Households enjoying a modest drop in energy bills are being warned that the biggest drain on your finances may be how you use your appliances.
New figures from Ofgem lay bare the true cost of everyday habits under the April 2026 price cap – and they expose a huge gap between the cheapest and most expensive routines. From just 2p an hour to watch TV to as much as £1.44 to dry a load of laundry, the difference is stark.
And the arrival of better weather as spring makes way for summer makes clear that hanging items out to dry in the sun can deliver significant savings.
Ofgem’s latest breakdown shows exactly what you’re paying each time you flick the switch:
- Tumble dryer: 57p to £1.44 per load
- Dishwasher: around 18p per cycle
- Fridge: 7p to 19p per day
- Microwave: about 7p per use
- Hairdryer: 7p to 54p for 8 minutes
- Television: roughly 2p per hour
- Electric oven: about 24p per use
- Kettle: around 7p for 5 minutes of use
- Air fryer: 7p to 14p per use
The figures reveal a clear divide with watching the TV for hour costs almost mothing, while heating up food in the microwave or air fryer barely dents your bill
But once heat and time combine, costs surge. For example, single tumble dryer cycle can cost over 20 times more than running your TV for an evening.
The laundry trap: wash cheap, dry expensive
One of the biggest takeaways is the cost of drying clothes.
While appliances like dishwashers and microwaves remain relatively low-cost, the tumble dryer stands out as the single biggest everyday expense in most homes.
Even at the lower end (57p per load), regular use quickly adds up. At the top end (£1.44), a few loads a week can quietly pile hundreds onto annual bills.
Small habits, big impact
Ofgem’s figures underline how simple changes can make a noticeable difference:
- Switching from oven (24p) to air fryer (7p–14p) can halve cooking costs
- Cutting tumble dryer use delivers the biggest savings
- Being mindful with high-power items like hairdryers can also trim bills
- Even appliances that seem cheap – like kettles – can add up with repeated use.
The latest energy price cap, which saw a 7% fall in tariffs from April 1 through to the end of June has brought some relief to households after years of soaring bills.
But the regulator’s message is clear: usage matters just as much as price.
The bottom line is that a night in front of the TV, is just a few pence, while cooking dinner comes in at under 25p, while drying a load of clothes comes in at £1.44.
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