What’s a Watt?

When you look at your electric bill, do you know what you’re paying for and why? Maybe you’ve noticed the charges on your bill are calculated based on the number of kWh used. Do you know what kWh means and why it matters? It’s actually pretty simple.

Here’s what kWh stands for:

 

A kilowatt hour, or kWh, is the amount of energy used in one hour. An average 1,000-watt vacuum cleaner needs 1,000 units of power to work. So, if you use your vacuum for one hour of time you will be charged for one kWh.

 

Play our game to test your watt knowledge!

Do you know which household appliances and electronics are the most energy efficient? Check out how you score!

The longer or more frequently an item is in use, the more energy it will consume. For example, a lightbulb left on all day will use more kWh of energy than one that’s turned off after two hours.

Now that you’ve learned how much energy different appliances use, you can make smarter choices about how long and often they run in order to conserve energy.

Let’s look at how your bill is calculated

Switching to energy-efficient devices and appliances can also make a big difference in your energy consumption. For example, changing out one 60-watt incandescent lightbulb with an equivalent LED bulb will save you more than 50 watts. And when it comes to getting the right upgrades, you can save money with Wattsmart® rebates on everything from heat pumps and appliances to smart accessories.

Let’s recap

Another great reason to upgrade to energy-efficient appliances and equipment is all the extra benefits they provide. Many increase comfort in your home through:

Now that you know what a watt is and how to gauge your kWh energy usage, you can make changes to manage your electric bill. Get personalized energy savings tips and find ways to save!

Where does the funding come from rebates? You! As an energy consumer, rebate funding is built into your bill. So take advantage of the rebates available to you today!