Which? published research on 1 May 2023 showing that the annual running cost of a typical set of household appliances rose by 58 per cent over 18 months. The consumer organisation calculated costs for a washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, fridge freezer, television and built-in oven, using the electricity rates of a standard variable tariff between October 2021 and April 20231.
Which? said running costs rose from £283 to £447 over that period, an increase of £164 a year for a household using a "medium" amount of energy1. Its figures put the total at £282.92 in October 2021, £377.25 in April 2022, £456.09 in October 2022 and £447.32 in April 20231. The research followed the end of the government's £400 energy discount on 1 April, which had given each household a monthly £67 top-up1.
Individual appliances moved by different amounts. The average annual cost of running a 9kg washing machine rose from £49 in October 2021 to £77.47 in April 2023. A 9kg heat pump tumble dryer rose from £43.95 to £69.49. Dishwashers went from £60 to £94.86 a year, and an integrated fridge freezer from £62.19 to £139.90. A 40 to 43 inch television rose from £19.07 to £30.15, and a built-in single electric oven from £48.71 to £77.021.
| Appliance | October 2021 | April 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | £49 | £77.47 |
| Heat pump tumble dryer | £43.95 | £69.49 |
| Dishwasher | £60 | £94.86 |
| Fridge freezer | £62.19 | £98.33 |
| TV | £19.07 | £30.15 |
| Built-in oven | £48.71 | £77.02 |
| Total | £282.92 | £447.32 |
The table above reproduces the totals as Which? published them. The organisation's own summary of the fridge freezer figure is £139.90 for an integrated model, while the table gives £98.33 for the category; the two figures are not reconciled in the published material1.
Which? also compared purchase price with running cost for tumble dryers. It found a condenser dryer costing £210 to buy and £217 per year in electricity might amount to £4,500 over a 20 year lifespan, while a heat pump dryer costing £589 to buy but only £38 per year in electricity is around £1,350 over the same period1. On washing, it said a 30°C wash will cut energy use by 38 per cent on average compared with a 40°C wash, and a 20°C wash will use 62 per cent less energy1.
"Our research shows running costs for common household appliances have risen by a huge amount, putting yet another dent in household finances when so many are feeling the pressures of the cost of living crisis."
Why it matters for households
The figures describe what a fixed set of appliances costs to run at a given unit rate, so they move with the tariff rather than with how much a particular home uses. The rise from £283 to £447 is the same basket of appliances priced at two different points, which makes it a measure of the price of electricity as much as of consumption. Working out what any single appliance costs to run, and what changing how it is used would save, is set out in the site's guide to appliance running costs.
The timing matters. The £400 discount ended on 1 April 2023, and the April 2023 figures are the first in the series without it1. A household's exposure to these costs depends on how it pays and on the standing charges and levies built into the unit rate, which are covered under policy costs and levies on energy bills and in the comparison of prepayment and direct debit. For households already in debt, the British Gas Energy Trust is one route to grants. The wider question of how household running costs relate to the country's energy position is discussed under energy bills and energy independence, and the price cap hub carries the standing charges and unit rates these figures are built on.
What happens next
Which? said it would highlight free money-saving advice every Monday over the coming months to help consumers manage the cost of living crisis1. No further publication dates or updates to the running cost series have been reported.