Practical guide
How to find your electricity unit rate
Look on your electricity bill or tariff for “unit rate”, “unit price” or “p/kWh”. Enter that number in the calculators, but do not add the daily standing charge.
Clear explanations
Household electricity and appliance guides
Understand the labels, units, assumptions and comparisons behind useful running-cost estimates. Examples demonstrate the method without claiming to describe every appliance.
Practical guide
Watts, kilowatts and kWh explained
Watts and kilowatts describe power at a moment; kilowatt-hours describe energy accumulated over time. Running cost is energy in kWh multiplied by the tariff.
Practical guide
How to read an appliance energy label
Use the label’s kWh figure with the period or test basis printed beside it. A letter class alone does not tell you the household running cost.
Practical guide
Nameplate wattage vs real energy use
Nameplate wattage describes rated input or a maximum condition. Real average energy may be lower when equipment cycles or idles, but can vary with mode and workload.
Practical guide
Air fryer vs oven running cost
Compare the energy for the same cooking task, including preheating and repeat batches. A smaller air fryer may use less per batch, but it is not automatically cheaper for every quantity or recipe.
Practical guide
Fan vs portable air conditioner cost
A fan commonly draws much less electricity, but it moves air rather than actively lowering room temperature. Compare cost and the different comfort outcome, not wattage alone.
Practical guide
Dehumidifier running costs explained
Estimate dehumidifier cost from input watts, hours, humidistat cycling and tariff. Do not use the litres-per-day extraction rating as though it were electrical energy.
Practical guide
How much does a tumble dryer cost per load?
Multiply the programme’s kWh per cycle by your electricity unit rate. For example, 2.5 kWh at 25p/kWh is £0.625, displayed as £0.63 per load.
Practical guide
How to reduce household appliance costs
Measure or estimate first, focus on high annual use, and change avoidable operating time or settings safely. Small wattage differences matter less than power, time and frequency together.
Practical guide
When an efficient appliance pays for itself
Financial payback occurs only when annual net running-cost saving is positive and eventually exceeds the net upfront cost. Divide net upfront cost by annual net saving.