Households with TVs face extra charges per year from July
It’s among the most frequently used electrical devices in any British household, but the expense of running a TV daily can escalate. Costs can rise in family homes with multiple devices in use, powering games consoles, streaming Netflix, and connecting to soundbars or audio systems.
According to broadcasting regulator Ofcom, the typical person in the UK watches television for 4 hours and 31 minutes each day, although this differs by age group: those over 65 clock up 6 hours, while young adults manage just 53 minutes.
From July, energy regulator Ofgem is raising the price of gas and electricity, making your television slightly more expensive to run, with costs set to rise by 13% from July 1.
According to USwitch, televisions generally use between 40W and 200W while switched on, though this can fluctuate considerably depending on the TV model and its size.
For instance, a budget 32-inch bedroom LCD television running a Freeview signal will consume far less than a 77-inch OLED at maximum brightness streaming in 4K.
Using an average consumption of 100W and operating for the typical 4 hours 30 minutes daily, households would spend 12p each day watching television. Annually, that amounts to £42.89, reports the Express.
This excludes any additional equipment plugged in, such as a set-top box, Sky box, surround sound system, soundbar, DVD/Bluray player or games console, and if your television exceeds average size, costs will be higher.
That figure also excludes the cost of a TV Licence, which rose to £15 monthly from April — essential for watching any live television or accessing BBC content, whether live or via iPlayer.
According to USwitch, several factors determine how much your TV usage costs you.
USwitch said: “Compared with other household appliances, such as tumble dryers and fridges, televisions don’t use that much electricity. But they can be the biggest energy guzzlers of your entertainment equipment, particularly if they’re large.
“Most TVs consume between 40 and 200 watts (W) when switched on, but the exact figure will depend on the:
- Type – LED, OLED and QLED TVs all have different power consumption levels. QLED TVs tend to use more power than OLED TVs.
- Age – newer TVs tend to be more efficient than older ones
- Size – the bigger the screen, the more electricity it’s likely to consume
- Settings – brightness and other settings can affect electricity use
- Usage – of course, the more you watch TV, the more energy it uses.
“TVs are rated for energy efficiency on a scale of A-G. Many will have an E-G rating, which is considered poor for household appliances.”
They added: “If you’re buying a new TV, think about the size and type of screen you choose. An energy-efficient 32-inch LCD will typically use half the power of a model with a 42-inch plasma screen. In general, the smaller your TV, the less it will cost you to run, but the type of television is also crucial, as is its age.”
