What standby power is
Many appliances never fully switch off. A remote control sensor, a clock, a network connection or a quick-start mode keeps drawing a small amount of power around the clock. Each device uses little, but a home has dozens of them, running 8,760 hours a year.
Passive standby is an appliance waiting to be switched on by remote. Active standby is a device doing something in the background, such as a console downloading updates or a printer staying ready.
How much common appliances use on standby
| Appliance | Mode | Power | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay TV set-top box | Passive standby | 15.8 W | $46 |
| Game console | Active standby | 44.9 W | $130 |
| Game console | Passive standby | 5.4 W | $16 |
| Blu-ray or DVD player | Active standby | 8.7 W | $25 |
| Printer | Active standby | 8.8 W | $26 |
| Front loader washing machine | Active standby | 5.8 W | $17 |
| Television | Passive standby | 3.5 W | $10 |
| Clock radio | Active standby | 2.1 W | $6 |
The SA Government also cites an average household standby load of 81.8 W, with 60% from home entertainment and computers. Left on all year, 81.8 W would cost about $237 at today's Ausgrid reference rate. Newer appliances use less standby than older ones, which is why energy.gov.au's more recent estimate of up to $100 a year is lower.
How to cut standby power
Use switched power boards
Put the TV, soundbar, console and set-top box on one board and switch it off at night.
Change console power settings
Energy saving mode instead of rest or instant-on cuts standby sharply. See gaming console running costs.
Turn off the home office
Printers, monitors, speakers and chargers can all go off at the wall after work.
Unplug what you rarely use
Spare TVs, old stereos and a second microwave can stay unplugged.
Choose low-standby products
For smart globes and gadgets, energy.gov.au suggests looking for 0.5 W or less in standby.
Leave these on
Fridges, freezers, medical equipment, alarms, security cameras and, for most homes, the router should stay on. Our router and security camera pages show what those cost.
Questions about standby power
energy.gov.au says standby can be up to 3% of household energy use and cost up to $100 a year. Homes with many older devices or consoles left in rest mode can pay more.
Yes, for devices with a standby draw. A pay TV box drawing 15.8 W on standby costs about $46 a year on the Ausgrid reference rate if never switched off at the wall.
In the SA Government's measurements, game consoles in active standby at 44.9 W and pay TV set-top boxes at 15.8 W were the largest.
It saves only a few dollars a year. Leave it on if you rely on it for security cameras, alarms or smart devices.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.