How Much Electricity Does It Use?

One of the most popular questions we get asked is "How much does it cost to run a (insert appliance here)?"

PUD 3 has developed a handy chart to estimate the cost of a home’s appliances on a monthly basis.

A few things a customer needs to know when figuring the monthly cost of an appliance:

The basic measure of electricity is the kilowatt-hour (kWh). The electric bill indicates the number of kilowatt-hours used, plus a system charge and applicable taxes. The following formula gives a rough estimate of the cost of operating an appliance each month. Three things must be known to make this estimate: Wattage of the appliance (use the formula: Volts x Amps = Watts, or see the specific appliance guide), an estimate of the hours used each month, and the cost per kWh for electricity.

Launch our Energy Cost Calculator

(Watts X Hours of Use) / 1000 = kWh

kWh X (current residential energy rate) = Monthly Operating Cost

The estimated kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption of the electrical appliances listed in the fact sheets above are an average, based on normal usage of a family of four. These figures will vary considerably with the size and model of the appliance, the special features, the condition of a home's wiring, the number of people in the household, the size of the home, the insulation levels in the home, and individual use habits. For questions and answers about home energy usage or PUD 3's conservation programs, please call (360) 426-0777.

You can view the current residential rate here.

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