Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we’ve put together the most frequently asked questions surrounding electricity bill calculations:

Q: What is a kilowatt and a kilowatt hour?
A: A kilowatt (KW) is 1,000 watts of electricity. A kilowatt hour (KWh) is 1,000 watts of electricity consumed for 1 hour. So when you see 50KWh for example, this is equal to 1,000 watts for 50 hours OR 50,000 watts for 1 hour.

Q: What is a ‘standing charge’?
A: A standing charge is usually a daily rate in pence that an electricity supplier applies to your bill.

Q: What is a ‘unit’ of electricity?
A: A unit of electricity is 1 kilowatt hour (1 KWh).

Q: How do I know my unit rates?
A: You should find all your rates printed on your bill. You can also find out which tariff you are on and see the unit rates on your suppliers website.

Q: How can I reduce me electricity bill?
A: We’ve put together some handy tips on reducing your electricity bill.

Q: I can’t find my meter or understand it?
A: Take a look at our electricity meters page, you should find all the information you need there.

Q: What is economy 7?
A: Economy 7 is a split tiered tariff where you pay a slightly higher rate for your electricity during the day (peak times) and slightly less than peak during the night (off-peak).

Q: What is ‘billing period’ and ‘billing days’?
A: Your billing period and billing days are the difference between your last bill and most recent calculation. Electricity bills are usually calculated on a quarterly basis but your bill will also state the billing period.