Want to cut your electric bill? Skip these scam 'power-saving' devices - and buy this instead

"They do nothing to save you power Scam "power saving" devices are rampant online. These devices plug into an outlet and promise to "improve the use of energy," "extend the life of electrical equipment," and even "avoid illegal electrical waste." Sounds great, right? Also: This USB power meter I tested is shockingly accurate - especially for how cheap it is Well, despite the bold claims and the sticker on the front of the unit, they are too good to be true. Many of these units seem to be repurposed cases for rodent repellers, and coincidentally, many of those are also scam devices."

"I've bought quite a few of these to test -- and report to the relevant authorities -- and they're all junk. Plug these into your outlet and the best you can hope for is that they sit in the outlet and add a little to your power bill because of the LED lights on the front. The worst outcome is that they set your place alight because they are so badly made."

"Don't buy them Here's an example of such a unit, this one aimed at the UK market, but you'll find similar units for sale in all the usual places online. Even the plug itself doesn't conform to UK regulations. It tries hard to look authentic, with a fake testing number on the back. Even the plug itself doesn't conform to UK regulations. I recorded a video for social media about a similar device a few years ago that explains the issue with the plug."

Scam "power-saving" devices plug into outlets and promise to improve energy use, extend equipment life, and avoid electrical waste. Many of these units are repurposed cases for rodent repellers and fail to deliver any savings. Purchases and tests show they are junk, can add to power bills via LEDs, and pose fire hazards due to poor construction. Some units do not conform to regional plug regulations and display fake testing numbers. Smart plugs and power strips actually cut energy costs, and monitoring usage helps reduce bills and prevent waste. Consumers should avoid these scam devices and choose reputable monitoring solutions.

Read at ZDNET