New research reveals a dramatic spike in electricity consumption across British households on Christmas Day, with usage soaring to seven times the normal daily average.
The Festive Energy Feast
According to data from energy supplier EDF, the typical UK home is estimated to use around 65 kWh of electricity on December 25th. This stands in stark contrast to the 8 to 10 kWh consumed on an ordinary day.
To put this immense energy use into perspective, the total national consumption would be enough to watch the classic Christmas film, Home Alone, back-to-back a staggering 183 times.
Where All The Power Goes
The centrepiece of this energy surge is, unsurprisingly, the Christmas dinner. The nation's ovens will be working overtime to cook an estimated 14.6 million turkeys and 114 million pigs in blankets.
But the feast isn't just for humans. The research found that two in five pet owners will be using extra electricity to prepare a special festive meal for their animals.
Beyond the kitchen, vanity is also a significant contributor. Ten per cent of Brits are expected to use LED face masks and ring lights to capture the perfect festive selfie, adding to the drain on the power grid.
Other major energy activities on the day include:
- Brewing a colossal 332 million cups of tea and coffee, a volume that could fill 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
- Charging new devices for a combined 131 hours as families unbox phones, tablets, and games consoles.
- Powering up to 18.5 million dishwasher loads to tackle the post-feast clean-up.
Free Power for a Merry Christmas
In response to this festive energy peak, EDF has announced an initiative to help customers with costs. The supplier is offering eight hours of free electricity on Christmas Day, from 8am until 4pm, covering the hours of peak national usage.
Customers can register for this offer by signing up for EDF's December Sunday Saver Challenge. Those who opt-in can also earn up to 16 hours of free electricity across four Sundays in December and January by shifting their energy use away from peak weekday times.
The registration window for the December challenge closes on November 30th at 11:59 pm. However, households can still sign up for the free Christmas Day power until December 24th at 11:59 pm.
Rich Hughes, director of retail at EDF, commented on the offer, stating: "Christmas is a time for joy and togetherness - and we want to make sure nothing gets in the way of that. From cooking the turkey to lighting up your home and sharing countless cups of tea, the day is full of energy and celebration."
