The majority of adults in the UK have no idea how much money they spend on energy, according to a survey published by data company YouGov and Rexel, an electrical supplies distributor.
Just 13pc of people know how much energy they have used, and how much their utility bills are, compared to 81pc of UK bill-payers that have no idea how much they spend on energy.
The survey, which included more than 2,000 people, revealed a third admitted they only had a vague idea about how much they spend, or indeed no idea at all.
The findings revealed a nationwide lack of understanding among consumers about how much it costs to power everyday household devices.
Less than half of those asked knew that boiling a full kettle uses more energy than needed to power a fridge for four hours. In addition, nearly one in three did not realise that more powerful televisions, such as plasma or flat screens, cost more to power than standard TV sets.
Young people are the least knowledgeable when it comes to energy bills, with just 5pc of 18 to 24 year olds saying they know exactly how much they spend. Younger consumers are more likely to spend a lot of time online, using laptops and smartphones to stay connected, but they are often unaware of how much energy these devices use, or the cost of that energy.
Older and retired people are the most on-the-ball managing their energy usage, with 33pc of those of 45 knowing exactly how much they use, and 20pc of those who are retired said they know how much their bills will be.
Brian Smithers, director of Rexel UK, said: “It appears that most people are in the dark when it comes to their energy usage, which is particularly surprising given the increased attention given to rising energy bills and the continued squeeze on household finances. It’s like handing over your bank account details without looking at the bill.”
Mr Smithers said there is easy-to-use monitoring technology available that shows exactly how much energy devices are consuming, and the associated costs that are on the market today.
He said customers can make simple alterations to reduce consumption – which is not only better for their bank accounts, but for the environment as well.