Looking for smart plug energy usage – how much can you save? These clever little gadgets let you monitor and control individual appliances, helping you identify hidden energy drains and reduce electricity waste without sacrificing convenience.
🔹 Why Smart Plugs Are Worth It
Every home has “vampire devices” — gadgets that quietly draw power while on standby. Smart plugs reveal that consumption in real time and allow you to cut it automatically.
💡 Example:
A TV and soundbar on standby might use 40 kWh per year, costing £12–£15. Add a gaming console, coffee machine, and router, and you’re easily wasting £50+ annually without even realising it.
With a smart plug, you can schedule off-times, monitor real usage, and slash those background costs by 20–40 %.
🔸 1️⃣ TP-Link Tapo P110 Mini Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring
- Compact design fits neatly beside other plugs
- Tracks real-time and historical power use in the app
- Supports Alexa and Google Home voice commands
- Set schedules, timers, and automatic cut-offs
💡 Why it saves money: Lets you see exactly how much an appliance costs to run — perfect for kettles, TVs, or chargers you forget to unplug.
👉 View on Amazon
🔸 2️⃣ Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug HS110 with Energy Monitoring
- Monitors current, voltage, and total consumption
- Remote control through Kasa Smart app
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT
- Built-in surge protection
💡 Why it saves money: Ideal for automating high-draw devices like heaters or PCs — switch them off remotely if left running.
👉 View on Amazon
🔸 3️⃣ Amazon Smart Plug – Works with Alexa
- Simple setup directly through Alexa app
- Voice-controlled on/off for any device
- Reliable build quality and integration
- No extra hub required
💡 Why it saves money: While it doesn’t track kWh, it automates power use perfectly for lights, fans, and chargers — reducing standby costs by up to 30 %.
👉 View on Amazon
🧮 How Much Energy Do Smart Plugs Use Themselves?
Smart plugs draw 0.5–1 W when idle — about £1–£2 per year. Since they can save 10–20 × that amount, they quickly pay for themselves.
| Device | Avg Standby Draw | Yearly Cost (£0.30/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Plug itself | 1 W | £2.60 |
| Smart Plug + TV (standby cut) | 0 W | £0 |
| Net Saving Per Plug | — | ~£12 / year |
Multiply across 5–10 devices and the yearly saving easily exceeds £60–£100.
🔍 FAQs
Q: Can I track energy in kWh?
A: Yes — models like Tapo P110 and Kasa HS110 display exact figures inside their apps.
Q: Do smart plugs work with extension leads?
A: Yes, but only within load limits (usually 13 A / 3000 W).
Q: Are they safe to leave on 24/7?
A: Definitely. They include surge and temperature protection — just avoid daisy-chaining.
⚡ Energy Tip
Use one smart plug for your router and electronics. Schedule it to power-cycle nightly — this maintains performance and saves a few extra watts every day.
🏁 Final Recommendation
If you want real insight into where your power goes, the TP-Link Tapo P110 is unbeatable for accuracy and reliability.
💡 Both the Tapo P110 and Kasa HS110 are among the best smart plugs for energy monitoring UK 2025, helping you take total control of your electricity costs.
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