Dangerous devices don't lower energy bills

With energy bills on everyone’s mind, you might have seen adverts online for plug-in gadgets that claim to cut your electricity use and lower your bills. Unfortunately, these products are not all they claim to be. 

Electrical Safety First recently tested 13 of these so-called "energy-saving devices" sold through online marketplaces; AliExpress, Amazon Marketplace, and TikTok Shop. None of them worked as advertised, and all failed basic safety checks. Some were found to be poorly made, with parts that break easily, cause fire, and put people at risk of electric shock. Two exploded. 

The tests also found that these devices don't actually reduce energy use. In fact, they use a small amount of electricity themselves, meaning they could end up costing you money rather than saving it. 

If you're looking for ways to reduce your energy bills, avoid products like these as they are electrically dangerous and will not save you any money advises Giuseppe Capanna, Product Safety Engineer for Electrical Safety First.  

If you've bought one of these devices and are concerned about its safety, stop using it and unplug it straight away. You can contact the seller or marketplace to request a refund and report the listing, if it is still live, as a safety hazard to the platform. You can also report this as shopping fraud to Report Fraud  - the cyber-crime and fraud service run by the police.  

There are simple but essential steps you can take to make sure your home, building, and community stay free from fire hazards. Read our guidance and leaflets  for more information.