717 in 2025.

If your goal is to meaningfully reduce your electric bill, experts say heating and cooling are usually the biggest opportunities for savings.

“Keeping curtains closed during the day, running ceiling fans or other fans throughout the home, will let you raise the AC temperature by 5 to 10 degrees. That right there can save you a few hundred dollars,” said DiClerico.

Additionally, if you’re looking to cut down on phantom energy usage, you can plug your devices into a power-strip. Many come with built-in surge protection and by plugging all of your devices into one strip, you can turn them off at once.