What is a kWh?

A kWh, or kilowatt-hour, is a measurement of how much energy you’re using per hour. It's how your energy company keeps track of how much gas and electricity you use in your home.

Despite the name ‘kilowatt-hour’, it doesn’t mean how many kilowatts are used per hour – it means how many kilowatts a 1,000-watt appliance uses in an hour. Put simply, one kilowatt-hour is the amount of energy you’d use if you ran a 1,000-watt appliance for one hour.

So, let’s say you have a 1kW heater on for an hour – that would use 1kWh of energy. If you left that heater on for 10 hours, you’d use 10kWh.

Different appliances have different wattages. Low-wattage appliances tend to be ones that stay on all the time, like fridges, while high-wattage appliances are typically ones that you only need to switch on when you need them – for example, kettles and hairdryers.

What’s the difference between a kW and a kWh?

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a measure of energy and tells you how much is used over time. A kilowatt (kW) is a measure of power and refers to how much energy an appliance needs to run.

One kilowatt (kW) contains 1,000 watts of energy, and every appliance in your home uses watts to run. Each appliance will have a power rating, which is how many watts (W) it needs to be able to work. 

Let’s say you have a 2kW fan oven:

• If you use it for 1 hour, it will use 2kWh of electricity (2kW × 1 hour = 2kWh) 

• If you use it for 30 minutes, it will use 1kWh (2kW × 0.5 hours = 1kWh)

To put it another way, think of kW as the speed of your car and kWh as the distance you’ve travelled. The faster you drive (higher kW), the more fuel (energy) you’ll burn over a set time (kWh). Similarly, an appliance with a higher kW rating will use more kWhs the longer it’s left on.

How much is a kWh of electricity?

Your electricity bill boils down to how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) you use and what unit rate you’re being charged for each one. The more kilowatt-hours you use, the more your electricity bill will be.

Wondering how much a kWh of electricity costs? It depends on things like your supplier, where you live, and the tariff you’re on.

• Your energy supplier – different suppliers charge different unit rates.

• Where you live – prices can be higher or lower depending on your region.

• Your tariff – some tariffs may offer cheaper rates during certain times of the day, like Economy 7 tariffs.

• How you pay – paying by direct debit often gets you the best deal.

• Your standing charge – your standing charge is the cost of staying connected to the National Grid, and it can vary depending on your supplier.

What’s the cost of gas per kWh?

Gas works the same way as electricity when it comes to billing – it's all about how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) you use and what your supplier charges for each one. The principles are the same, too – the more gas you use per kWh, the more you’ll pay.

And like electricity costs, the amount on your gas bill will be affected by things like your supplier, your location, your tariff type, how you pay, and what kind of meter you have.

How many kWh does an average household use?

Ofgem’s Typical Domestic Consumption Values (TDCVs) report is used as an industry standard for estimating how much gas and electricity households use on average each year.

How to save on your kWh usage

Reducing your kWh usage doesn’t have to mean drastic lifestyle changes. With a few simple tweaks, you can lower your energy consumption and cut down on your bills. Whether it’s adjusting how you use your appliances or making small changes to your daily routine, these tips will help you save energy without sacrificing comfort.

• Switch to energy-efficient appliances – energy-saving appliances (especially the ones with an A rating or higher) might cost a little more to buy, but they’ll keep your bills lower in the long run by using fewer kWh.

• Upgrade to a smart meter – installing a smart meter helps you understand your energy usage more clearly. By seeing where electricity is being used more around your home, you can make changes to cut your consumption. Find out more about how smart meters work here.

• Unplug devices when not in use – did you know that some devices continue to use energy, even when they’re switched off but still plugged in? Unplugging them or using a smart plug to control power can help cut down on ‘vampire’ energy drain.

• Run appliances on energy-saving settings – in the age of technology, devices are now smarter than ever, and some even come with energy-saving modes that use less power than traditional settings. Opt for an energy-friendly option wherever possible.

• Use energy-efficient lighting – switch to LED bulbs, which use much less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer too.

Making just a few changes can make a big difference in your kWh usage over time. If you’re looking for more ways to slash your energy consumption, discover more energy-saving tips here.