The key to getting as close as possible to ‘zero consumption’ on the variable term of your electricity bill comes down to a simple strategy: knowing what absolutely needs to stay on and what you should definitely unplug. Have you ever wondered how much electricity your home uses when nobody is there?

What your home consumes when you’re away: vampire power in numbers

The phenomenon known as vampire or standby power describes the energy your devices use simply by being plugged in. It’s the reason why the variable term of your electricity bill never truly drops to zero, even when no one is home.

And this silent waste is far from insignificant. According to the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), it accounts for between 7% and 11% of the total electricity consumption of an average household. In practical terms, that amounts to around 300 kWh of electricity per year consumed without anyone actually benefiting from it.

To understand why this happens, you need to look at the devices themselves. Many appliances remain active as long as they are connected to the grid, generating a constant trickle of electricity consumption even when the device is technically ‘off’.

Eliminating vampire power is one of the most direct ways to save electricity while you’re on holiday, but what can you safely unplug, and what should stay connected?

Table: what to unplug, why, and how much you can save

To ensure your strategy is effective, it’s important to know which appliances should be unplugged before going on holiday to reduce electricity consumption.

You may have noticed that appliances such as the water heater or fridge are missing from the table above. Let’s take a closer look at them below.

The biggest potential saving: the electric water heater

In homes without natural gas, the electric water heater can account for around 7.4% of total household electricity consumption. A standard 100-litre model can cost up to €180 per year simply to keep the water at the right temperature.

That’s why switching off the water heater when you go on holiday makes perfect sense. By disconnecting it completely, you could reduce electricity consumption during those days by as much as 25%, making it one of the most impactful actions to cut costs.

The fridge: when to empty it and when it’s not worth the trouble

The refrigerator is the undisputed king of household electricity consumption. It accounts for roughly 30% of the annual electricity bill because, although its energy consumption is relatively low, it runs 24 hours a day.

So, should you unplug the fridge while you’re on holiday? The answer depends on how long you’ll be away.

• Less than 3 days: it’s usually not worth the effort of emptying and cleaning it compared to the potential savings.
• More than 3 days: unplugging the fridge is highly recommended. Ideally, you should plan your grocery shopping in the days leading up to your trip so you can empty the refrigerator completely. Once unplugged, leave the doors open to prevent mould and unpleasant odours from building up.

If you decide to leave it running because you still have food inside, remember that fridges work more efficiently when they are full. A useful trick is to fill any empty spaces with containers of water. This helps reduce the effort required by the motor to maintain the cold temperature, saving some energy for every degree you raise the thermostat (set it to the warmest acceptable setting).

Fridges with water or ice dispensers

If your refrigerator features a built-in water or ice dispenser connected to the mains water supply, you should never unplug it without first shutting off the water valve. Leaving the water line open while the appliance is off could cause leaks or pressure-related damage inside the system.

The electrical panel: the nuclear option (with one important exception)

Many people head straight to the electrical panel when deciding what to unplug before going on holiday. Switching off the main breaker completely cuts power to the entire home, ensuring that your electricity meter stops moving altogether. It’s what we call the ‘nuclear option.’

However, if you have a solar self-consumption system with solar panels, you should not cut the power completely. Doing so could disconnect the solar inverter and the battery management system. These systems need to remain operational to manage surplus energy, maintain battery health, and allow you to continue feeding energy back into the grid if you have a feed-in compensation tariff or a virtual battery system.

In these cases, it’s better to flip the breakers only in areas that don’t need power, such as bedroom sockets or lighting, while keeping the solar system circuits active.

Switched extension leads: the easiest shortcut to savings with the least effort

Unplugging every appliance individually can be tedious, but doing it with a single click is much easier. Switched extension leads are an excellent tool to easily control the electricity supply to all those devices that still draw power even when switched off.

They are especially useful in the living room media setup, where the TV, router, gaming console, and sound systems are usually grouped together.

There are even smart extension leads that detect inactivity and automatically disconnect devices, instantly eliminating standby consumption from an entire area of the home.

This small habit can make a big difference in reducing electricity consumption, but there are other useful strategies you can use, such as tracking it directly from your phone.

Monitor your energy consumption from your phone while you’re away

If you are an Endesa customer, we have good news for you. Through our app or our Customer Area you can monitor your home’s real electricity consumption hour by hour, whether you’re miles away or back from your holiday.

Once you activate digital billing, you’ll be able to:

• Check your consumption: if your consumption graph stays flat and close to zero, you’ll know your unplugging strategy has worked.
• Detect unusual activity: you can set up alerts to notify you if consumption exceeds a certain threshold. This could indicate that you accidentally left something on or that there is an unexpected electrical issue.
• Monitor your second home: while you’re staying at your holiday home, you can keep an eye on your primary residence to ensure there are no unnecessary spikes in spending.

FAQ

Can you unplug the fridge before going on holiday?

Yes, it’s highly recommended if you’ll be away for more than three days. Make sure to empty it completely and leave the doors open to prevent unpleasant odours. If it includes a water or ice dispenser, remember to shut off the water valve first.

Does the router use a lot of electricity if I leave it plugged in while on holiday?

It’s the most expensive appliance to leave on standby. Keeping it switched on when not in use results in a constant consumption of around 35 kWh per year.

What happens to my solar panels if I switch off the electrical panel?

It’s not recommended to disconnect the main electrical panel if you have a solar self-consumption system. Doing so could disrupt battery charging management and surplus energy compensation.

How much can I save by switching off the electric water heater while on holiday?

You could reduce your home’s total electricity consumption during those days by up to 25%. It’s one of the biggest energy consumers.