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2022世界杯32强赛程表时间 > what exactly is a kilowatt-hour?
what exactly is a kilowatt-hour?
04/10/2023
on your monthly bills, you're charged for electricity by the kilowatt-hour. in fact, the average american household uses nearly 900 kilowatt-hours a month, according to the u.s. department of energy. have you ever wondered what a kilowatt-hour is and why you are charged for electricity that way? if so, we've got the answers.
breaking down kilowatts
every electrical device has a power rating, which tells you how much power it needs to work. this is given in watts or kilowatts. a kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts. kilo is a prefix in the metric system for 1,000. a watt is a tiny unit of electricity named after scottish inventor and energy pioneer james watt.
wattage ratings vary widely by device. a microwave oven might use 1,500 watts, according to the u.s. department of energy's appliance energy calculator, while a slow cooker may use only 200 watts. wattage for specific products can vary by size, age, capacity and features.
calculating kilowatt-hours
so, what's the difference between a kilowatt and a kilowatt-hour? devices typically don't run constantly. a kilowatt-hour measures the amount of electricity a device uses during the time it's running. a kilowatt of power consumed by a device over the course of an hour is a kilowatt-hour of energy.
the power rating of a device indicates how long it would take to use a kilowatt-hour. if you have a 100-watt tv, you'd have to binge-watch your favorite shows for 10 hours to use up a kilowatt-hour. however, a 2,000-watt electric stove would burn through a kilowatt-hour in about 30 minutes.
powering up your kilowatt-hours
you pay for the kilowatt-hours you use. why not take the time to get more out of your energy dollars? here are some simple energy-saving tips:
- turn off the lights when you're the last one to leave a room.
- replace conventional incandescent bulbs with leds, which use far less energy.
- increase the thermostat temperature when no one is home to reduce air conditioning energy use.
- plug electronic devices into advanced power strips, which automatically cut power to unused devices.
- unplug battery chargers when they're not charging anything.
- wait until you have a full load before running the clothes washer or dishwasher to avoid wasting energy.
with a better understanding of how you're charged for electricity, you have the power to find ways to save and reduce your energy bills. learn more about your entergy bill here.
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