Can a switched on empty mains socket use power?

[Phil2008]

A a gas engineer told my mate if you turn off all the mains sockets that are unused, it can save you money. As a switched on unused socket is a open circuit that will still use power?

 

[Phil2008]

The gas engineer said that unused mains sockets that are switched on could be costing about £50 a year extra

 

[Phil2008]

You need to be more specific about what unused means. Is an appliance plugged in?

No an empty socket that's switched on.

I dont believe it,, as you need a circuit for it to use power