Why doesn't your electricity bill disappear, even when you aren't at home?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions when summer arrives: why do I keep paying for electricity if I'm not at home?

The answer is simple. An empty home doesn't always stop consuming electricity. Some devices need to keep running while you are away, such as the fridge, router, alarm, or security cameras. In addition, many devices continue to draw a small amount of energy, even when they appear to be turned off.

Add to this another important factor: your electricity bill doesn't just reflect the electricity you use. It also includes fixed charges that you will continue to pay, even if your consumption is minimal.

Therefore, receiving a bill after your holiday doesn't necessarily mean you have used a lot of electricity. In most cases, you simply need to identify which appliances need to stay connected and which you can unplug to avoid unnecessary consumption.

If you want to better understand how your bill is calculated and what each charge means, you can read our article on understanding your electricity bill.

Contracted power and consumption: the key difference when you go away

To understand why you continue to pay part of your bill, even when the house is empty, it is helpful to differentiate between two concepts: contracted power and electricity consumption.

Consumption refers to the electricity used by the appliances and devices in your home. If only essential appliances remain connected during your holiday, this part of your bill will be much lower.

Contracted power, on the other hand, is a fixed cost linked to the electrical capacity available in your home. It is paid every day, regardless of whether you consume a lot, a little, or no electricity at all.

The difference can be summed up very simply:                  

This means your goal shouldn't be to try and make your bill disappear completely, but rather to reduce the electricity consumption of appliances that might be left connected unnecessarily.

If you feel your contracted power doesn't suit your home's needs, it might be a good time to check whether your contract is still the most appropriate. You can also check Endesa's electricity tariffs to find the option that best fits your consumption habits.

Vampire power: appliances that keep using energy on standby

Even when they seem switched off, many devices continue to consume electricity while plugged into the mains. This is known as vampire power or standby consumption: a small drain that, on its own, is barely noticeable, but can add up on your electricity bill when sustained over days or weeks.

The main culprits tend to be entertainment and electronic devices, such as the TV, games console, computer, sound system, chargers, or a microwave with a digital clock display left on.

The good news is that this consumption is easy to avoid. Before heading off on holiday, simply unplug the appliances you won't be using or turn them off using a switched extension lead. With this simple action, you will stop them from consuming energy for the entire time you are away.

If you want to continue reducing your household consumption year-round, you can also read our article on which household appliances consume the most electricity.

Fridge and freezer: the heavy energy users you might leave on

When a house is left empty, the fridge is usually the appliance that continues to consume the most electricity. However, that doesn't mean it is always advisable to turn it off.

If you are only going away for a few days, it is best to leave the fridge on to properly preserve food and stop it from spoiling. Moreover, turning it back on when you return also requires energy to reach the right temperature again.

Conversely, if you are going away for several weeks and can completely empty your fridge and freezer, turning them off can help reduce your electricity consumption. In this case, remember to clean them before leaving and leave the doors slightly ajar to prevent moisture and bad odours from building up.

And if you are thinking of replacing this appliance, opting for an energy-efficient fridge can also make a big difference to your consumption all year round.

Router, alarm, cameras, and smart home systems: what you should keep active

When it comes to saving electricity on holiday, the key is not to turn everything off, but rather to leave running only the devices that truly need to be.

If your home has an alarm, security cameras, or smart home systems, they usually rely on an internet connection to send alerts, allow remote access, or let you manage devices from your mobile. In these cases, it is highly recommended to leave your router turned on.

Besides enhancing home security, some smart home systems can simulate occupancy by automatically turning lights on or letting you control certain appliances remotely, which is a particularly useful feature when you are away for several days.

Before unplugging any device, check which appliances rely on an internet connection. This will prevent them from going offline just when you need them most.

Immersion heater: the silent cost of heating water for no one

The immersion heater is another appliance that often goes unnoticed before heading off on a trip. However, if left on, it will continue heating water to maintain its programmed temperature, even if nobody is home.

Therefore, if the house will be empty for several days, turning off the immersion heater is usually one of the most effective ways to reduce consumption without affecting comfort. When you return, you will only need to switch it back on to have hot water again.

If you are considering upgrading your hot water system, this could also be a good time to discover the benefits of air source heat pumps, a more efficient alternative that allows you to heat and cool your home and produce domestic hot water with lower energy consumption.

TV, games console, microwave, and small appliances: best used with an extension lead

Besides the fridge or the immersion heater, there are other devices that can continue to consume energy, even when you aren't using them. This includes the TV, games console, computer, sound system, printer, or a microwave with its digital clock left on.

Individually, their consumption is usually low, but if left on standby for a whole week or longer, this small cost can end up showing on your electricity bill.

The easiest way to avoid this is by using a switched extension lead. This allows you to disconnect several devices at once, without having to unplug them one by one every time you go on a trip.

It is a quick action that helps reduce vampire power, and you can also incorporate it into your daily routine to save energy all year round.

Should you turn off the fuse box before you leave?

It depends on the state your home will be in while you are away.

If you are going to be away for several weeks, have emptied the fridge, and do not need to keep any appliances connected, turning off the fuse box can be an option to eliminate any residual consumption.

However, this isn't always the best option. If you leave the fridge, an alarm, security cameras, the router, or a smart home system running, the fuse box must remain on so that all these devices continue to operate normally.

Before flicking the main switch, check which appliances you need to keep active. In most cases, it is not about turning everything off, but rather leaving only the essential devices connected.

What to do if you are away for 2 days, a week, or the whole month

Not all holidays require the same measures. Tailoring your home's preparation to the length of time you will be away will allow you to save electricity on holiday without any hassle.

Taking a few minutes to run through this checklist before you leave can help you avoid unnecessary consumption and return to a more manageable bill.

How to check your home's actual consumption during your holidays

Have you ever wondered if you actually managed to reduce your consumption while you were away?

The easiest way to check is to monitor your consumption trends in the Customer Area or the Endesa app. This lets you see how much electricity your home is using while it is empty and spot any unusual consumption.

As well as helping you during your holidays, reviewing this information regularly will give you a better understanding of your consumption habits, as well as help you identify potential energy waste and make decisions to keep saving all year round.

If you don't already use these tools, you can access the Endesa Customer Area or download the Endesa app to check your consumption, manage your contracts, and handle other requests from anywhere.

Final checklist before locking the door

Before leaving for your holiday, spend a couple of minutes on this quick check:

✔ Unplug appliances that might be left on standby.

✔ Turn off the immersion heater if it won't be used.

✔ Decide whether to leave the fridge on, depending on the length of your trip.

✔ Check that your alarm, cameras, and smart home systems will continue to work properly.

✔ Use switched extension leads to turn off multiple devices at once.

✔ Ensure no lights are left on.

✔ Check your consumption via the Customer Area or the Endesa app before and during your holidays.

With these small actions, you can ensure that your home only uses the necessary electricity while you are away. And when you return, not only will you find your house exactly as you left it, but you will also easily avoid any surprises on your next bill.

FAQs about an empty house, holidays, and your electricity bill

Does an empty house consume electricity?

Yes. Even if nobody is home, some appliances can continue to consume electricity. This includes the fridge, router, security cameras, or devices left on standby. Furthermore, your bill includes a fixed portion, such as your contracted power, which you will keep paying even if your consumption is minimal.

Which appliances should I unplug before going on holiday?

As long as they won't be in use, it is a good idea to unplug devices that stay on standby, such as the TV, games console, computer, sound system, printer, or chargers. This will help you avoid vampire power during the days your home is empty.

Should I turn off the fridge during my holidays?

It depends on how long you will be away. If it is only for a few days, it is best to leave the fridge on to preserve your food properly. If you will be away for several weeks and can completely empty your fridge and freezer, turning them off can help reduce your electricity consumption.

Can I turn off the fuse box before I leave?

Only if you do not need to leave any appliances connected. If your fridge, alarm, security cameras, or a smart home system must keep running, it is highly recommended to leave the fuse box turned on to ensure they continue to operate.

How can I find out how much electricity my house consumed while I was on holiday?

Through the Customer Area or the Endesa app, you can check your electricity consumption trends and see if your home recorded any unexpected usage while you were away. It is an easy way to verify that everything worked as expected and to spot any unnecessary consumption.