UK households with dishwashers face £108 charges from April

They are a household appliance many people rely on to save time in the kitchen, but running a dishwasher can still add a noticeable amount to your electricity bill. The good news for households is that the cost of running a dishwasher is set to fall slightly from April when new energy prices come into force.

Currently, electricity costs an average of 27.69p per kWh, but this will drop to 24.67p per kWh from April 1 when Ofgem reduces the energy price cap by 6.6 per cent, or around £117 a year for the typical household.

A standard dishwasher typically uses between 1.0 kWh and 1.5 kWh of electricity per full-load cycle, depending on the model and settings used.

Based on current electricity prices, a dishwasher using around 1.2 kWh per cycle costs roughly 33p per load to run. If it is used once a day, that works out at about £120 per year in electricity costs.

From April, the same cycle will cost roughly 30p, bringing the yearly cost down to around £108. Overall, households could save about £12 a year on dishwasher electricity costs once the new price cap takes effect.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, running a dishwasher accounts for roughly 8 per cent of the average household’s electricity bill, meaning efficient use can help keep energy costs under control.

While many assume washing dishes by hand is cheaper, modern dishwashers can actually be more efficient when used properly. Experts say a dishwasher generally uses less water than hand-washing, especially if people leave the tap running while rinsing dishes.

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Data from the Energy Saving Trust suggests hand-washing dishes accounts for around 4 per cent of the average household’s water use, compared with about 1 per cent for dishwashers.

Modern appliances also heat water internally and can complete a full cleaning cycle using less energy than continuously running hot water from a tap. However, running multiple half-empty cycles or using older, inefficient machines can quickly increase electricity usage.

Energy experts say households can keep costs down by only running the dishwasher when it is fully loaded, using eco cycles where possible and choosing appliances with higher energy efficiency ratings.

Since March 2021, appliances in the UK have been rated from A to G, with A being the most energy-efficient. Choosing a more efficient model can help reduce long-term electricity costs.

The new price cap reduction follows a period of volatile energy costs in the UK after global supply shocks and the energy crisis triggered by the Russia–Ukraine War. While bills remain higher than they were before 2021, the upcoming cut means households should see slightly lower energy costs heading into spring.