Don’t let vampire power suck the fun out of spooky season
Oct 23, 2025
Ghosts, skeletons, and goblins will soon freely walk neighborhood streets asking for sweet treats, and Eversource is alerting customers they may have already inadvertently invited vampires into their homes and businesses. Vampire power, also known as phantom load, ghost energy or standby power, is electricity that is consumed by some appliances and electronics even when they’re turned off. If not kept in check, it can account for up to 10 percent of a household’s energy use and cost as much as $100 a year, according to the Department of Energy.