Online ads continue to pop up on Australian screens spruiking various magic products promising to slash electricity bills by “up to 90%”. All the devices and products of this nature I’ve seen are power saver scams.
For starters, the party or parties behind the campaigns don’t use accurate images in the ads. In one instance, the image used definitely won’t work as it’s a basic electromagnet. But after seeing the ad eleventy-bazillion times, I clicked to see what they were actually peddling.
The “real” device is one of the many versions of so-called power savers that are heavily promoted from time to time. They keep popping up as people keep buying them. These devices aren’t cheap given what they are – in one case costing around $75 a throw, and throwing it is what you’ll end up doing with one.
It could be the worst $75 you’ve ever spent as there have been some instances of these sorts of devices overheating and catching fire.
The “power savers” have been marketed under a bunch of names. Unfortunately in this incarnation thrust in front of Australian eyeballs, the device was given the same name as a legitimate electrical supplies company in Australia. That poor company, which had absolutely nothing to do with the scam, copped a virtual earful in online reviews.
Assuming it’s like other devices of this nature, it’s just a plug containing an LED, small circuit board and capacitor; basically an ineffective power factor correction capacitor. This doesn’t reduce the real (aka active/true) electrical power consumed by households and electricity retailers generally only charge households for their use of real electrical power.
This entertaining video goes into greater detail on what the devices are and why they don’t work. Kids (and adults), don’t try anything this fellow does at home in the way he does it. He seems to have a fetish for getting zapped – but it is worth watching just for that.
Update: August 24, 2022. Since this article was first published nearly 18 months ago, ads for scam power savers have continued to proliferate. The ads still tend to use all sorts of weird themes to attract attention, such as this one I spotted yesterday:
.. and it gets worse – here’s another, this time with the electricity socket being poked switched on.
Attempting to stick metal items into a power socket is definitely not a good way to save on electricity bills, but a great way to get electrocuted. But as SolarQuotes’ Ronald observed:
“You can’t deny that households with one less person in them tend to have lower electricity consumption.”
Power saver scam ads have gone from misleading and ridiculous to misleading, ridiculous and downright dangerous.
A Device That *Will* Slash Your Electricity Bills
A much larger device, or collection of devices, that can actually provide big savings on mains electricity bills is a professionally installed, good quality solar power system. While costing a bunch more than power saver scam devices, the payback on solar panels can be just a few years depending on your installation scenario and electricity consumption profile.
But finding the money to install solar panels can be challenging, even with the solar rebate that can knock thousands off the cost of a system. If you don’t have the cash available up-front, pick up some tips on solar finance options. Approached correctly, you can still save more money every month than it costs you to finance a system purchase – even including interest.
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Dick Smith Online sells them too….
https://www.dicksmith.com.au/da/buy/martech-power-electricity-energy-saver-saving-box-90v-250v-for-household-office-silver-ks02170/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_ads&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpISNquX_7wIVRauWCh3KnwufEAYYBSABEgKIkPD_BwE
But for $34, even cheaper.
Hope no one has been buying them….
Here’s another one on eBay.com.au selling for $13
It’s a 30000W home energy saver!!! I kid you not, it’s advertised as 30000W.
Shame I can’t post a picture of it here.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/233947737245?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&itemid=233947737245&targetid=885285326120&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9071734&poi=&campaignid=1669056926&mkgroupid=100800787889&rlsatarget=pla-885285326120&abcId=1123846&merchantid=345833999&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI24Wvu-b_7wIVBquWCh0e8wjLEAQYASABEgJmEvD_BwE
Hope no one is gullible to buy these lemons
Yet another one, even bigger at 82kW, from Dick Smith for $37
https://www.dicksmith.com.au/da/buy/zakarriey-80kw-10-35led-power-energy-saving-box-saver-electricity-bill-killerus-plug-zzjekgpy5p/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_ads&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI24Wvu-b_7wIVBquWCh0e8wjLEAQYEiABEgIzKPD_BwE
ACCC should be investigating this.
An Xacto knife will slash your electricity bill in half.
But they’ll just send one twice as big next month.
The disappointing thing is ads for these things appear on websites like https://reneweconomy.com.au/
So they really need to look at all the junk ads they allow on their website to pay the bills.
As soon as the article says Public Utility Commission and refers to Lawmakers, my scam-meter went into overdrive.
Yes, I got scammed as well, really angry with these people. Had mine plugged in for 3 months with NO change to my power bills. When I complained they offered me a 50% refund which I accepted and was able to keep my Voltbox. More rubbish into landfill.
Countries need to legislate to stop lying in advertising. It is rampant in all countries. If companies blatantly lie, hit them with a $million fine. Why isn’t the ACCC clamping down on this? TV ads are just absolute bullshit.
Just like fair tradingg in NSW, the accc is just a joke with cruise jobs for a bunch of lazy pricks on too much money to do stuff all. They don’t give a shit and are as bad as the scum they protect through their innaction. If you have a problem you have to take it to court yourself. Don’t waste your time trying to get satisfaction from government agencies they are another inefficient boys job that couldn’t run a chook raffle and cause more stress than the assholes that ripped you off in the first place….Oh and when you get to court good luck ,they don’t give a shit about fraudsters either.
I just saw another ad on my google search page for a “ Voltizer “
Why do company’s like “ GOOGLE “ support these scammers???????
Always cross check information online. Consumer beware. Nobody is better placed to help you them yourself.
Thanks ladies and gentlemen
For your well advised warning
as they say if it sounds to good to be true it probably is
$89.00 on line
Watched this ( idiot ) pull one of these to pieces
With great amusement a he almost Killed himself
However he was no idiot
And showed what a scam they were