Standby power, also called vampire power[1], vampire draw, phantom load, ghost load, or leaking electricity, refers to how electronic and electrical appliances consume electric power. At the same time, they are switched off (but are designed to draw some power) or in standby mode. It only occurs because some devices claim to be "switched off" on the electronic interface but are in a different state. Switching off the plug or disconnecting it from the power point can completely solve the problem of standby power. Switching off the power point is effective enough; there is no need to disconnect all devices from the power-point. Some such devices offer user remote controls and digital clock features.
In contrast, other devices, such as power adapters for disconnected electronic devices, consume power without providing any features (sometimes called no-load power). All of the above examples, such as the remote control, digital clock functions, and—in the case of adapters—no-load power, can be switched off just by switching off the power point. However, for some devices with a built-in internal battery, such as a phone, the standby functions can be stopped by removing the battery.
In the past, standby power was primarily a non-issue for users, electricity providers, manufacturers, and government regulators. In the twenty-first century's first decade, awareness of the issue grew, becoming essential for all parties. Up to the middle of the decade, standby power was often several watts or tens of watts per appliance. By 2010, regulations were in place in most developed countries restricting standby power of devices sold to one watt (and half that from 2013).