In Moldova, household appliances will consume less energy even when turned off, and consumers will reduce their electricity bills
The Ministry of Energy reported this, noting that this will be facilitated by government-approved amendments to the regulatory framework regarding design requirements for energy-efficient products, in accordance with the latest European Union standards. The new provisions will help reduce energy consumption, lower costs for consumers, and promote more durable products that are easier to repair and have a lower environmental impact. The amendments apply to a number of product categories frequently used by citizens and economic operators, including household clothes dryers, fans, heating appliances, and electrical equipment in standby mode. Thanks to the new requirements, manufacturers and importers will have to comply with stricter standards regarding the energy efficiency and performance of products entering the market. As a result, consumers will eventually benefit from equipment that consumes less electricity, has a longer service life, and lower operating costs. “Many homes have hidden energy consumers—televisions, game consoles, routers, and other devices that continue to consume electricity even when they appear to be turned off. This phantom consumption accumulates day after day and is reflected in people’s bills. By applying European standards, we ensure that new products brought to market will consume less energy, last longer, and be easier to repair. This is one of the simplest ways to lower bills and strengthen Moldova’s energy security,” said Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu. For example, a device that is constantly in standby mode consumes energy 24 hours a day, even when it is not in use. Every watt consumed continuously amounts to approximately 9 kWh of energy per year. In addition, an old television can consume 5–10 watts in standby mode, even when it appears to be turned off. A modern TV, according to current standards, consumes less than 0.5 W in standby mode, and this difference can mean savings of up to 80 kWh per year for a single device. Thus, a family with 10–15 devices constantly plugged into an outlet could be paying thousands of lei annually for energy that provides no real benefit to the family. The Ministry of Energy notes that the residential sector is one of the largest energy consumers in Moldova, accounting for 43% of the total. In this context, measures to improve the energy efficiency of equipment and appliances used daily in homes could yield energy savings of up to 32.76 GWh h/year or 117–129 million lei per year, depending on the distribution zone, as well as a reduction in emissions by 16,620 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year at the national level and help reduce dependence on imported energy resources. // 03.06.2026 – InfoMarket.
