Every month, millions of homeowners look at their electricity bill and ask the same question: where is the money going?
From 2021 to 2024, the average monthly bill rose by $22, adding $264 a year to household costs. Residential electricity rates increased 13% between 2022 and 2025. Most people blame major appliances—air conditioners, heaters, dryers.
But Corey Gilgan, owner of Oregon Generators in Portland, says the real source could be something much smaller, sitting on your kitchen counter and rarely given a second thought.
The device he’s pointing to isn’t new or high-tech. It doesn’t heat your home or keep food cold. It just sits there, quietly drawing power around the clock. And according to Gilgan, it’s a major source of what energy experts call “phantom load”—a concept worth understanding.
Phantom load, also known as standby power or vampire energy, is the electricity a device uses while it’s plugged in but not actively in use. Many appliances continue to draw small amounts of power even when turned off, from TVs and computers to kitchen gadgets. It’s like a tap left slightly open—each drop seems insignificant, but over time, it adds up.
The Appliance Most People Overlook
Here’s the part most people don’t expect. The device Gilgan is pointing to isn’t your TV, laptop charger, or gaming console. While attention usually goes to heavy energy users like heating and air conditioning, he says the microwave is often one of the biggest contributors to phantom energy—and it’s rarely noticed.
Think about how often you actually use your microwave. Maybe a few minutes a day to reheat food or warm a drink. The rest of the time, it just sits there with the clock glowing, seemingly off. But it isn’t. Most microwaves continue drawing power around the clock to keep internal systems running and the display lit.
So how much energy are we talking about? Data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Compliance Certification Database (2025) shows microwaves typically draw between 2 and 7 watts on standby, depending on the model and age. Older units from the 1990s and early 2000s can use 6 to 10 watts, while newer Energy Star models tend to fall closer to 3 to 4 watts. Units with bright digital displays showing the time are often among the highest users.
Regulators have started to address this. Updated standards finalized in 2023 will take effect on June 22, 2026, capping standby power at 0.6 watts for most countertop microwaves and 1.0 watt for built-in or over-the-range models. But those limits won’t apply to older appliances already in use.
Why does this matter? Because small numbers add up quickly. Four watts may not seem like much, but it’s never just one device. That microwave might be joined by a cable box using 15 watts, a coffee maker at 3, a laptop charger at 2, a printer at 5, and a TV at 8—all sitting idle. In many homes, 20 to 40 devices draw standby power at once, adding up to 50 to 200 watts running nonstop. Over time, that can mean $50 to $60 a year spent on energy you’re not actively using.
And that’s a conservative estimate. EnergySage puts standby power at 5% to 10% of household energy use, costing up to $183 annually. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates phantom loads cost U.S. households about $19 billion each year. It’s a steady, invisible drain that rarely gets noticed.
Gilgan puts it simply: most people don’t realize it’s happening. You can’t see it or hear it, and unless you’re looking for it, it goes unnoticed. While few homeowners would leave lights on all night, many are effectively doing the same thing through standby power without realizing it.
The microwave may stand out because it’s so easy to overlook, but it’s far from the only source of wasted energy. Looking at how different appliances use power—both in use and at rest—offers a clearer picture of where those costs come from.
Cable Boxes and Entertainment Systems
Cable boxes typically use about 16 watts even in standby mode, drawing nearly the same power whether the TV is on or off—adding up to roughly $19 to $20 a year for just one unit. Pair that with unplugging your microwave overnight, and you’ve already tackled two of the biggest energy drains in the kitchen and living room, Gilgan says.
Gaming consoles follow closely behind, with systems like PlayStation or Xbox using 10 to 15 watts in rest mode. Laptops average around 60 watts while in use, while gaming systems can reach 90 watts—or as high as 220 watts for more powerful setups.
The Water Heater
This is one of the biggest energy users in any home. A water heater typically runs at about 4,000 watts per hour, compared to a freezer at just 35 watts. Because it operates constantly to maintain temperature, it often ranks as the second-largest source of energy use, accounting for about 19% of household consumption. While unplugging isn’t an option, lowering the thermostat can help. Many units are set to 140°F, which is higher than the U.S. Department of Energy’s recommended 120°F. Reducing that setting can noticeably cut costs.
The Clothes Dryer
A washing machine uses around 500 watts per hour, but a dryer jumps to about 3,000 watts. Running five loads a week can push annual usage past 1,000 kWh, translating into hundreds of dollars depending on electricity rates. On average, electric dryers use about 680 kWh per year, meaning most of the combined washer-dryer cost—around $125 annually—comes from the dryer.
The Refrigerator
Your refrigerator runs nonstop all year, though newer models are far more efficient than older ones. The average unit uses about 657 kWh annually, costing roughly $78.84 per year. Older refrigerators can use two to three times more energy. Energy Star-certified models consume 20–30% less power, and replacing an outdated fridge can save $100 to $200 annually.
How Much Does Microwave Electricity Actually Cost?
Breaking it down makes the impact clearer. With average electricity priced at $0.18 per kWh in late 2025—though higher in some regions—a microwave drawing 4 watts on standby uses about 35 kWh annually. That works out to roughly $6.30 a year just to stay plugged in. Add in daily use of about 20 minutes, and total yearly operating costs come to around $19 to $31.
On its own, that standby cost seems minor. But it’s just one device. Many electronics—TVs, computers, speakers—never fully power down. Instead, they draw small amounts of energy continuously, adding up to 5% to 10% of total household usage, or around $100 a year. Using a smart power strip that cuts power when devices aren’t in use can help reduce that waste.
If your microwave is more than 10 years old, it’s likely less efficient than newer models. Replacing it with an updated, energy-efficient version can reduce both active and standby power use over time.
How to Cut Phantom Energy at Home
Unplug the Microwave Overnight
Gilgan’s top suggestion is also the one people resist most. Resetting the clock each morning can be inconvenient, but unplugging becomes especially worthwhile during longer absences like vacations, when energy is being used with no benefit.
Use a Power Strip With a Switch
A simpler option is a power strip. Plug in devices like your microwave and coffee maker, then switch them off at night. The same applies to entertainment setups—TV, cable box, gaming console—all controlled with one switch. Smart plugs can automate this process on a schedule.
Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances
When replacing appliances, look for Energy Star-certified models. These are designed to use less power in both operation and standby, often cutting energy use by 20–30%.
Use an Energy Monitor
Plug-in energy monitors, usually priced between $25 and $50, show exactly how much electricity a device uses. Seeing real numbers often makes it easier to identify where energy is being wasted.
Focus on the Biggest Users First
You don’t need to unplug everything. Start with the biggest standby users—cable boxes, gaming consoles, and microwaves. Addressing just these can make a noticeable difference.
What This Means for You
Electricity costs aren’t dropping anytime soon. Rates are expected to rise again in 2026, with some areas seeing increases of 10% or more. In that environment, even small reductions matter. The idea that unused devices don’t cost anything doesn’t hold up—they do, quietly and constantly.
The upside is that reducing this waste doesn’t require major effort or expense.
A basic power strip, a few seconds each night, and a habit of unplugging devices when you’re away can add up to real savings. Start with the rooms you use most, and build from there.