How Much Is Your Phone Charger Really Costing Utah Users?

My Beloved Charger

A phone charger that sits next to where I sleep. It is conveniently set up like a royal setting where I can put my phone in its little cradle while I tuck into mine. I really like it because it charges while I sleep and if I need anything, a clock, a flashlight, a place to make a reminder of things I forgot to do–like charge my phone—or anything else this amazing little box can do.

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The other day I noticed that while the phone is not in the cradle the charger makes a sort of cyclical hum and I wondered how much power it was sucking when not in use.

The Cost of Your Charger

If you are interested in saving money or being responsible about your electricity use, here’s a breakdown of the items tested from a How-To Geek article and how much they cost annually to leave plugged in:

- These estimates assume the devices are plugged in 24/7 for a full year.
- The cost is calculated using an average electricity rate of $0.12 per kWh (average in Utah).
- Most modern chargers use very little power when idle, but older or bulkier chargers (like those for power tools) can be surprisingly wasteful.

Not That Expensive

So the easy answer is that the devices are not using that much energy. There is an argument for unplugging to extend the life of your charger, but twisting cords and mishandling them seems to be more problematic than leaving them plugged in.

Read More: Can You Legally Text While Stopped at Light in Utah?

If you're trying to trim your electric bill, you should look at big machine devices like your TV or tools, especially if they are older models.