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What your always-on devices cost

A 10 W device left on around the clock uses 88 kWh a year — more than a microwave that gets used every day. Standby power is boring precisely because it never stops, and that is what makes it add up.

What to know

• Typical always-on draws: router and modem 10–20 W, each mesh node 5–10 W, game console in instant-on 10–15 W, set-top box 15–30 W, each wired security camera about 5 W, smart speaker 3 W.
• The devices worth unplugging are the ones with a real draw and long idle periods — a printer, a spare console, an amplifier. Phone chargers with nothing attached draw almost nothing on modern hardware.
• A smart plug that reports power will find the offenders in an afternoon.

Questions

Is it worth unplugging everything?

No. Concentrate on a handful of devices with meaningful draw and long idle time. Unplugging trivial loads costs convenience and saves cents.

State rates are averages of what residential customers actually paid (June 2026), from EIA. Your own plan can differ. Everything on this page is computed in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.