"Energy vampire" is a new one on me, not yet in one-look. From yesterday's Associated Press (Don Thompson):

SACRAMENTO [California] — Phone rechargers, TVs, CD players, VCRs, and all those other appliances you plug into the wall and forget were called "energy vampires" Wednesday by state regulators, who voted to make them more efficient.

Televisions, videocassette recorders and digital video disc players use two- to 10 watts even when they're turned off. Power adapters, also known as external power supplies — those little black boxes that power phones, razors, toothbrushes, computer components and a host of other ubiquitous appliances — often are warm to the touch, a sign they're wasting electricity by generating heat. Even when they're not in use, they're drawing power. The average California household has 10 to 20 of the devices that cost consumers up to $75 a year in wasted electricity, the commission calculated.

It is a concept that needs a name. I like the term, though "energy drain" or something similar would make more sense.

But surely the anolgy is perfect.

Vampires steal into peoples bedrooms at night and suck their blood while they are asleep so they know nothing about it. Energy vampires are using your electricity, also at night and also in secret.

I did a little checking. The term seems to have been one of pop-psychology: "energy vampires" are negative people who drain your energy. It seems to be much used by a Judith Orloff, who gets publicity on the Oprah show.

So what would you call the people who sneak band width from businesses that have wireless hubs? Would they be internet vampires?

I've heard the energy vampire phrase rather often.