Managing energy costs is an important strategy for any business. One way to do this is by controlling power consumption, or more specifically, the watt-hours (kW) that are used each day.
To calculate kW, start by finding the wattage of each device or appliance. Then multiply that number by your electricity rate per kWh.
How to Calculate Your Energy Consumption
Energy consumption is the power measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) used to operate appliances and electronics. This consumption directly impacts your electric bill. Lowering your appliance and electronic power consumption is the quickest way to reduce your electric bill.
Start by listing all the devices and appliances you use in your home. Each device should be listed with its wattage rating. Then figure out how many hours per day you use each device on average. Multiply the wattage of each device by the number of hours you use it daily to find its total power usage in kW. Then convert that kW to kWh using the following formula:
To calculate your energy consumption, first, determine how much electricity you use by checking your monthly utility bills or contacting your electricity provider to find out how much is a kWh of electricity cost. Then, multiply this cost by the total number of kilowatt-hours consumed in a given period to estimate your energy expenses accurately.
A quick way to determine your average electricity consumption is to check past electric bills from your home. Then multiply the kWh consumption listed on each bill by your area’s electricity rate per kWh to find your annual energy cost.
With a smart meter installed, you can monitor your energy usage throughout the month. Examine your hourly consumption data to see if your appliances and electronics are running when you don’t need them, like when sleeping. This data type will help you identify “vampire loads” and reduce energy costs. This is especially true if you can move heavy energy-using appliances to off-peak hours.
Average Load Factor
The amount of energy your home devices use is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and the cost of each kWh is charged to you by electric company Killeen, TX. The higher your total kWh, the more it will impact your power costs. To reduce your power costs, you need to decrease your consumption.
Calculating your energy consumption is critical to the environment and your finances. However, calculating your consumption doesn’t require a degree in math or physics and can be accomplished by simply looking at the information on your electric bills.
You’ll need to know your rate per kWh, typically found on your bill, and the wattage of your appliances and devices, which can be easily determined by checking their label or doing a quick search online. Then, you can calculate your energy usage by multiplying the kW of each device by the number of hours used in the month to get a monthly usage figure.
You may also have seen a demand measurement on your bill, determining the peak demand charge you pay monthly.
Peak Energy Demand Charges
The more kWs your business draws during peak demand periods, the more you’ll pay for power. That’s why it’s important to understand the difference between energy charges and peak demand charges on your bill, as these two items make up most of your total power costs.
Energy charges are based on your total energy consumption, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) over a month. These charges cover the cost of energy delivered by your local power utility to power your business and household. Peak demand charges, however, are based on your highest power draw during one 15- to 30-minute monthly interval.
For example, Company B draws 100 kW in one hour of a billing cycle to bring on new equipment and is hit with a daily electricity demand charge of $10 per kW of peak capacity used. So, in this case, Company B will pay $1,520 in demand charges for that month (on top of $729 in energy charges).
This charge is designed to ensure the power distribution network has enough capacity to meet your highest energy demands on any day of the billing cycle. It also covers the fixed infrastructure costs of ensuring this capacity is readily available (think transformers, transmission lines, substations, generation). To help mitigate these costs, many power utilities now align energy charges on commercial bills to reflect Time of Use rates, meaning you’ll pay more during high-demand periods and less at night.
Energy Efficiency
In a perfect world, gauging the energy consumption of your appliances and electronic devices would be as effortless as glancing at a detailed grocery receipt. Unfortunately, we aren’t quite there yet, and calculating your electric consumption will require a bit of math and some investment in modern technology.
The good news is that you can work to reduce your electricity consumption for both the environment and your bank balance. The key is understanding how your appliances and devices consume energy and then working to control your electricity use.
Energy consumption is typically expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) on your power bill. This is calculated using the formula E = P*(t/1000), where E is the energy measured in Joules, P is the power units in watts, and t is the period in hours.
For example, your laptop computer uses 90 watts per day. To calculate your kWh usage, divide this by 1000, giving you three kW-hours used daily. You can then look at the energy cost per kWh on your electric bill and determine how much this adds to your costs.
For a more detailed look at your electrical usage, consider investing in a device that shows you the wattage of each appliance in your home. Also, examine your usage patterns, especially at peak times. You can reduce your electricity consumption and energy costs by reducing the number of appliances that are “always on.”
