Many consumers do not realise they may be paying for electricity they're not even using as a result of something known as "phantom power".
Phantom power is when common household appliances drain energy while they're plugged in, even when not being actively used.
According to new calculations by Canstar Blue across homes in south-east Queensland, it could be adding approximately $123 to power bills every year.
"If something's got a flashing light, it's showing you the time or runs by remote control, it's definitely using standby power," Christine Seib of Canstar Blue told 9News.
Smart TV's carry the highest phantom load, costing an extra 37 cents an hour, or $32.80 a year.
Gaming consoles also drain electricity when not in use, approximates $24.60 over a year.
Washing machines and microwaves use the same amount, which is an estimated 12 cents per hour when not in use.
An air conditioner costs nearly $5.50 a year in standby power mode and a computer monitor adds about three cents per hour, or $2.73 per year.
"Wifi modems are a surprisingly high standby power user [because] it's switched on all the time and active," Seib said.
Switching appliances off at the wall is obviously the best way to ensure your bill isn't inflated by phantom load but this of course isn't always practical.
You could also try using a smart power board, which can detect when to cut an appliance's electricity feed.
Alternatively, you can adjust the settings on some appliances to minimise standby activity.
