Reduce Your Electric Bill: Avoid Scam 'Power-Saving' Gadgets

Nowadays, people are more careful about their electricity expenses and are eagerly searching for strategies to lower their monthly power bills. Amid this environment, numerous scam products have emerged, falsely promising savings.

These Devices Won't Decrease Your Energy Use

Online marketplaces are teeming with so-called 'power-saving' devices. These gadgets claim they'll optimize energy consumption, lengthen the lifespan of your electronics, and even help you avoid illicit electrical waste.

While these promises sound appealing, the reality is far from it. These products often double as repurposed cases for supposed rodent deterrents, many of which are also scams.

I've personally purchased and scrutinized a number of these devices, only to find they don't deliver on their claims—and I've reported them to the proper authorities. At best, they merely light up and marginally increase your electricity usage. At worst, they pose a fire hazard due to shoddy construction.

I'll repeat: despite grandiose claims, these gadgets do not cut your power usage.

Avoid Purchasing Them

Consider a sample variant marketed in the UK; similar items are all over the web. Notably, the plug often fails to meet UK standards.

They attempt to look genuine, often displaying a fictitious test number.

Inspections usually reveal substandard interior assembly, with thin wiring posing additional risks.

While some newer models include a fuse, likely as a superficial safety gesture, other parts, like the supposed power-saving capacitor, are outright fake.

Essentially, these products offer no power savings and present potential dangers. Steer clear of them.

Consider Getting This Instead

If you're itching to make a purchase, consider alternatives like smart plugs. Brands like Tapo, part of TP-Link, provide options that actually allow you to manage energy use.

These gadgets enable you to toggle power on and off, both at home and remotely. They offer insights into energy consumption data with minimal energy use themselves.

Though manually switching off devices is straightforward, it's not always practical. Smart plugs offer convenient remote control, such as managing printers more efficiently.

Smart plugs may incur a small operating cost, but they offer much more in convenience and potential savings over time.

Monitoring the electricity usage of devices in real-time can also be eye-opening, encouraging more mindful consumption. So, bypass the so-called 'electricity savers' and invest in smart plug technology.