ENERGY BASICS
Read the bill. Understand the machine.
Short, practical guides for the concepts behind WattMeasure’s calculators.
01
How to find an appliance’s wattage
A practical hierarchy for finding, converting, or measuring an appliance’s power draw.
Read guide →02How to read an electricity bill
Find billed kWh, energy rates, delivery charges, and the details a calculator needs.
Read guide →03What a kilowatt-hour means
Understand the unit on your utility bill without jargon.
Read guide →04How electricity rates work
A clear guide to flat rates, tiers, delivery charges, and effective cost per kWh.
Read guide →05Peak vs off-peak pricing
Decide whether shifting flexible household loads could reduce electricity cost.
Read guide →06Why appliance costs differ from label estimates
Understand cycling, test conditions, settings, climate, and real household behavior.
Read guide →07Standby and phantom power
Find the small always-on loads that can add up across a home.
Read guide →08Understanding SEER, COP, and efficiency ratings
Use HVAC efficiency ratings without treating one number as year-round performance.
Read guide →