To manually estimate the electricity usage of a specific equipment, follow these steps:
- Get the wattage of your device. This information can be found on the device’s bottom or back, or in the owner’s handbook. You may also look up the device’s technical specifications online.
- Calculate how many watts the device uses on a daily basis. Calculate the wattage by multiplying it by the average number of hours the device is used each day. Let’s imagine you spend 10 hours a day using a 100-watt electric fan. When you multiply 100 watts by ten hours, you get 1,000 watt-hours, which is how much energy an electric fan uses in a day.
- To convert watt-hours to kilowatts, use the formula below. To convert watt-hours to kilowatts, multiply the device’s watt-hours by 1,000. This is the unit of measurement used on Meralco bills. In the previous example, 1,000 watt-hours divided by 1,000 equals 1 kWh each day.
- Calculate the device’s monthly power usage. To figure out how much your device consumes every month, multiply its daily kWh by 30 days. The monthly consumption of an electric fan that consumes 1 kWh per day is 30 kWh.
Make a list of your equipment and devices’ monthly electricity usage and rank them from highest to lowest. This will show you which ones use the most energy and should be used less frequently and unplugged more frequently.
How is the cost of energy calculated?
Costs of Energy Calculation The kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a measure of electrical energy that is calculated by multiplying the power consumption (in kilowatts, kW) by the number of hours spent. The total energy cost is calculated by multiplying that figure by the cost per kWh.
What is the typical monthly electricity bill in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) recently increased electricity costs across the board, including residential electricity tariffs for users using more than 300 kWh per month.
I detailed how our electricity bill is computed using the slab tariff system shown above a few years ago. Check it out if you want to learn more about the billing system before reading on to find out what’s new in NEPRA’s latest release.
Residential electricity tariffs for customers who use 301-700 kWh of electricity per month have increased from Rs. 16.00 to Rs. 17.60, plus taxes, as shown. The new cost has raised by 15% for customers who consumed more above 700 kWh in a month, from Rs. 18.00 to Rs. 20.70. Remember that you receive the advantage of the slab underneath as well. For example, if your bill exceeds 700 units, the first 700 kWh will be charged at Rs. 17.60, and all subsequent units would be charged at Rs. 20.70. Of course, there’s also tax to consider.
However, things are no longer so straightforward. For many home consumers, this is good news. Even if they use more than 700 units per month, many customers will see a reduction in their expenses.
This is because NEPRA has mandated Time of Use (TOU) charging for all customers with a sanctioned load of 5kW or more. NEPRA implemented TOU billing and made it mandatory a few years ago. It has not, however, been enforced in cities such as Karachi. Until now, that is.
Clause XXXII of NEPRA’s recent ruling requires K-Electric to begin offering TOU invoicing for all customers with a sanctioned load of 5kW or more immediately. From April to October, peak hours are 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and from November to March, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The remaining 20 hours of the day are referred to as “off-peak.”
That means that in the summer, all customers with a sanctioned load of 5kW or more will pay Rs. 20.70 per kWh just from 6:30pm to 10:30pm (peak period), or for only 4 hours. They will pay only Rs. 14.38 per unit for the remaining 20 hours of the day, regardless of how many units of power they use in a month. + applicable taxes (always).
So, if a customer uses more than 700 units per month and has a sanctioned load of more than 5kW, their average power bill will be between Rs. 15.00 and Rs. 17.00 per unit (plus tax), depending on how many units they use during peak hours. Many clients may discover that their total amount is lower than before the price hike. That can be credited to TOU billing.
If you use more than 700 units per month on average and your sanctioned load is less than 5kW, it may be a good idea to get your sanctioned load raised to over 5kW so that you can take advantage of TOU billing and earn a lower average cost.
Nothing has changed for customers with a sanctioned load of less than 5kW and a consumption of less than 300kWh. Your rates remain unchanged, and you continue to be subsidized by all other consumers as well as the government.
Things are about to grow incredibly expensive for consumers like me who use less than 300kWh per month in the summer and have a sanctioned load above 5kW (because we have ACs installed but don’t use them). In the summer, my average rate is around Rs. 10 per kWh, and in the winter, when our consumption is less than 200 units per month, it’s around Rs. 7 per kWh. Because of TOU billing, which is imposed on all consumers with sanctioned loads exceeding 5kW, my cost would now increase to Rs. 15-17 per kWh.
By upgrading to LED lighting and replacing my old fridge with a new inverter refrigerator, I was able to reduce my use to these levels. I even had the water pump serviced to lower its power use, and I’m actively working on water conservation around the house to reduce the water pump’s demand.
Hmm, I’m starting to wonder if I should try to get our home’s sanctioned load cut to less than 5kW. I’d be able to keep my electricity cost significantly lower, but it might limit the amount of solar PV I can build on my roof and sell to the grid in the future.
However, if I do the math, I might discover that selling solar to the grid during off-peak hours and paying KE during peak hours is really more expensive than simply lowering my sanctioned load to below 5kW.
How can I figure out how many kWh I have?
A watt (W) is a unit of power measurement. The power consumption of light bulbs is measured in watts, to translate watts into more familiar terms. To produce light of equivalent brightness, a 60 W incandescent light bulb consumes seven and a half times the electricity of an 8 W LED light bulb.
Power usage is frequently expressed in kilowatts. Because watts are such small amounts of power, they are abbreviated as (kW). 1,000 watts equals one kilowatt.
The power rating for each of your key appliances and electronics is calculated by the manufacturer and printed on a label on the device. Your microwave, for example, is likely to have a power rating of 600 W to 800 W.
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of measurement for the quantity of energy utilized over a specific time period. The quantity of electricity you used in a month is expressed in “kilowatt-hours” on your power bill.
To determine the kWh for a certain appliance, multiply the wattage (watts) by the number of hours (hrs) you use the appliance and divide by 1000.
We spent about 50 cents on this 60-watt lightbulb that we used for 90 hours in a month when we were charged $0.09/kWh.
Add the power usage of each gadget to compute the total power consumption of your house or business.
- Building meter: You may calculate the difference between reading your electric meter at the beginning and end of the month.
What method do you use to calculate meter usage?
You can figure how much your electricity bill should be by conducting your own reading. One of three types of meters will be installed in your home:
Let’s look at how to get the reading from each type of meter before we show you how to calculate your energy usage.
Your electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours by your meter (kWh). One unit equals one kilowatt-hour. Your statement will usually include a cost per unit, which will come in helpful later when we break down the equation for you.
You’ll normally observe five separate dials while dealing with a dial meter. Use the number that was recently passed if the dial is between two numbers. Only read a number if the dial to its right has passed zero.
You’re undoubtedly curious as to what these statistics imply. They are, after all, symbols for the quantity of energy you consume. The more energy you use, the faster your dial will turn, raising the number on the dial. Consider it like the number of miles on your car’s dashboard. The more miles you travel, the more miles will appear on your dashboard. When it comes to reading your meter, the same principle applies.
Digital and smart meters are far more user-friendly and straightforward. You simply need to take note of the first five figures displayed on a digital meter. If, after the first five numbers on your meter, you observe a group of numbers that starts with 0.1, ignore them.
You can compute how much electricity you’ve used since your last electricity payment after you get your meter reading. To do so, locate your most recent electric statement and look at the reported reading. You’ll then deduct your current reading from the previous month’s reading. The total quantity of kWh you’ve used since your last meter reading is the outcome.
The reading on your meter will never be reset to zero. The number on your meter shows the number of kilowatt hours consumed since the meter was installed. As a result, this number will continue to rise, making it critical to compare your meter readings every month.
Energy companies may bill you based on an estimate created from your home’s historical use, which means you may be charged a higher bill simply because individuals who previously lived in your home utilized a lot of energy.
You’ll also need to know how much your utility company costs per kilowatt hour and if your account includes any fixed fees to compute your bill. You’ll be ready to go after you have that information plus the total quantity of kWh utilized since your last meter reading.
You’ll then multiply this figure by the kWh rate your electricity company charges, as well as any set costs.
- Total kWh used since the last measurement = Current meter reading meter reading indicated on last month’s bill
The equation above will assist you in keeping track of your energy usage. It’s a simple activity that, if completed, can help you save money on a monthly basis. If you care about the environment, you shouldn’t have to pay a hefty energy bill. Calculating it yourself will put an end to your exorbitant bill.
How do you figure out how much kWh you use each month?
Have you seen a significant increase in your electricity bill this winter? Are you looking for methods to save money or lessen your environmental impact?
What Is a Kilowatt Hour?, a recent blog, detailed what kilowatt-hours (kWhs) in your monthly electricity bill signify. You can better understand and reduce your overall electrical usage if you can compute the kWh demands of specific electrical equipment in your home. It’s a simple computation.
Your Household Energy Use
Your monthly power bill and annual energy use are affected by every technological item in your home. When your account is too high, you may spot the offenders by estimating the kWh usage of various equipment.
To calculate a device’s daily kWh requirements, first determine its wattage. Typically, the item will have a label with kW information on it. If you don’t have it, look in the owner’s handbook. Determine how many hours the gadget is on in a day once you have the wattage. Then divide the wattage by the number of hours the device has been in operation.
For instance, if you use a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours each day, your energy consumption is 1 kWh:
Is it, however, necessary to leave that lamp on for ten hours? From 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m., you might simply require the light. In that scenario, you should:
Obviously, saving electricity means turning off the lamp when you leave the room.
That basic computation should be repeated for all of your home’s devices. When you add them up, you’ll receive your total daily kWh usage. To determine your monthly usage, multiply your daily usage by the number of days in the month.
kWhs = Money
The price per kWh charged by your power company is listed on your electricity bill. When you multiply that figure by your daily, monthly, or annual kWh usage, you can see how kilowatt-hours equal money.
You can also fine-tune your annual budgeting process with this calculation by applying your new understanding of your usual electrical usage and how it varies over the course of a year.
KWh Usage for Common Household Items
We know that burning a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours uses 1 kWh of energy. For 10 hours of TV viewing, the math is nearly the same. You could listen to the radio for 20 hours for the same 1 kWh.
Other estimations have been done for you as samples of normal household energy use:
NON-energy-saving dishwasher: up to 2.17 kWh/load Energy Saver Dishwasher: 0.5 kWh/load
Frost-free 15 cubic foot refrigerator from the 1990s: 150 kWh/month Energy Star 17 cubic foot refrigerator: 35 kWh/month
4.5 kWh/load in a washing machine for hot wash and warm rinse HE 0.3 kWh/load washing machine Cold Wash, Cold Rinse
0.06 0.25 kWh/hour for a desktop computer 0.02 0.05 kWh/hour Laptop Computer
10.5 kWh/hour electric furnace with fan 380-500 kWh/month 1500W electric water heater 1.5 kWh/hour portable electric heater
The average American household consumes 11,000 kWh of energy per year, according to the Energy Information Administration. This equates to about 915 kWh each month and 30 kWh every day.
Reducing Your Energy Use
You’ll know which appliances are putting a major dent in your power bill after calculating the kWh usage for the primary gadgets in your home. You’ll save money and assist the environment if you use those devices less and turn them off or unplug them when they’re not in use. It makes a difference every time you switch something off.
Using Your Total Household kWh Calculation
When switching to renewable energy sources like solar, it’s also crucial to understand your total household kWh usage. To figure out what size solar system to buy, you’ll need to know your entire kWh requirements. Solar systems are measured in kilowatts (kW), which is based on peak power output on particularly sunny days. A 1kW system can produce 1kW of power at full capacity.
How much does one unit cost?
A unit cost is the total cost incurred by a business to manufacture, store, and sell one unit of a product or service. The terms “unit costs” and “cost of goods sold” are interchangeable (COGS). All fixed and variable expenses involved with the production of a good or service are included in this accounting metric.