Can an NRG box really reduce your utility bills?

We got a recent question from a real consumer about NRG Boxes. She had read that an NRG Box could save her up to 90% on her electricity bills by decreasing the electrical flow to appliances when they’re not in use. She wanted to know if these “nearly too good to be true” benefits of an NRG Box are real or a scam.

Unfortunately, there is only one way to lower your electric bill, and that is to use less electricity. There is no residual flow to powered-down appliances and electronics, so there is no way to reduce your bill by blocking it. In short, it doesn’t take any electricity to not run an appliance. That would be like inventing a device that reduces your car’s gas mileage while the car is turned off.

If you really want to reduce your electric bills, you will have to reduce your electricity consumption. You can do that with small changes like turning off lights and appliances that aren’t in use. You can also make your home more efficient, like switching to low-wattage LED light bulbs or using Energy-Star rated efficient appliances.

Your electric company is also a great resource for ideas to reduce your power consumption. Many utilities even provide virtual or in-person complete home efficiency evaluations, so that you can learn practical steps you can take now to make your home more efficient.

But don’t bother wasting your money on a small box. Unfortunately, that claim is too good to be true.