Draining power is draining your wallet

(WWLP) - High energy prices means paying the monthly bills can sometimes be a challenge.

But if you know exactly how much each appliance costs to run, you may be able to make some changes and shave some money off your bill.

Here are the costs of running some day-to-day household appliances, according to Northeast Utilities:

• $28.50 to run your standard refrigerator
   
• $9.20 per month to light five rooms with 60 watt bulbs
   
• $2.30 to use your microwave oven
   
• $2.00 per month for a coffee maker

Some appliances are draining power, and therefore costing you money, even when they are turned off. Energy companies call this a “phantom load.”

According to Northeast Utilities, it costs about $4 a month for a cable box, and about $7 a month for to keep a 42-inch Plasma TV plugged in all the time.