It sounds almost too easy to be true: plug an energy-saving box into the socket and the electricity bill will drop. The Federal Network Agency warns against such energy-saving devices from the Internet.
The Federal Network Agency has called for caution when buying so-called energy-saving devices online. When checking various types of such devices, numerous formal defects such as incorrect CE markings, missing German operating instructions and missing contact persons were found, the authority said.
Many models do not meet the specifications
Countless energy-saving devices are offered online that do not meet the legal requirements. The use of such devices is not permitted. “According to the state of the art, the energy saving effects of such devices are also questionable,” said the head of the authority, Klaus Müller, according to the announcement.
Energy-saving devices often unprofessionally installed
According to the network agency, the tested energy-saving boxes should stabilize the flow of electricity in the household and thus lead to a lower electricity bill. It is enough to plug such a device into the socket. With the devices, however, it was found that the components were often unprofessionally connected and soldered connections were missing.
The products are advertised with terms such as “energy or electricity saving box”, “electro saving box” or “energy saving device”. These are not to be confused with energy-saving lamps, energy-saving thermostats or similar products that actually enable energy savings.
In the online market surveillance, the network agency has already identified 353 offers of non-compliant energy saving boxes on various online platforms this year. At the authority’s notice, more than a million products were removed from the respective platform operator. The authorities had purchased the devices examined online outside the EU.
source
Federal Network Agency: Federal Network Agency warns of alleged energy-saving devices in online retail (accessed November 25, 2022)