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 To report an outage please call 1-800-794-1989 or use the SmartHub mobile app. To talk to a person, press zero. To view our outage updates click here.

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Electric Bills Can Be Spooky.

Monday | September 28, 2020
All News

identify energy vampires.Phantom loads and energy vampires can be scary all year round.

Energy vampires are devices that are plugged in and continually use electricity even when not in use. Phantom load is a term that we use to describe the energy used by the energy vampires (or devices). Together, these two haunt electricity bills all year round.

Don’t be too scared, though. In most homes the cost of these energy vampires is not enough to make a significant impact, but when you look at the entire year these small energy sucks can add up. According to Cornell University, phantom load in the average American home can be $200 per year!

The good news is that we have ways to defeat these scary sounding creatures. The first step is understanding the concept, and the second is identifying the sources.

For example, televisions have evolved greatly over the past three decades. Back in the day the television tube was either on or off. If it wasn’t on, it wasn’t using electricity. However, today, televisions use electricity whether they are on or off due to standby mode and often times being connected to wireless networks. Standby mode does consume a smaller amount of energy while off, but there is still energy being consumed. There are more devices than just televisions that work that way. Devices that maintain temperatures, timers, charging or continuous displays can all use energy even when in the off position.

Take a look around your home and identify devices that use standby or are connected to your wireless network. Satellite or cable boxes can be the biggest offenders, but game consoles, audio components, and computers can also sneak up on you. These types of energy vampires can range from $20 to $40 per year even if they are turned off — but still plugged in.

Other vampires you may identify are your network’s modem, garage door opener, and power tools being charged. They can all add $5 to $10 per year to your bill. And, night lights, surge protectors, phone chargers and clocks can add another $1 to $3 per year. Separately, it may seem like no big deal, but when you add up multiple devices it may be a bigger scare than you anticipated!

When you have identified the phantoms and vampires in your home, plan to exercise the unwanted ones that can be unplugged. If you can group computers or home entertainment devices onto one power strip that can be shut off at one time when you are away for longer periods of time, that may help those energy suckers disappear. Granted, televisions or satellite and cable boxes aren’t meant to be unplugged, but if you will be gone for more than just a few days consider unplugging them.

In short, if it doesn’t need to be plugged in, just unplug it when you aren’t using it. It’s up to each family to decide what’s best for their needs. And, if you need to replace an appliance, always look for the Energy-Star logo. These appliances and devices have been rated to consume less energy.

Understanding how your habits impact your bill, and ways you can combat these phantoms and vampires ensures they won’t be haunting your bill this October.

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McLouth Office
507 N. Union
PO Box 70
McLouth, KS 66054

Topeka Office
1100 SW Auburn Rd. 
Topeka, KS 66615

Toll-Free:800-794-1989

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About Us

With 14,974 members and 20,551 service points FreeState Electric Cooperative is the largest rural electric cooperative in Eastern Kansas and the fifth largest rural electric cooperative in the state of Kansas. FreeState serves nine Kansas counties and provides distribution infrastructure to Fort Leavenworth. 

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Board of Trustees
    • Cooperative Leadership
    • Powering Fort Leavenworth
    • Cooperative Transparency
    • About Touchstone Energy
  • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Media Inquiries
    • Submit Feedback
    • New Construction
    • Ask Matt
    • What is my district?
  • Member Services
    • Apply for Service
    • Payment Options
      • Understanding Your Bill
      • Payment Assistance
      • Pay Cash
      • Pay Now!
    • Capital Credits
    • Your Service
      • Security Options
      • Tree-Trimming
      • High Bill Concern
    • Member Programs
      • Attic Report Card
      • Medical Necessity Notification
      • Time of Use
    • Charges and Fees
    • Member Guide
    • Rebates
  • Outage Center
    • Outage Map
    • Preparing For Planned Outages
    • Social Feeds
    • Storm Updates
  • Communications
    • Connect With Us!
    • Energy Solutions Articles
    • Kansas Country Living
    • The Signal
  • Community Development
    • Co-op's Vote
    • CoBank Sharing Success
    • Local Sponsorships
    • Operation Round-Up
    • Youth Programs
    • FreeState Business Directory
  • Safety
    • Agriculture Safety
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Generator Safety
    • Meter Access
    • Power Line Safety
    • Prepare for Winter Outages
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Ten Tips To Avoid Scams
  • Co-op FAQ
  • SmartHub Mobile
    • Using SmartHub
  • Annual Meeting
    • Annual Report
    • Trustee Application
  • Crew at the Zoo
  • ESC Adjustment
  • Solar/EVs
    • All About EVs
    • Renewable Energy