Few consumers know of the leakage that occurs even when devices are turned off.
Just keeping a TV, videocassette recorder and cable box plugged into the wall but not turned on will eat more electricity than a 40-watt light burning constantly. Consumers can buy appliances that cut leaky electricity by up to 90 percent, but few know of the problem, said Steve Hanson, chief executive at On Semiconductor, a Phoenix company that builds chips for appliances that reduce energy usage. You cannot buy a car without looking at the fuel-efficiency rating slapped on the back window. Cutting back on electricity seepage from household gadgets would not solve California's energy shortages overnight but could reduce demand in the long run. Stereos, TVs and especially fax machines each ooze more than 10 watts of power.