I WOULD like to point out to J M Livermore (Letters, August 11) that I did not state eight per cent, I stated approximately one eighth of the power that is required to fully operate a TV.

I have tested three TVs with a watt meter and the total amount of power required varies with the brightness of picture, level of sound and size of cathode ray tube.

I admit to being slightly vague as to what is meant by standby power, assuming it to be when the television's mains power switch is on and the light emitting diode is red.

This indicates there is no mains power supplied to the tube or UHF receiver, only power to the internal power supply and remote control infrared receiver.

If you place your hand over the ventilation slots you can detect a surprising difference in temperature when the TV is in either of these modes. I know that there have been a lot of figures quoted, most incorrect for the amount of power used in the so-called standby mode.

However, Britain's 100 million TVs and DVD players require many hundreds or even thousands of megawatts in standby mode.

So, switch them off at the wall socket.

JOHN FREEMANTLE, Nursling.