A method and an apparatus control a UE that supports a dual mode for controlling power consumption. A wireless local area network (WLAN) modem of a user equipment (UE) automatically turns on when the UE detects that the UE has entered into an area (e.g. home) that employs a home network including a femto Node B and a WLAN access point (AP). The method and apparatus may also determine whether a femto identifier received from a Node B of a home network is an identifier registered in a WLAN turn-on list stored in the UE. If the femto identifier is registered in the WLAN turn-on list, the WLAN modem of the UE is turned on.