With children at home for the summer holidays, games consoles, televisions and monitors can remain switched on for several extra hours each day. But how much does gaming actually add to a UK electricity bill?

For one modern console and television used for four additional hours a day, the six-week summer holiday electricity cost is typically around £5 to £14. Two high-powered gaming setups could add approximately £27.

That may not justify installing solar panels or a home battery by itself. However, it highlights a useful financial opportunity: summer gaming often happens while solar panels are producing their most electricity. This can help a household use more of its own generation, reduce grid imports and improve the return on an existing or planned solar system.

How much electricity does a games console use?

Power consumption varies substantially between consoles. Official manufacturer data gives the following examples:

• Nintendo Switch: approximately 6–7W during active docked gaming.
• Xbox Series S: approximately 61W during average gameplay.
• Xbox Series X: approximately 122W during average gameplay.
• PlayStation 5: approximately 200–211W during active PS5 gaming.

The screen also matters. A modern television might use around 60–150W, depending on its size, brightness, display technology and picture settings.

For the calculations below, we have assumed a 100W television and four additional hours of gaming each day for 42 days.

These estimates use the Great Britain electricity price-cap average of 26.11p per kWh for 1 July to 30 September 2026. Your actual unit rate may be higher or lower. Standing charges are excluded because they are payable whether the console is used or not.

The calculation is:

Power in kW × hours used × electricity price = running cost

For example:

0.311kW × 4 hours × 42 days × £0.2611 = £13.64

What is the typical summer electricity increase?

Ofgem’s medium typical domestic consumption figure is currently 2,500kWh a year for a household with a standard single-rate meter. Spread evenly, that is about 288kWh over six weeks.

Against that benchmark:

• A Switch setup could increase six-week electricity consumption by around 6%.
• An Xbox Series S setup could increase it by around 9%.
• An Xbox Series X setup could increase it by around 13%.
• A PS5 setup could increase it by around 18%.
• Two PS5 and TV setups could increase consumption by around 36%.

These are increases in electricity units, not the whole household energy bill. Actual summer use will depend on working patterns, cooking, hot-water systems, appliances and whether family members would normally be away during the day.

Gaming for six hours rather than four would increase the figures by 50%. Leaving a console, television or gaming monitor running when nobody is using it also adds unnecessary consumption.

Why summer gaming works well with solar panels

The timing of the demand matters as much as the amount.

Children are more likely to play during the daytime over the summer holidays. That is also when a home solar array usually produces most of its electricity. When the console and television use solar power as it is generated, the household avoids buying the equivalent electricity from the grid.

Using the PS5 example, 52.2kWh of directly consumed solar electricity could avoid approximately:

52.2kWh × 26.11p = £13.64 in grid electricity

If the same electricity would otherwise have been exported for around 12p per kWh, the additional financial benefit of using it at home instead is approximately:

52.2kWh × (26.11p − 12p) = £7.37

This distinction is important when calculating solar ROI. Every self-generated unit used at home avoids the retail import price, but households receiving export payments must also account for the income they give up by not exporting it.

Of course, games consoles are only one load. Solar can also power refrigeration, washing machines, dishwashers, home offices, water heating and other daytime appliances. It is this combined year-round saving—not gaming alone—that determines the real payback period.

For homes without solar, Callidus offers a selection of grid-connected solar and battery kits for UK homes. The correct system size should be based on annual consumption, roof conditions and the household’s daytime and evening demand.

When does battery storage improve the return?

Solar panels can power daytime gaming directly, but generation falls during the evening. A battery stores surplus solar electricity for later, allowing the household to run consoles, televisions and other appliances after the panels have stopped producing.

Battery storage can provide three financial benefits:

1. Increasing the proportion of solar generation used at home.
2. Reducing imports during expensive tariff periods.
3. Charging from a low off-peak rate where a compatible time-of-use tariff is available.

The strongest battery returns normally come from combining these benefits across the whole home.

A realistic battery ROI example

Suppose a battery stores 1,000kWh of surplus solar electricity over a year and returns 90% of it after conversion losses.

At an import price of 26.11p per kWh, the 900kWh delivered could avoid approximately £235 of grid purchases.

However, if the household would otherwise have exported all 1,000kWh at 12p per kWh, it gives up £120 of export income. The net annual benefit is therefore approximately:

£235 avoided imports − £120 lost export income = £115 per year

Without an export tariff, the same energy shifting could be worth closer to £235 a year. A time-of-use tariff may improve the calculation further, but tariff rules, battery losses and permitted grid charging must be included.

This is why battery payback should never be based on capacity alone. It depends on:

• Annual surplus solar generation.
• Usable battery capacity.
• Expected cycles per year.
• Round-trip efficiency.
• Import and off-peak rates.
• Export payments.
• Installed cost.
• Warranty and expected battery life.

Energy Saving Trust estimates that a typical 5kWh home battery costs around £4,600 and generally lasts 10–12 years. That benchmark is useful, but current Callidus pricing can materially improve the starting point for ROI.

A Pytes V5A Plus 5.12kWh home battery is currently £1,150. This is the battery module price rather than a complete installed system, so a compatible inverter, protection equipment and installation must also be included when calculating payback.

For a complete solution, a 10.24kWh Victron home battery storage kit starts from £3,600 installed where the current free standard installation offer applies and the property meets the eligibility requirements. That is roughly twice the nominal storage capacity of the Energy Saving Trust’s 5kWh example for £1,000 less upfront: about 22% lower total cost and approximately £352 per nominal kWh, compared with £920 per nominal kWh for the benchmark.

For the same annual saving, reducing the starting cost from £4,600 to £3,600 shortens simple payback by about 22%. The larger capacity only improves the return if the household has enough surplus solar, off-peak charging opportunity and evening demand to use it regularly, so correct sizing remains central to a sensible ROI.

Already have solar? Installation cost can change the calculation

Adding storage to an existing solar installation can increase self-consumption without replacing the panels. Compatibility still needs to be checked, including the existing inverter, meter, wiring, battery location and any backup-power requirements.

Callidus is currently offering free installation on eligible systems in its battery storage range for homes with existing solar panels. Removing or reducing the installation element of the upfront cost can improve simple payback, although eligibility and the final system specification should be confirmed before ordering.

For example, reducing the installed cost by £1,000 would shorten simple payback by:

• 4.3 years at £235 annual savings.
• 6.7 years at £150 annual savings.
• 8.7 years at £115 annual savings.

The final return will depend on the agreed installed price and measured household energy profile.

How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?

Energy Saving Trust’s July 2026 figures estimate that a typical 4.5kWp solar installation costs around £7,600. With export payments included, its example payback periods range from approximately:

• Nine years in London.
• Ten to 11 years in Manchester.
• Nine to 10 years in Aberystwyth.
• 11 to 12 years in Stirling.

A household with people at home during the day may use more solar electricity directly. Summer holiday gaming, home working and timed appliance use can all contribute to this, but roof direction, shading, regional generation and tariff choice remain more significant.

Solar panels generally last 25 years or more, although an inverter may need replacing earlier. Payback should therefore be assessed over the full system life rather than a single summer.

Five ways to improve your solar and battery ROI

1. Measure actual consumption

Use a smart meter or plug-in energy monitor to check the console and television together. Manufacturer figures are useful benchmarks, but screen size and game settings affect real consumption.

2. Move flexible use into solar hours

Where practical, run washing machines, dishwashers and other appliances while solar production is high. Direct solar use avoids battery conversion losses.

3. Size the battery around surplus and evening demand

A larger battery is not automatically a better investment. Oversizing can leave expensive capacity unused for much of the year.

4. Compare import and export tariffs

A high export payment can make exporting more attractive, while a wide difference between off-peak and peak import rates can improve battery arbitrage savings.

5. Compare the complete installed cost

Include equipment, installation, electrical upgrades, monitoring, warranties and expected maintenance. Current free-installation offers can materially alter the result, but the exact scope should be confirmed in writing.

Quick ways to reduce gaming electricity costs now

• Enable the console’s energy-saving shutdown mode.
• Turn off the television or monitor when gaming stops.
• Avoid leaving games paused for long periods.
• Reduce unnecessary screen brightness.
• Use a smaller or more efficient screen where appropriate.
• Schedule downloads and updates for lower-cost tariff periods.
• If you already have solar, encourage gaming during peak generation hours.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a PS5 for four hours?

A PS5 using around 211W costs approximately 22p for four hours at 26.11p per kWh. With a 100W television, the combined cost is approximately 32p.

How much can gaming add over the summer holidays?

Four extra hours a day for six weeks could add about £5 for a Switch and television, £7–£10 for an Xbox setup, or £14 for a PS5 and television. Two high-powered setups could add around £27.

Can solar panels run a games console?

Yes. A normal grid-connected solar installation can contribute electricity to any household load, including a console and television. The grid automatically supplies any shortfall.

Do I need a battery for daytime gaming?

Usually not. If the solar panels are generating enough electricity, using that energy directly is normally more efficient than storing it first. A battery becomes useful when gaming or other electricity demand continues after solar generation falls.

Will a battery pay for itself through gaming savings?

Not through gaming alone. Battery ROI comes from shifting energy for the entire household throughout the year. Solar self-consumption, time-of-use tariffs, export income, system cost and battery lifespan must all be considered.

Turn summer demand into a year-round saving

The extra cost of holiday gaming is usually manageable, but it is a visible example of how household electricity demand changes when more people are home.

Solar panels can meet much of that additional daytime consumption directly. Battery storage can extend the benefit into the evening and reduce imports across the rest of the home. The best financial result comes from measuring real usage, selecting an appropriately sized system and comparing the full installed cost with conservative annual savings.

Explore complete grid-connected solar and battery kits, or see the current free installation offer on eligible battery systems for existing solar installations.

The figures are current to 28 July 2026 and should be refreshed if publication is delayed. Research sources include Ofgem’s current price-cap rates, Ofgem’s 2026 household-consumption review, Energy Saving Trust’s solar guidance, battery guidance, PlayStation power data, Microsoft’s Xbox telemetry and Nintendo’s official measurements.