UK households must switch off five appliances 'within next two weeks'

Four energy appliances you need to switch off before the new Ofgem energy price cap hits have been revealed. Bramlett Residential expert Eric Bramlett, has laid bare the top five appliances you "should never" leave on standby before the new energy price cap on October 1.

Discussing games console, which was number one on his list, Eric said: "They can be real energy hogs on standby. A client of mine saw their energy bills drop after turning off their console when not in use." An Energy Saving Trust expert also highlighted the importance of updating consoles as it "can improve energy management".

Discussing cable or satellite boxes, Eric went on and said: "A friend of mine found that unplugging their cable box when not in use made a difference in their monthly energy bills." He also had a warning for older tech devices and white-goods too.

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Older appliances - be it fridges, freezers or washing machines - can guzzle power and lead to a higher consumption. He warned that leaving appliances on standby could really bump up your energy bills - including microwaves on your kitchen counters.

On desktop computers, he added: "Don't even get me started on those. Just shut them down when you're done using them and watch your bills melt away." Mitchell Wray, of National Insulation Supplies, said: "TVs are the centre-piece of millions of living rooms up and down the country and the staple of most people’s Saturday nights in. However, leaving your telly on standby can cost you a whopping £60.27 a year! It may seem unnecessary, but the extra little bit of effort it takes to turn your TV off at the switch can save you a lot of money."

And backing up Eric's console warning, he added: "It can be hard to tear teenagers away from their game consoles at times, but if you do manage to prise them off their Xbox or Playstation, then remind them to flick them off at the switch, as leaving your console on standby could be costing you around £30.13 annually."