Households with fridge freezers in kitchen face £68.96 charges
Keeping a fridge freezer in the kitchen costs a fair amount but can still be a saving against a fridge and freezer separately.
It's something almost all of us have in our kitchens but as energy bills rise, it's worth taking stock of how much each of your appliances costs to run - and whether you could change to something more energy efficient in future.
Fridge freezers are handy white goods, they allow you to store food long term and can save money off your grocery bills by keeping food from going off. But your fridge freezer could still be adding £68.98 per year to your household bills on average, according to energy firm Utililta.
However, it could still be a saving if you have a combined fridge freezer rather than two separate appliances.
Utilita’s Power Price List sets out exactly how much it costs to run all sorts of everyday appliances based on the latest Ofgem price cap standard variable tariff. But not only does it list the typical pounds and pence average use cost, it also explains the environmental impact of various appliances.
According to Utilita, it costs 19p per day to run a fridge freezer for a household with typical use on the current price cap. Across an entire year, that’s £68.96.
Comparing it to a standard fridge without a freezer, it costs significantly more. A standard fridge in your kitchen only costs £32.22 per year, says Utilita.
It also costs more to run a fridge freezer than a standalone freezer, on average. Utilita says a standalone freezer costs £49.06 per year to run.
However, combining the two would cost £81.28 per year on average for typical use households on the current price cap, says Utlita. So in this way, a fridge freezer could save you £12.32 compared to running both appliances separately.
Utilita explains how many miles of driving the amount of energy used by each appliance is equal to, in a bid to draw attention to the cost to the environment of running household items.
Utilita said: “Utilita has updated its Power Price List – the UK’s only live database that translates Ofgem’s price cap into the real‑world cost of powering everyday household electrical items.
“The update reflects Ofgem’s latest direct debit price cap, effective from July 1.
“The Power Price List breaks down the cost of running more than 100 common appliances and activities, from heating and cooking to laundry, lighting, entertainment and more.”
It adds: “The less energy we use, the better it is for the planet. That’s why the Power Price List also shows how the usage of common electrical items compares to the miles driven by a car – households may be shocked!”
