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Illegal and potentially dangerous plug-in “energy-saving” devices are still widely available for sale to UK shoppers on online marketplaces, according to an investigation.
These so-called “energy-saving plugs” or “eco plugs” – which in some cases cost little more than £5 – can seem appealing to consumers struggling with higher energy bills or who are looking to improve their green credentials, the consumer body Which? said. But it found that several of those it tested failed basic electrical safety standards.
The UK consumer organisation has carried out numerous investigations in recent years, which commonly found that cheap, unbranded electronics bought online are often unsafe.
It said its latest findings underlined the need for “tough new laws” to make online marketplaces responsible for ensuring the safety of the products offered on their platforms.
There have been warnings for years about plug-in devices that supposedly help people save on their energy costs but that can ultimately pose a risk of fire or electrocution. In 2011, the Guardian reported on an alert issued by trading standards officers about an unsafe plug-in device that claimed it could save users 40% on energy bills.
The UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards later recalled several devices available to buy via online marketplaces, citing “a serious risk” of fire and electric shock.
Those selling the plugs often claim they can save customers money on their electricity bills by “stabilising” voltage and “balancing” the electric current to “optimise” the performance of household appliances.
However, Which? said its researchers tested eight devices from sites including Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Shein and Temu, and found no evidence that they worked.
“More concerningly, they failed basic electrical safety standards, meaning they are illegal and potentially dangerous,” said a spokesperson.
Many of the devices made “dubious” energy-saving claims, said Which?, and had attracted a raft of poor customer reviews.
Which? said most of the items its researchers looked at had poor-quality soldering, contained too much lead and were potentially unsafe.
The government’s product regulation and metrology bill is going through parliament, and the consumer body said ministers must ensure these new laws gave online marketplaces “clear legal responsibilities” for keeping potentially dangerous products off their sites, “backed up by tough enforcement, including heavy fines, when businesses fall short”.
All the companies told Which? they had removed the relevant product listings.