Daily Express, on Climate, 24 October 2026

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3 household appliances that guzzle the most electricity

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3 household appliances that guzzle the most electricity as energy bills shoot up According to the Energy Saving Trust, three household appliances use the most electricity in British homes. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Brian Dillon , Audience Writer 06:00, Sat, Oct 24, 2026 Washing machines are among the appliances that use the most energy in the home (Image: Getty) Following Ofgem's latest energy price cap increase, households across the country are looking for ways to manage their energy spending to reduce their bills this winter.

With that in mind, the Energy Saving Trust named the appliances that use the most electricity in British homes, and three common machines are at the top of the list. It comes as households faced a 4% increase in energy costs at the beginning of the month, with the typical household paying £1,723 a year if they're not on a fixed tariff and pay by Direct Debit in England, Scotland and Wales, up from the £1,663 cap that was in place. There are several ways to manage energy bills , and being aware of the biggest electricity guzzlers in your home can be a huge help.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The Energy Saving Trust says that a small number of household appliances account for a large share of home electricity use. These are mainly appliances that heat, cool or run constantly. It reports that washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers account for 14% of a typical energy bill, making them the most "energy-thirsty". Households looking to save money can check the energy rating of their appliances to see how efficient they are.

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You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . An A-rated 12-place dishwasher costs £35 a year to run in Great Britain (GB) and £45 in Northern Ireland (NI), it reports. Meanwhile, a G-rated equivalent appliance costs £70 a year in GB and £90 in NI. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Although using these machines is unavoidable for many households, there are ways to use them more efficiently , according to the Energy Saving Trust. Examples include running your washing machine on a lower temperature, using the eco settings on your dishwasher, and waiting until both appliances are full before using them.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT When it comes to tumble dryers, households can use them sparingly as energy bills increase , opting to dry clothes on an airer instead. Martin Lewis explains 3-year ISA rule - 'then it counts' State pensioners under 77 given boosted £1930.40 Friday payments this October After these three appliances, the biggest energy users in a typical UK home are fridges and freezers. These appliances account for around 13% of the average household’s energy bill.

Following that are TVs, laptops and consoles, which account for around 6% of the average UK household energy bill. After that is lighting, which accounts for about 5%, and ovens, microwaves and kettles, which account for around 4%. Energy bills Property Electricity Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments

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What we found (1)

The Express gives readers a practical guide to the appliances that use the most electricity, with figures attributed to the Energy Saving Trust and the exact size of the price cap change. The only problem is the headline's claim that bills "shoot up", which overstates the 4% rise the body reports. Nothing else in the article misleads.

  1. Headline goes beyond the article

    Minor

    “as energy bills shoot up”

    Why this matters
    The headline uses "shoot up" to describe the change in energy bills.
    The impression it gives
    A reader expects a sharp, dramatic jump in what households pay this winter.
    The context
    The body reports a 4% rise in the price cap, from £1,663 to £1,723 a year for a typical household. That is a real increase, but a modest one, and "shoot up" promises more than the article's own figures show.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“households faced a 4% increase in energy costs at the beginning of the month”

    Show it in the article

What it gets right

  • “with the typical household paying £1,723 a year if they're not on a fixed tariff and pay by Direct Debit in England, Scotland and Wales, up from the £1,663 cap that was in place”

    It gives the exact before and after figures and says which households they apply to, so readers can judge the rise for themselves.

  • “An A-rated 12-place dishwasher costs £35 a year to run in Great Britain (GB) and £45 in Northern Ireland (NI), it reports.”

    It attributes the running cost figures to their source and separates Great Britain from Northern Ireland.

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