My circuit uses Cmos inverters so its supply current is almost nothing. It can drive a transistor or a Mosfet to turn things on and off using hardly any current when off.
A 555 draws 3mA to 15mA all the time. A Cmos 555 draws 50uA to 400uA all the time.
Bill, you are on a mission from god. This mission is to find all practical and impractical uses for the readily available IC known to the world as the 555. Get started.