Indiana Michigan Power is warning customers about a household phantom that could be causing their electric bills to go up.

I&M spokesperson Schnee Doyle tells us “phantom energy” is power drawn by items that are plugged in but not in use. She says even if something like a TV is off, that doesn’t mean it’s not drawing power.

“All of these smaller electronic devices, if they are plugged in, they could account for about 10% of your energy use just by being plugged in and not in use,” Doyle said.

Doyle says a big culprit is cell phone chargers, which many people just leave plugged in all the time.

“Because it’s plugged in, it’s a power cord, so it’s going to constantly keep supplying that energy, that electric service, even if it’s not actively charging your cell phone.”

But this applies to everything from coffee makers to large appliances. Doyle says while it wouldn’t be practical to unplug the refrigerator, anyone can easily unplug the toaster when not in use.

Also, an easier way to avoid phantom energy use would be to get power switchers and smart plugs. For additional energy-saving tips, head to ElectricIdeas.com/Home or ElectricIdeas.com/Work.