Hisense has said that F-rated products are being removed from the market under new EU regulations, and that its RB327N4WW1 fridge freezer will be replaced by the E-rated RB327N4WWE. The statement came in response to Which? research published on 9 November 2023 into the running costs of low-priced appliances1.
Which? found the Hisense RB327N4WW1, retailing at around £399, would cost £113.12 a year to run, against an average of £81 for a freestanding fridge freezer and as little as £40 for similar models it has tested1. Hisense said the model launched in 2019 and that the figure quoted by Which? is higher than running costs stated for it elsewhere1.
"Given the new EU regulations, all F Rated products are being removed from the market, and this will be replaced with the E Rated RB327N4WWE."
The research covered several appliances where a low purchase price sits alongside high annual running costs. Which? calculated running costs using an electricity price of 27.35p per kWh, with prices from November 20231.
| Appliance | Retail price | Annual running cost | Average running cost | Lowest tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover HLEV10LG vented tumble dryer | £279 | £200 | £82 | £37 |
| Hisense RB327N4WW1 fridge freezer | £399 | £113.12 | £81 | £40 |
| Cookworks Plastic Kettle 825/6344 | £7 | £50.74 | £23 | £8 |
| Beko DIN15X20 dishwasher | £279 | £88.89 | £78 | £45 |
| Hotpoint H8 W946WB washing machine | £499 | £86.22 | £65 | £46 |
| Samsung NV7B41307AS built-in oven | £439 | £79.47 | £64 | £53 |
| Samsung UE43CU8000 television | £369 | £29.57 | £24.82 | £12 |
Source: Which?1
Beko said it had decided to discontinue any F-rated appliances and to increase the weight of its A, B and C-rated models1. Whirlpool declined to comment on the findings relating to the Hotpoint H8 W946WB, and Argos, Dimplex, Hoover and Samsung did not respond1.
Which? said unit rates for January 2024 were due to be announced by Ofgem on 23 November, that running costs on its website would be updated then, and that unit rates and running costs were expected to go up1.
Why it matters for households
Energy ratings and running costs are two different numbers, and the gap between them is where household energy independence is won or lost. A fridge freezer runs continuously, so its annual consumption is close to fixed; the difference between £113.12 and £40 a year is money that cannot be spent elsewhere and electricity that has to be bought whatever the unit rate does. The same pattern appears across the table: the £7 kettle costs more to run each year than the £399 fridge freezer it might sit beside.
For a household trying to hold down its exposure to grid prices, the purchase price is a one-off and the running cost is recurring. Which? notes that its Eco Buys can carry higher upfront costs but deliver savings over a product's lifetime1. The withdrawal of F-rated products under the EU regulations changes what is on sale, not what is already installed in a home.
What happens next
Ofgem was due to announce January 2024 unit rates on 23 November, after which Which? said its published running costs would be updated, with increases expected1. Hisense has said the RB327N4WW1 will be replaced by the E-rated RB327N4WWE; no date for that change has been reported.