(Idaho Power News Brief, October 27, 2026)
Ghosts aren’t the only things haunting your home this Halloween. Energy vampires — electronics that draw power even when turned off — can quietly use energy.
Phantom load, also called standby power, is the electricity electronics use when they are turned off, but still plugged in. The average U.S. home has about 40 devices that use power this way. These can include computers, modems, coffee makers, video game consoles, and devices with digital displays.
While the energy use of a single device may seem small, these “energy vampires” can add up. In fact, they may account for 5 to 10% of a home’s annual electricity use.
Try these tips to reduce phantom load and save energy:
- Turn on power-saving settings for computers, TVs, and video game consoles.
- Unplug electronic devices that don’t require reprogramming or aren’t frequently used.
- Choose ENERGY STAR® products. They use less power in standby mode.
- Borrow a Kill A Watt™ meter from your local library. Use it to check how much power devices use in standby mode.
- Plug several devices into a power strip so you can turn them off at once. A smart power strip can shut off power when devices are not in use.
- Use smart plugs to control devices from your phone. Set a schedule so devices turn off when you do not need them.
For more energy-saving tips, visit idahopower.com/save.
