Which? published figures on 9 November 2023 showing the annual running costs of a range of household appliances, based on its own tests, and warned that a low purchase price can mask higher running costs. The consumer organisation said some freezers, ovens and washing machines priced under £500 "could actually be pricier in the long run by adding hundreds of pounds to your energy bills over the course of a year"1.
The figures assume an electricity cost of 27.35p per kWh, with prices from November 20231. Which? said the average running costs it used for comparison were based on an article published in August 2023, so those figures may be subject to change1.
| Item | Annual running cost | Lowest running cost | Average running cost | Retail price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover HLEV10LG vented tumble dryer | £200 | £37 | £82 | £279 |
| Hisense RB327N4WW1 fridge freezer | £113.12 | £40 | £81 | £399 |
| Cookworks Plastic Kettle 825/6344 and 874/2119 | £50.74 | £8 | £23 | £7 |
| Beko DIN15X20 dishwasher | £88.89 | £45 | £78 | £279 |
| Hotpoint H8 W946WB washing machine | £86.22 | £46 | £65 | £499 |
| Samsung NV7B41307AS built-in oven | £79.47 | £53 | £64 | £439 |
| Samsung UE43CU8000 television | £29.57 | £12 | £24.82 | £369 |
| Dimplex 3kW Rugged Fan Heater | 83p per hour | 9p per hour | 55p per hour | £79 |
Which? said the Hoover vented tumble dryer was the most expensive tumble dryer to run, costing over five times as much as the most energy-efficient heat pump dryer1. It gave average annual running costs of £147 for vented tumble dryers and £140 for condenser machines, against £57 for a heat pump machine1. On the Hisense fridge freezer, Which? said it had tested similar models costing as little as £40 a year to run1. On the Cookworks kettle, it said the most energy-efficient models cost only £8 a year to run1. It said the Hotpoint washing machine's main cottons 40°C wash uses roughly 35 per cent more energy than most 9kg-capacity washers1.
Which? also listed products it rates as Eco Buys, including the Bosch SPS4HMW53G dishwasher at £55.39 a year to run and sold at £578, and the Samsung WW80T554DAW/S1 washing machine at £54.33 to run and priced at £4491. It said the Asda George Home GDK101B-22 kettle has an annual running cost of £11.17 and a retail price of £301.
"When buying a new household appliance, don't be fooled by a low price point as this can mask bigger costs in the long run."
Hisense said the RB327N4WW1 is an older model launched in 2019 and that the figure quoted by Which? is higher than running costs stated elsewhere for it, adding that under new EU regulations all F-rated products are being removed from the market and it will be replaced by the E-rated RB327N4WWE1. Beko said it had decided to discontinue any F-rated appliances and increase its A, B and C-rated appliances1. Samsung said its products are built to be as energy efficient as possible1. Whirlpool declined to comment on the findings about the Hotpoint washing machine, and Argos, Dimplex, Hoover and Samsung did not respond, Which? said1.
Why it matters for households
Running costs, not purchase price, determine what an appliance takes out of a household budget each year, and the gap between the worst and best models in Which?'s table runs to more than £160 a year on a tumble dryer alone1. For a home trying to hold down its electricity use, the difference between an appliance at the top and bottom of a category is a recurring annual cost, and it recurs for as long as the appliance is kept. Which? said its appliance running costs figures are calculated from measured energy use on typical programmes and settings, so a household using an appliance more or less often than the assumed pattern would need to scale the numbers up or down1. The same test data underpins its appliance upgrade savings comparisons, and its findings on which appliances use most electricity set the running costs of individual products against the wider energy independence picture of a home's total demand.
What happens next
Which? said Ofgem will announce the unit rates for January 2024 on 23 November, that the running costs on its website will be updated then, and that unit rates and therefore running costs are expected to go up1.