UK households urged to 'switch off and unplug' these vampire appliances

Autumn has arrived and winter isn't far behind, which means most of us are beginning to consider our energy bills climbing back up as the evenings grow darker.

With energy costs set to rise again on October 1, and the temperatures already dropping, the pressure of fighting escalating bills is returning with a vengeance. That's why this is an ideal time of year to get control of your consumption, before your bill starts to spiral out of control.

According to Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert site, energy guidance shared by supplier British Gas advises targeting three key 'vampire power' gadgets.

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MSE reports that, contrary to widespread belief, chargers and other appliances continue to consume electricity when plugged in, even when not being used, reports the Express.

And other gadgets - particularly games consoles, laptops and TVs - still consume power when connected to a switched-on socket, MSE explains. And British Gas states that a fourth appliance - kettles - can also cut costs when switched off.

It explains: "British Gas says that chargers and appliances will still use electricity when left in sockets - so it's important to turn them off at the plug when you're not using them."

"A lot of devices, such as games consoles, laptops and TVs, draw small amounts of power when not in use but still plugged in and turned on at the socket. This is sometimes known as 'vampire power'. You can easily avoid using this standby power by switching devices off at the wall."

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It continues: "The Energy Saving Trust says you can save about £45 a year by turning off your appliances at the plug when you're not using them."

British Gas, on its energy saving tips website, advises: "Switching electronics off instead of leaving them on standby can save you up to £55 a year.

"Small changes to how you use electricity can add up. Unplugging appliances like kettles and other appliances instead of leaving them on standby are good habits to get into and every little counts towards lower energy bills."

Summer has come to an end, and the autumn season is taking over. Therefore, the change in temperatures and the days getting darker sooner will take some time to adjust.

Whether you're turning on the lights or spending more time playing video games, you will want to consider reducing those to avoid a surprising bill at the end of the month.