KWH

KWH

KWH is simply the abbreviation for the term, ‘kilowatt-hour’. It is a unit of energy, which can also be expressed as power usage over time. Energy utility companies use it as their billing unit. ‘Kilo’ represents 1000, so a kilowatt-hour refers to the use of 1000 watts of power, over one hour.

Electricity and gas companies in the UK charge consumers per kilowatt-hour, and rates can vary tremendously. The cheapest prices that we find are printed daily on our home page. We are the top energy comparison service for businesses in the UK, and can find the best quotes available for your specific needs. We have current data from all energy companies in the UK, including British Gas, EDF Business Electricity, E.ON, Npower, Scottish and Southern Energy, and Scottish power. We will start working for you as soon as you complete the simple form above, and will call you back promptly with the best available deals. Our service is free, so don’t hesitate to try us!

An Example

Of course, most appliances do not require exactly 1000 watts of power to run. Light globes, for example, are marked with their particular wattage, indicating their level of brightness. If we consider the amount of time a 100 watt light bulb is in use, we arrive at a figure in kilowatt-hours:

WATTAGE x HOURS USED ÷ 1000 = USAGE IN KILOWATT-HOURS

If you leave a bulb marked with ‘100W’ on for 10 hours, for example, the usage can be calculated at 100 watts x 10 hours, resulting in 1000 watt hours, or 1 kilowatt-hour. Because it takes 10 hours for the light bulb to use 1 kilowatt-hour of energy, you could also say that it consumes 0.1 kilowatt-hours of energy every hour.

How to Calculate the Running Cost of an Appliance

Here is a simple formula you can use to calculate the cost of running any electrical appliance:

WATTAGE x HOURS USED ÷ 1000 x price per KWH = RUNNING COST

Let’s say you use the 100W light bulb from the last example to light your office for 160 hours every month. For the sake of argument, let’s also say that your electricity provider charges you 9p (£0.09) per kilowatt-hour:

100 x 160 ÷ 1000 x 0.09 = 1.44

This means that a single 100W light bulb is costing you £1.44 to run, every month. Of course, the total amount you spend on electricity adds up quickly, considering that most of your business equipment uses far more energy than a light bulb! Think of all the computers, heaters and other appliances you require on a daily basis, in order for your company to function. Due to varying rates, you could currently be spending far more than you would be if you switched providers.

What About Gas?

Although your gas usage will be read from your meter in hundreds of cubic feet, it will still appear in terms of kilowatt-hours on your bill. This enables you to compare your gas charges effectively with your electricity charges. Once you determine your specific needs for both services, our company can find you the most cost-effective quotes on the market. Simply fill in the above form with your details. It takes less than five minutes of your time, and will then allow us to compare the whole market for you, completely free of charge.

Make an Informed Choice for Your Business

Companies offer a variety of deals, from fixed price contracts to flexible contracts. Most providers, including Npower, British Gas and EDF, will offer a free advisory service, allowing you to minimise your carbon footprint by not only reducing your energy consumption, but your overall costs. Some also offer discounts for direct debit payments. Our telephone consultants will discuss all of this with you in as much detail as you need. To ensure you are getting the absolute lowest price per KWH for both electricity and gas, fill in our form today!