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What exactly is a kilowatt-hour?

Friday | February 24, 2023
All News

On your monthly bills, you're charged for electricity by the kilowatt-hour (kWh). In fact, the average member of Mid-Ohio Energy uses more than 1,400 kilowatt-hours a month. 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.

Wondering how much energy a specific device uses? Let our helpful energy calculators do the math for you! https://www.midohioenergy.com/calculators

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.

Armed with these tips and a better understanding of how you're charged for electricity, you have the power to find ways to save and reduce your energy bills.

 

 

 

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  • Co-op Info
    • About Us
    • News & Events
    • Territory
    • Trustees
    • Capital Patronage
    • Careers
    • Ohio Cooperative Living Magazine
    • Request Information
  • Member & Community
    • Community Fund
    • Grassroots Political Action
    • Scholarships
    • Youth Tour To D.C.
      • Youth Tour - Interest Form
    • Safety
      • Safety Info
      • Safety Quiz
    • Community Room (Kenton)
    • Co-op Connections
  • Energy Solutions
    • Home Energy Audits
    • Energy Efficiency
      • Tips & Info
      • Energy Calculators
      • Energy Savings Cards
    • Marketing Rebates
      • Heat Pumps & Geothermal
      • Water Heaters
      • ENERGY STAR® Appliance Rebate
      • View all rebates...
    • Peak Alert: Load Management
    • Renewable Energy
      • Interconnection / Net Billing Info
    • Electric Vehicle Calculator
  • Service
    • Contact Us
    • Pay Bills / Manage Your Account
    • New Member Application & Docs
    • Understanding Your Bill
    • E-bill & Auto-pay
    • PrePay Metering
    • Load Limiting
    • Outage Center
      • Outage Information
      • View Report Outages
    • Tree And Crew Locations
    • Mobile Apps