New right to repair law takes effect saving consumers £75 annually on energy bills

White goods and televisions will now be cheaper to run and last longer under new energy efficiency rules that have come into force today.

A new ‘right to repair’ law on electrical products, which includes white goods such as fridges, washing machines and dryers, aims to tackle “premature obsolescence” - a short lifespan deliberately built into appliances by manufacturers, leading to unnecessary and costly replacements for consumers.

What does the new law mean?

The new efficiency standards rules introduced on Thursday (1 July) means that manufacturers are now legally obligated to make separate parts for products available to consumers for the first time.

This right to a repair will mean that electrical appliances can be more easily fixed and will help to tackle the 1.5 million tonnes of electrical waste generated in the UK each year.

It is expected that by making parts for repairs readily available the lifespan of products will be extended by up to 10 years.

As such, it will avoid appliances being thrown away sooner than they should, while also cutting carbon emissions at the same time.

Climate change minister Lord Callanan said: “We can all play our part in ending our contribution to climate change, even when we’re choosing a new electrical appliance.

“Our reforms are helping consumers make more informed decisions about how eco-friendly one smart TV or dishwasher is over another, helping us reduce our carbon footprint.”

Savings of £75 per year

The government has estimated that the new standards will save the average consumer £75 per year on energy bills