Across the UK, millions of Brits spend hours every week unwinding and relaxing over a video game, and the cost of running these consoles is about to change

The cost of firing up your gaming console is about to change for Brits throughout the UK come April. Gaming consoles could be adding roughly £15 annually to household energy bills from next month, according to estimates. Starting April 1, residents in England, Wales and Scotland on standard variable tariffs paying by Direct Debit will see electricity costs average at 24.67p per kilowatt hour (kWh).

This represents a 7% decrease from the current price cap of 27.69p per kWh, with Ofgem attributing the reduction primarily to government budget measures. Whilst electricity bills are set to fall, household appliances will continue to accumulate surprisingly substantial costs throughout the year. Since gaming consoles entered the mainstream market during the 1970s, video gaming has evolved into a multi-billion-pound sector. Millions of UK homes now own a console, with gaming having established itself as a widely enjoyed pastime across all age groups.

These devices often represent a significant investment, however, with prices typically ranging from approximately £240 for the standard Nintendo Switch up to £730 for the PlayStation 5 Pro, reports the Express. However, given their widespread usage today, it's important to consider their impact on household energy consumption.

Consumer research covering Q4 2024, released early last year by digital intelligence platform MIDiA, revealed that console gamers average 10 hours of gameplay weekly. This equates to approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes every day.

These findings are drawn from survey participants across multiple nations, including the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, South Korea and Brazil. Whilst gaming habits vary from country to country, this provides a useful indication of typical console usage and the impact on annual electricity bills.

According to Citizens Advice's cost calculator, based on average usage patterns, your games console could be adding £17.40 to your energy bill annually under the current price cap (27.69p per kWh).

This works out at roughly 5p daily, 33p weekly, and £1.45 monthly if you're playing for an hour and 26 minutes each day.

When the price cap decreases on 1 April, the calculator suggests annual costs will fall to approximately £15.48 for the same amount of playtime. That translates to 4p daily, 30p weekly, or £1.29 monthly.

These figures assume the console is actively being used, but costs will increase if it's left on standby or charging controllers.

The estimates apply to England, Scotland, and Wales, with Citizens Advice explaining they're calculated using "the rate you pay for electricity or the national average rate and the amount of electricity each appliance uses".

Real-world costs will depend on your individual usage patterns and the specific console model.

It's worth noting that whilst these estimates provide a helpful illustration of costs under the cap over extended periods, the maximum limits on unit rates and standing charges are reviewed by the regulator quarterly - so every three months - and don't remain fixed for an entire year. The daily standing charge will increase marginally from its present 54.75p rate to 57.21p. The price cap taking effect on April 1 will remain in place until June 30, with the subsequent cap level set to be revealed on May 27.

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