Pensioners facing loss of Winter Fuel Payment told to unplug two items now

Consumer experts said that there are two common appliances which use a surprising amount of energy when they're on standby - meaning you could be paying for them to do absolutely nothing

State pensioners who have lost their £300 Winter Fuel Payment this winter, just as energy bills are set to rise by another 10 per cent, will be seeking ways to save money in the upcoming cold months. Consumer magazine Which? has offered a tip to reduce costs this winter - unplugging devices that consume a surprising amount of electricity and add to your bill, even when they're not in use.

While it's common knowledge that high-energy appliances like tumble dryers, ovens or boilers cost a lot to run, at least these items provide some utility to your home. However, there are some appliances that simply sit on standby, adding to your bill without providing any benefit.

According to Which? wireless speakers/smart speakers and sound bars are notorious for consuming energy on standby. They stated: "They're the most power-hungry gadgets in standby, costing around £6 per year (based on 20 standby hours per day).", reports the Express.

While £6 might not seem like much, it's £6 per speaker, and £6 for doing absolutely nothing. Other appliances worth checking are PCs, games consoles and TVs. Most such devices are designed to never fully switch off, instead remaining on standby so they can be turned on instantly.

However, due to modern design, a PC only takes a few seconds longer to start up from a cold start than from standby. Therefore, leaving it on standby only adds to your bills without any significant benefit.

This advice comes as state pensioners are set to lose their £300 Winter Fuel Payment unless they are on Pension Credit. According to Martin Lewis, as many as 800,000 people who should be claiming this aren't doing so.