Households are being warned that a simple computer habit could be adding almost £230 a year to their electricity bills as they prepare for a predicted rise in energy costs this October. E.ON Next has forecast that the October energy price cap could reach £1,725 for a typical household, £62 higher than the July 2026 cap.
With energy use typically increasing during the colder months, experts are urging households to look beyond heating and large appliances and consider the technology they leave running every day. Analysis from mini PC manufacturer GEEKOM found that a typical 150W desktop computer used for eight hours a day costs an estimated £114.36 a year in electricity.
The cost of leaving a computer running
Leaving the same computer running around the clock could increase the estimated annual cost to £343.09. That means switching the computer off outside an eight-hour working day could save an estimated £228.73 a year. Over five years, the difference could exceed £1,140.
The figures are based on the power assumptions used by GEEKOM's PC Running Cost Calculator, so the actual cost will depend on the computer, electricity tariff and how it is used.
Expert advice on reducing energy use
Max Tang, CMO of GEEKOM, said: “Energy bills are likely to be front of mind again as we head towards October and the colder months, but most people will immediately think about heating and large household appliances.
“The technology sitting on our desks is much easier to overlook. If you finish work at five or six o'clock but your desktop stays running all evening and overnight, you're using electricity for hours when you're getting no benefit from it.”
He recommended checking computer power settings and making sure the device enters sleep mode or is switched off when it is no longer needed.
Computer choice and additional savings
The calculations also show how computer choice can affect running costs. A 50W laptop used for eight hours a day is estimated to cost £38.12 a year, while a 25W mini PC costs around £19.06.
Households can also reduce electricity use by setting their computer to enter sleep mode automatically, using built-in power-saving settings and reducing monitor brightness. Simply switching off the screen may not be enough, as the computer itself can continue consuming electricity.
Other equipment, including additional monitors, printers and speakers, can also add to electricity costs if left switched on unnecessarily. While the exact saving will vary between households, switching off a computer at the end of the day is a simple step that could help reduce unnecessary energy use as households prepare for potentially higher bills this autumn.
