Home energy guide
Add your appliances, enter your rate per unit, and see what your household will pay this month, and which devices are driving the total.
Calculate your bill
Results update as you type. Nothing leaves your device.
Estimates assume appliances run at their rated wattage. Real use varies, especially for fridges, ACs and heaters that cycle on and off.
How an electricity bill is calculated
Your supplier charges for energy in kilowatt-hours (kWh), often called "units". One kWh is the energy used by a 1,000 watt device running for one hour.
kWh per day = (watts × hours per day × quantity) ÷ 1,000
Bill = (kWh per day × days × rate) + fixed charge + tax
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 3 hours a day uses 4.5 kWh daily. Over 30 days that is 135 kWh, or about $21.60 at $0.16 per kWh.
Typical appliance consumption
| Appliance | Typical watts | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| LED bulb | 9 W | 5 h/day |
| Ceiling fan | 60 W | 8 h/day |
| Refrigerator (average draw) | 150 W | 24 h/day |
| Television | 100 W | 4 h/day |
| Air conditioner | 1,500 W | 6 h/day |
| Washing machine | 500 W | 1 h/day |
| Electric water heater | 3,000 W | 1 h/day |
Wattage is printed on the appliance label, usually on the back or underneath.
Seven ways to lower your bill
Start with the biggest bars in your calculator results. Heating, cooling and water heating usually dominate.
1. Raise your AC thermostat by 1 to 2 degrees. 2. Swap remaining bulbs for LEDs. 3. Unplug or switch off devices on standby. 4. Wash clothes in cold water and air dry when you can. 5. Clean fridge coils and AC filters. 6. Shift heavy use to off-peak hours if your plan has time-of-use pricing. 7. Choose appliances with a high efficiency rating when replacing old ones.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my rate per kWh?
Check your latest bill or your supplier's tariff page. If your rate has tiers, enter a blended average: total energy charge divided by total kWh.
Why is my real bill higher than the estimate?
Common reasons are devices you did not list, standby power, older appliances drawing more than their label, and delivery or demand charges. Add a fixed charge and tax percentage to get closer.
How do I use the meter reading mode?
Subtract your previous reading from your current reading to get units used, then multiply by your rate. The calculator does this for you.
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