Energy fundamentals

How to Find Your Electricity Rate

Use your utility bill to choose a meaningful price per kilowatt-hour.

The essential idea

Look for the billing period’s electricity use in kWh and usage-related charges. Dividing relevant charges by kWh provides an effective rate for a simple comparison.

How to apply it

Fixed monthly charges may not change when one appliance uses less energy. Time-of-use, tiered, tax, and delivery structures can also make a single rate approximate.

A practical decision

For a marginal cost decision, use the rate that applies when the appliance operates.

Use this in a calculator

Browse all home energy calculators and replace the examples with measured or manufacturer-provided values.

Last reviewed: August 6, 2026