c/kWh
Total capacity
505 L
324 L fridge + 181 L freezer
Energy rating
3.5
Star rating index 3.50
Annual electricity use
438 kWh
Label figure (comparative energy consumption)
Estimated running cost
$145 / year
$12.05 / month ยท $1,445 over 10 years

3% less electricity than the median of 36 comparable 500โ€“599 L side-by-side fridge freezer registrations (452 kWh a year). It uses less than 67% of them. At 33c/kWh that is about $5 a year less than the median, $46 over 10 years.

Uses 19% less than the maximum allowed for its size and type under the minimum energy performance standard (539 kWh a year MEPS level).

Cost = label kWh ร— 33c/kWh in NZD; change the price above to your tariff.

How efficient is it for its size?

kWh per year. Bar: the middle 80% of 36 comparable 500โ€“599 L side-by-side fridge freezer registrations. Dot: this model (below the median). Hover or tab to a mark for its value.

Cohort: every currently registered 500โ€“599 L side-by-side fridge freezer sold in New Zealand, counted once per registration. Star ratings already account for size through the GEMS adjusted-volume formula; this comparison is in raw kWh against models a buyer would actually consider instead.

TCL P525SBB running cost

Per month
$12.05
Per year
$145
5 years
$723
10 years
$1,445

438 kWh ร— 33c/kWh. No inflation or tariff change assumed. Fridges run continuously, so the label figure is a whole-year estimate under standard test conditions.

Capacity and compartments

Total gross volume
505 L
Fresh food (fridge) volume
324 L
Frozen storage volume
181 L
GEMS adjusted volume
642 L
two-star compartment
25 L gross
fresh food compartment
324 L gross
freezer compartment
156 L gross

Gross volumes exclude shelving. Fresh food = fresh food, chill and cellar compartments; frozen = freezer, two-star and ice-making (zero-star) compartments. Adjusted volume weights frozen space more heavily and is what the government uses to set the star rating for the size.

Similar side-by-side fridge freezers that use less electricity

Same type, total capacity within 12% of 505 L, at least 3% lower annual kWh.

ModelStarsEst. cost / yrCompare
Omega OIFSBS541541 L324 kWh/yr5.5$107
Omega OSBS505X505 L355 kWh/yr4.5$117
Haier HRF523XHG Series523 L368 kWh/yr4.5$121
Konka KRF-454W450 L372 kWh/yr4$123
Chiq CSS557NSD4E559 L385 kWh/yr4.5$127

Fridges similar to the TCL P525SBB

ModelCapacityStarskWh / yr
Vogue 353520
same capacity, same door count, similar external size, similar star rating
505 L3.5438
Vogue 353532
2% larger, same door count, similar external size, similar star rating
513 L3484
Hisense HRSBS519S
3% larger, same door count, similar external size, similar star rating
519 L3494
LG GS-B500MB
3% larger, same door count, similar external size, similar star rating
519 L3.5433
Hisense HRSBS519B
3% larger, same door count, similar external size, similar star rating
519 L3494
Coldstream CSHO-530-WAT/SS
5% larger, same door count, similar external size, similar star rating
529 L3.5451
Eurotech ED-RFSSWD560SS.2
5% larger, same door count, similar external size, similar star rating
529 L3.5451
Heller HSBS691B
5% larger, same door count, similar external size, similar star rating
532 L3.5452

Same consumer type, total capacity within 12% of 505 L; ordered by closeness of capacity, then lowest annual kWh.

Compare P525SBB with another fridge

TCL P525SBB specifications

Type
Side-by-side fridge freezer
Configuration
Side by side
Doors
2
Defrost
Variable defrost controller
Ice maker
โ€“
Width
920 mm
Height
1,768 mm
Depth
630 mm
Annual energy (label)
438 kWh
Star rating index
3.502
MEPS level (maximum allowed)
539 kWh
kWh per adjusted litre
0.682
Country of manufacture
China

Other model numbers on registration ARF3249

Registered together with the same test results, usually colour or finish variants.

New Zealand E3 registration details

Registration number
ARF3249
GEMS registration id
159004
Status
approved, available (self-reported)
Registration expires
8 January 2029
Registered for sale in
Australia, Fiji, New Zealand
Family
P525SB*
Designation
Refrigerator/freezer
Product class
Class 7
GEMS group
Group 5S: refrigerator-freezer, automatic defrost, side by side
Regulatory standard
Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Household Refrigerating Appliances) Determination 2019
Test standard
AS/NZS IEC 62552.3:2018
Consumer type rule
GEMS group 5S (frost-free fridge freezer, side by side)

Source: E3 programme registration data (EECA, New Zealand) (trans-Tasman E3 registration data published by DCCEEW on data.gov.au, CC BY 3.0 AU). Dataset published 25 September 2026; last checked 26 September 2026. Manufacturer: tcl.com/au. How the derived figures are calculated.