Everyday Life
Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)
Updated 2026-03-11
Definition
The standard unit of electric energy billing: one kilowatt of power used for one hour. Residential kWh rates range from about $0.10 in low-cost states like Washington and Louisiana to over $0.30 in Hawaii and California. Monthly usage for a typical U.S. home hovers around 900 kWh, producing bills of $90 to $270. To estimate any appliance's cost: watts × hours ÷ 1000 × rate. A 1,500W space heater run 8 hours per day for a 30-day month at $0.14/kWh costs about $50.
Primary source: EIA electricity data
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