Electricity Cost Calculator

Cost = Watts / 1000 x Hours x Days x Rate ($/kWh). Example: 1500W heater running 8 hours/day for 30 days at $0.13/kWh: 1.5 x 8 x 30 x 0.13 = $46.80. Most utility bills show rate per kWh (kilowatt-hour). The US average is about $0.12-0.16/kWh.

Average US home: 10,500 kWh/year = 875 kWh/month ≈ 1,200W average. High-draw appliances: electric water heater (4,000W), dryer (5,000W), HVAC (3,500-7,000W), electric oven (2,000-5,000W). Low-draw: LED bulbs (8-12W), laptop (45-100W), phone charger (5-20W).

1 kWh = 1,000 watts used for 1 hour. A 100W bulb running 10 hours uses 1 kWh. A 1,000W microwave running 1 hour uses 1 kWh. Your utility charges by the kWh. US average electricity price: ~$0.13/kWh. California: ~$0.25/kWh. Hawaii: ~$0.40/kWh.

Replace incandescent bulbs with LEDs (75% less energy). Unplug vampire loads (devices on standby draw power). Use a programmable thermostat. Wash clothes in cold water. Air dry dishes. Use Energy Star appliances. Seal windows and doors to improve HVAC efficiency.

A smart meter records electricity usage in 30-minute intervals and sends data wirelessly to the utility. Benefits: accurate bills (no estimation), time-of-use pricing awareness, and real-time monitoring via apps. Time-of-use rates charge more during peak hours (evenings) — shifting usage to off-peak can save significantly.