For National Grid’s Residential Customers in New York
Cost of Operating Home Appliances
Many people are not aware of the cost
for using electric appliances in their
homes. The Cost of Operating Home
Appliances is designed to give you information about how much energy your
household appliances use and how
much they cost to operate each month.
The figures represent average energy
consumption. THE FIGURES ARE
ONLY ESTIMATES. Actual energy consumption of your appliances and equipment will vary depending on the size of
your family, the age and size of a particular appliance, how often it is used, and
how the appliance was engineered.
Definitions of energy use
terms
Kilowatt - A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of
electrical energy equal to 1,000 watts.
Kilowatt-Hour - A kilowatt-hour (kWh)
is a unit of electrical energy equal to one
kilowatt flowing for one hour. For
example, ten 100-watt light bulbs burning for one hour would use one kWh of
electrical energy. A kilowatt-hour is the
standard unit of electricity shown on
your electric bill.
CCF - This abbreviation stands for 100
cubic feet. It is a standard measurement
of gas quantity.
Kilowatt - A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of
electrical energy equal to 1,000 watts.
Kilowatt-Hour - A kilowatt-hour (kWh)
is a unit of electrical energy equal to one
kilowatt flowing for one hour. For
example, ten 100-watt light bulbs burning for one hour would use one kWh of
electrical energy. A kilowatt-hour is the
standard unit of electricity shown on
your electric bill.
CCF - This abbreviation stands for 100
cubic feet. It is a standard measurement
of gas quantity.
Figuring electric appliance
operating costs
Calculating the cost of operation for appliances can be quite easy. Just use the
appropriate formula below.
Find the wattage of the appliance. It will
probably be stamped on a metal plate or
in the plastic covering somewhere on the
back or bottom of the appliance. Divide
the wattage by 1,000 (or multiply by .001)
to get the kilowatts used per hour.
Multiply this by your rate per kilowatthour (for example, $ .125) and by the
number of hours you use the appliance.
This will give you the operating cost.
Cost of operation per month =
(Watts/1000) x (rate/kWh) x
(hours used per month)
or
Cost of operation per month =
(Watts x .001) x (rate/kWh) x
(hours used per month)
Some appliances—such as your oven,
dehumidifier, furnace fan and refrigerator—cycle on and off automatically,
using energy only part of the time they
are turned on. To figure your monthly
cost, you will have to estimate the
amount of time the appliance is actually
using energy.
For example: If your refrigerator rated at
610 watts is on 24 hours a day (720
hours per month) but you estimate that
it only runs 40% of the time, then the
monthly cost is as follows: (610W) x
(.001) x ($ .125/kWh) x (720) x (.40)
= $21.96 per month to operate the
refrigerator.
Wattage isn’t shown on some appliances—only amps and volts. The amps
figure is usually stamped on the bottom
or back of the appliance. Most appliances that are plugged into a regular
wall outlet take 120 volts. Since watts
= amps x volts, we can substitute and
use the same formula to calculate operating costs.
Cost of operation per month = (amps)
x (volts) x (rate/kWh) x (hours used
per month) x (.001)
Cost of operating home appliances
Most homes have a number of appliances that are major energy users that typically
offer the greatest opportunity for energy efficiency and cost saving. For ease of identification, these are highlighted.
Certain appliances or equipment (such as swimming pools, ceramic kilns, multiple
heat tapes or winter auto engine block heaters) can lead to high consumption as well.
Some of this consumption can be controlled through the use of timers or more efficient equipment.
Laundry and water heating
Like dishwashers, about 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes into
heating the water. Most home laundry can be washed successfully in warm or cold
water. Using cooler water can bring significant energy savings.
Dryers work by heating and aerating clothes. Energy-efficient units have a sensing
mechanism that determines dryness and turns off automatically. All dryers should
be vented to the outdoors. Venting them into the house adds harmful dust, lint and
moisture to the air and can actually lengthen the drying time.
Electric Appliances
Typical
Wattage
Average
kWh per
Month
Cost per
Month @
.125/kWh
4500
442
$55.25
4350-5500
*variable
*variable
500
*variable
*variable
500
*variable
*variable
1500-4000
1100
191
1-12
$22.90-25.09
$.13-$1.50
*variable
700
933
1400
500
1000
708
110
147
221
90
180
$88.50
$13.75
$18.38
$27.62
$11.25
$22.50
Laundry and Water Heating
Water Heater
(52 Gallon)
Clothes Dryer
(average 5 kWh per load)
Clothes Washer
(Not counting hot water averages .5 kWh per load)
Clothes Washer
(with electric hot water averages 3.4 kWh per load)
Hot Tub/Spa
Iron
Heating and Cooling
A i r C o n d i t i o n e r * * (on 75% time - 7 hours per day)
Central-24,000 Btu
Room-5,000 Btu
Room-7,000 Btu
Room-10,000 Btu
A u t o E n g i n e H e a t e r (dipstick type)
Auto Engine Heater
(radiator hose type)
Dehumidifier
(12 hrs. per day)
E l e c t r i c B l a n k e t (4 hours per day)
F a n s (7 hrs. per day)
Box/Window
Table
Ceiling, no light
Attic
Heating Cable*
Water pipes (24 ft.)
Roof/Gutter (60 ft.)
H e a t i n g S y s t e m F a n / B l o w e r M o t o r (8 hrs. per day)
1/2 H.P.
1/3 H.P.
1/4 H.P.
Burner Motor
Hot Water
Circulating Pump
Humidifier
P o r t a b l e S p a c e H e a t e r (2.5 hrs. per day)
S w i m m i n g P o o l P u m p / F i l t e r s (12 hrs. per day)
300-500
108-180 $13.50-$22.50
150-200
21
$2.63-$3.
200
100
55
500
42
21
12
105
$5.25
$2.63
$1.50
$13.13
200
500
144
15
$18.
$1.88
375
250
188
210
90
60
45
60
$11.25
$7.50
$5.63
$7.50
105
200
500-1500
400-1400
30
$3.75
40
$5.
30-90 $3.75-$11.25
144-504
$18.-$63.
NOTES: Monthly kWh use and operating costs have been rounded for easy reference.
*Variable: Individuals will want to calculate their own kWh per month consumption. For Laundry: (loads per
month) x (kWh per load) = average kWh use per month. For other appliances and lights: (watts) x (hours per
month) x (.001) = kWh per month.
**Appliance is thermostatically controlled and uses energy only a portion of the time that it is on.
Kitchen appliances
The modern kitchen has a wide variety of
energy-consuming devices used for
preparing and preserving food and for
cleaning up. The biggest energy users are
often refrigerators and freezers—they are
in use all the time. Older models typically
cost between $90 and $350 a year to run!
Fortunately, manufacturers have
designed better controls, improved door
seals and efficient compressors and
motors. This means that a new generation of high-efficiency refrigerators is
now available and affordable. Typically,
the yearly energy cost of a new refrigerator is in the range of $60 to $80. And
refrigerators rated with the Energy Star®
label can help you find the best energy
buy for your money.
The following range of monthly kWh
use for refrigerators and freezers uses
estimates of data for both old and new
models.
There is a wide range of efficiencies in
other major kitchen appliances—much
of which depends on personal choices
and habits. Equipment such as blenders,
mixers, coffee makers, microwaves and
electric frying pans offers convenience
and saves human energy. In some
instances, such as using an electric toaster oven or microwave rather than a large
range, they also save fuel, energy and
money.
Most of the energy used by dishwashers
goes toward heating the water. Models
that use less water are more efficient.
Hot water is necessary for dishwashers,
but letting the dishes air dry instead of
using the drying cycles can save significant energy as well.
Electric Appliances
Typical
Wattage
Average
kWh per
Month
Cost per
Month @
.125/kWh
8
1
9
1
1-7
$1.
$.13
$1.13
$.13
$.13-$ .88
Kitchen Appliances
Broiler
1200
Carving Knife
100
Coffee Maker
1100
C o r n P o p p e r (oil and hot air)
575-1400
Deep Fat Fryer
600-1500
D i s h w a s h e r (30 loads per month)
Washing Cycle
200
Drying Cycle
1000
Heating Water by Electricity
800
Food Processor
360
F r e e z e r - M a n u a l D e f r o s t * (12-15 cubic feet on 40% time) 225-350
F r o s t l e s s * (12-15 cubic feet on 45% time)
345-440
Frying Pan
1200
Hot Plate
1200
M i c r o w a v e O v e n (with browning element 10 min. per day) 1700
M i c r o w a v e O v e n (no browning element 10 min. per day) 1450
R a n g e * Surface Burner (30 min. per day)
1600
O v e n * (30 min. per day)
3200-5000
R e f r i g e r a t o r / F r e e z e r - F r o s t l e s s * (on 40% time)
14 cubic feet
505-615
17 cubic feet
400-665
18-21 cubic feet (side by side)
500-763
21 cubic feet
750
R e f r i g e r a t o r / F r e e z e r - M a n u a l * (on 60% time)
12 cubic feet (no freezer)
225-300
14 cubic feet
330
Rotisserie
1400
S l o w C o o k e r (low & high settings)
125-250
Tea Kettle
1500
Toaster
1100-1400
Toaster Oven
1350-1500
Trash Compactor
400
5
$ .63
25
$3.13
100
$12.50
1
$ .13
65-101 $8.13-$12.63
112-143 $14.-17.88
8
$1.
8
$1.
9
$1.13
7
$ .88
24
$3.
48
$6.
145-177 $18.13-$22.13
115-192 $14.38-$24.
144-220 $18.-$27.50
216
$27.
97-130 $12.13-$16.25
143
$17.82
6
$.75
5-10
$.63-$1.25
6
$ .75
3-4
$.38-$.50
2-12
$.25-$1.50
4
$ .50
Health, Beauty, Comfort Appliances
Air Cleaner, electrostatic
Hair Dryer, hand held
Hair Setter, curlers
Sun Lamp
Tooth Cleaner, pulsating water
Vaporizer
Waterbed Heater*
50
600-1200
350
300
100
480-750
375
36
1-10
1
1
2
1-3
75-166
$4.50
$ .13-$1.25
$.13
$.13
$ .25
$.13-$.38
$9.38-$20.75
Home Entertainment
Radio or Stereo
75
10
$1.25
T e l e v i s i o n (6 hours per day) Color (solid state and tube) 165-275
30-50
$3.75-$6.25
Video Cassette Recorder (VCR)
165-275
30-50
$.25-$.50
Video Game and TV
200
12
$1.50
Home Office (range includes standby, warm-up and operating usage)
Answering Machine
20
5
$ .63
C o p i e r (small to medium, 1,000 copies per month)
100-1500
31-44
$3.88-$5.50
C o m p u t e r (with disk drive and monitor)
150-350
1-10
$.13-$1.25
Inkjet Printers
3-180
**variable
Laser Printer
36-800
**variable
Fax Machine
Thermal Paper
15-175
**variable
Laser
15-500
**variable
Home Workshop, Crafts and Hobbies
Kiln-ceramic
Power Tools
Bench Grinder
Circular Saw
Drill
Saber Saw
Sander-belt & disc
Soldering Gun
Sewing Machine
5000
200
$25.
600
1000
400
400
300-600
600
115
6
10
4
4
3-6
6
1
$ .75
$1.25
$ .50
$ .50
$ .38-$ .75
$ .75
$ .13
NOTES: Monthly kWh use and operating costs have been rounded for easy reference.
*Appliance is thermostatically controlled and uses energy only a portion of the time that it is on.
**Variable: Individuals will want to calculate their own kWh per month consumption.
Appliances such as Can Opener, Toothbrush, Shaver, Heating Pad, Curling Iron, Mixer and Garbage
Disposal use energy only a portion of the time that they are on.
Electric Appliances
Alarm, security or fire
Bug Killer
Charcoal Starter
Clock
Electric Fence
Fish Tank (50 gal.)
Filter
Heater (12 hrs. per day)
Light (12 hrs. per day)
Hedge Clippers
Lawn Mower
Motor (1 H.P.)
Sump Pump
V a c u u m C l e a n e r R e g u l a r (1 hour per week)
V a c u u m C l e a n e r C e n t r a l (1 hour per week)
Water Pump
Weed Trimmer
Typical
Wattage
Average
kWh per
Month
Cost per
Month @
.125/kWh
20
40
500
2
10
14
12
1
2
7
$1.75
$1.50
$ .13
$ .25
$ .88
6
200
30
300
3000
766
500
650
800
455
525
4
36
11
1
15
15
10
3
3
20
3
$ .50
$4.50
$1.38
$ .13
$1.88
$1.88
$1.25
$ .38
$ .38
$2.50
$ .38
Lighting
Light output from incandescent or fluorescent light sources is measured in lumens.
The more lumens per watt, the better the energy efficiency of the bulb. Compare
lumen ratings on the packages to achieve the amount of light you need at the least
energy consumption.
Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs typically produce three to five
times as much light as incandescent bulbs of the same wattage. This makes them a
“best buy” for conserving energy and money.
For example, a 13-watt fluorescent bulb provides the same lumens as a 60-watt
incandescent, and though it costs more initially, it uses much less energy to operate
it and it will last nearly ten times as long.
Electric Appliances
Wattage
9
13
22
32
40
7.5
40
60
75
100
150
To figure the cost of operation for a gas
appliance, divide the Btu rating by
100,000 to find the number of therms
used in 1 hour of operation. Multiply
this by the number of hours the appliance is used per month, and the rate per
therm (found on your current bill, or
use the sample cost per therm in chart
below) to find:
Cost of Operation =
(Btu rating/100,000) x
(hours per month) x
(rate per therm)
Average
Cost per
Therms
Month @ $1.00
per Month
per Therm
Dishwasher
(gas to heat water-15 gallons per use)
9
$9.
Clothes Dryer
(25 loads per month)
3
$3.
Range
Surface Burner
(9,000 Btuh input, 30 min. per day)
2.7
$2.70
Oven
(30,000 Btuh input, 30 min. per day)
4.6
$4.60
Water Heater-40 gallon 24
$24.
NOTE: Monthly kWh use, average therms and operating costs have been rounded for easy reference.
Cost per
Month @
.125/kWh
Lighting (bulbs, tubes, compact globes, circles, etc.)
F l u o r e s c e n t (on 4 hrs. per day)
9 watt
13 watt
22 watt
32 watt
40 watt
S t a n d a r d I n c a n d e s c e n t B u l b s (on 4 hrs. per day)
7.5 watt (holiday lights, chandeliers, etc.)
40 watt
60 watt
75 watt
100 watt
150 watt
Gas Appliance
$
$
$
$
$
.14
.20
.33
.48
.60
$ .12
$ .60
$ .90
$1.13
$1.50
$2.25
National Grid, through the transmission and distribution of electricity
and natural gas, serves close to 4
million customers across 29,000
square miles of Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New York and
Rhode Island. Its parent company,
National Grid plc, is an international
energy delivery business located in
the U.K. with principal activities in
the regulated electricity and natural
gas industries.
For current National Grid prices
for electricity (cost per kWh) and
natural gas (cost per therm),
call 1-800-642-4272 or visit
www.nationalgrid.com. Click on
nationalgrid billing & rates.
National Grid
300 Erie Boulevard West
Syracuse, NY 13202
1-800-642-4272
www.nationalgrid.com
NY0020 12/05