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.