Electricity usage is calculated in kilowatt-hours. A kilowatt-hour is 1,000 watts used for one hour. As an example, a 100-watt light bulb operating for ten hours would use one kilowatt-hour.

How to calculate electric usage cost:

Volts x Amps = Watts
Watts ÷ 1,000 = Kilowatts (kW)
Kilowatts (kW) x Hours of Use = Kilowatt Hours (kWh)
Kilowatt Hours (kWh) x .1064 = Cost of Usage
+/- fuel charge and environmental charge
Below are some examples of electrical appliances found in most homes. These examples are using a .10933 cents per kWh rate.

Appliance/Equipment

Avg. Usage

Monthly kWh

Cost/Month

Comfort & Health

      

Air Conditioner – Window
12,000 BTU (1,400 Watts)

8 hours/day

341

37.29

Electric Blanket (177 Watts)

8 hours/night

43

$4.71

Dehumidifier (257 Watts)

12 hours/day

94

$10.28

Fan – Furnace (300 Watts)

7 hours/day

64

$7.00

Fan – Window (200 Watts)

2 hours/day

12

$1.32

Fan – Ceiling (125 Watts)

12 hours/day

46

$5.03

Fan – Attic (1000 Watts)

2 hours/day

61

$6.67

Heat Pump (Average Rating)
(1,800 sq. ft. house) 7.7 HSPF*

daily

Average Annual Cost

$841.50

Heat Pump (High Efficiency)
(1,800 Sq. ft. house) 8.5 HSPF*

daily

Average Annual Cost

$762.30

Heat Pump (Geothermal)
(1,800 sq. ft. house) Equiv. 13.3 HSPF*

daily

Average Annual Cost

$487.10

Heater – Portable (1500 Watts)

8 hours/day

365

$39.91

Humidifier (177 Watts)

8 hours/day

43

$4.71

Water Heater (4500 Watts)

3 hours/day

411

$44.94

Hair Dryer (1,000 Watts)

15 min./day

7.6

$0.83

*Heating Season Performance Factor (an efficiency rating)
**Based on 4,296 Heating Degree Days. Cooling costs would be approximately 40% of total energy costs.

Food Prep. & Preservation

    

Blender/Food Processor (400 Watts)

1 hour/week

2

$0.22

Coffee Maker (894 Watts)

one hour/day

27

$2.96

Dishwasher (1,200 Watts)
(excludes hot water costs)

one hour/day

37

$4.05

Microwave Oven (1,450 Watts)

30 min./day

22

$2.41

Range (12,200 Watts)

30 min./day

186

$20.34

Self-Cleaning Cycle

twice/month

12

$1.32

Freezer 15 Cu. Ft. (341 Watts)

12 hrs./day

124

$13.56

Refrigerator – 14 Cu. Ft. (440 Watts)

12 hrs./day

161

$17.61

Refrigerator – 18 Cu. Ft.
(manual defrost – deduct 35%)

12 hrs./day

180

$19.68

Laundry

      

Clothes Dryer (4,900 Watts)

6 loads/week

90

$9.84

Washer (512 Watts)
(Excludes water costs)

6 loads/week

9

$0.99

Iron (1,008 Watts)

2 hours/week

8

$0.88

Home Entertainment/Recreation

    

42″ Plasma TV (320 Watts)
(instant-on TVs use some electricity continuously)

35 hours/week

44.8

$4.90

VCR (125 Watts)

4 hours/day

15

$1.64

Home Computer (500 Watts)
Including Monitor

4 hours/day

61

$6.67

Hot Tub (5,000 Watts)

2 hrs./day

304

$33.24

Pool Heater (incl. motor)

avg/daily

670

$73.26

Pool Pump (1 hp)

continuous

1240

$135.57

Lighting

      

40-Watt Bulb (40 Watts)
Equivalent compact fluorescent

4 hours/day
4 hours/day

5
1.375

$0.55
$0.15

60-Watt Bulb (60 Watts)
Equivalent compact fluorescent

4 hours/day
4 hours/day

7
1.625

$0.77
$0.18

75-Watt Bulb (75 Watts)
Equivalent compact fluorescent

4 hours/day
4 hours/day

9
2.5

$0.99
$0.28

100-Watt Bulb (100 Watts)
Equivalent compact fluorescent

4 hours/day
4 hours/day

12
3.25

$1.32
$0.36

Farm

      

Electric Fence Charger

daily

2

$0.22

Heater (tractor engine block) (600Watts)

10 hrs./day

182

$19.90

Heater (livestock tank)

8 hrs./daily

365

$39.91

Auto Battery Charger (600Watts)

2 hours

36

$3.94

Well Pump (750-1000Watts)

avg./10% usage

40

$4.38

For other tips on saving energy visit the Department of Energy Web site, Energy Savers – Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home