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Home » Electricity Cost Calculator & Power Generation in the United States [2022]

Electricity Cost Calculator & Power Generation in the United States [2022]

Electricity Cost Calculator:

Calculate your energy consumption with the below calculator: 

How is US Electricity Bill Calculated?

It is very easy to calculate the electric bill generated by using a simple formula i.e
No of watts used by the appliance is multiplied by the number of hours the appliance is used per day.

For example let us take a refrigerator. It is in on condition 24*7 that is through out the day. It uses nearly 150 to 200 watts a single day, so approximately we can say it takes nearly 2 KWH. Hence while calculating the cost we get approximately $100 to $150 per annum for a single refrigerator.

How to Calculate Electrical Labor Cost

Usually labors are hired to install or repair any electric appliances such as fan, lights, switches etc. The average cost of a labor depends on the type of repair and the experience of the electrician and the spare parts needed for the repair. The rate starts from $50 and varies accordingly.

How to Calculate Electricity Cost per Unit

One unit is nothing but 1KWH. 1000 Watts or 1kilo watt of power used for 1 hour is one unit of electricity.

Let us consider an appliance with 1000 watts and if it is used for 5 hours then 5 units of electricity is used. Let us also consider 1 unit equals 10 rupees. Monthly bill generated for usage of electricity can be calculated as 1000*5*30 =150000 watts/hr.

Hence by the power consumed over a period of time and the tariff is used to calculate the electricity bill.

Watts to KiloWatts

It is calculated by the formula as, kilowatt hours= ( watts * hours)/1000.

i.e 1000 watts equals to one kilowatt hour

Average Electricity Price:

According to a survey average electricity price is nearly $11 per kilo watt hour. This average price includes residential, commercial as well as industrial usages.
The average price for a residential purpose is nearly $14 per kilo watt hour.
The average bill paid by a USA household per month is around $120.

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Ok. So far, we have seen how electricity in US is calculated with examples. Now lets see how United States generates its power:

Have you ever wondered how electricity is generated and distributed? In the United States, electricity comes from a huge power plant network then it is distributed through transmission lines to distribution centers and finally reaches your house. There are several energy sources for generating electricity but fossil-based fuels dominant the electricity industry worldwide. The electricity demand continues to rise since the wide use of technology. 

The limited amount of fossil fuels and the effect on the environment forces people to find sustainable alternatives. For more than decades, people looking for alternatives to fossil-based fuels. Something that can generate electricity will low to no carbon emission. 

How does the US generate power?

Electricity in the US is generated using an electric power plant that uses a turbine to operate the electricity generators. The turbine uses moving fluid such as steam, water, air, or combustion gasses to push a group of blades on the rotor shaft. The blade movement spins or rotates the generator which converts kinetic or mechanical energy into electrical energy. There are several types of turbines such as hydroelectric turbines, steam turbines, gas or combustion turbines, and wind turbines.

The major turbines used in the US by 2020 are steam turbines. The turbines can fulfill 44% of the electricity demand in the country. Another turbine used is the combustion or gas turbines that burn liquid fuels or gasses to produce gases that spin the blades. In 2020, electricity in the US also combined both combustion and steam turbines which are also known as combined-cycle power plants. The combined-cycle generation fulfills about 35% of electricity demand in the US. 

Though not as much as other generators, but hydroelectric and wind turbines also fit a significant role in supplying electricity in the US. The hydroelectric turbines present about 7% while the wind turbines provide 8% of electricity demand in the country. On the other hand, the nuclear generator has been providing 20% of electricity since 1990. 

What are the different methods of power generation?

There are some types of power generation method in United States. The different state uses different types of power generation that fit the area perfectly. Here are some examples of popular power generation. 

Wind Energy
Wind Energy
  • Coal, oil, and gas – the fossil-based power plants use fossil fuel such as oil or gas to produce steam that drives turbines to generate electricity. This method is the most-used power generation but it emits carbon and other pollutants. 
  • Hydroelectric power – this power generation uses water that is stored in reservoirs to rotate the turbine and produce electricity. This generation is relatively cheap and emits low to no carbon and pollutant. 
  • Nuclear power – as the name suggests, nuclear power relies on nuclear energy to generate electricity. It is very reliable and can be used for a very long time compared to other types of generators. 
  • Wind and solar – wind and solar is the type of sustainable energy. However, wind and solar cannot produce consistent electricity since the generator relies on the weather. 
  • Biomass – this power generation is similar to fossil-based generation but instead of using fossil fuel, the generation uses biomass such as wood chips, domestic waste, and purpose-grown woods. 

What is the current power generation mix in the US?

The energy source in the US has been changing over time. Originally, the country uses coal-fired generation but did not change to renewable energy and natural gas resources. Other popular power generation method in United States is hydropower and nuclear power generation. 

What is US electricity generation by energy source 2022?

There are different types of energy sources used in the United States. The source and technology change over time to provide electricity efficiently. The three most-used energy sources are nuclear energy, fossil fuels, and renewable energy sources. Nuclear energy provides around 20% of electricity while fossil fuels provide 40% of the demand. On the other hand, renewable energy sources fulfill about 20% of the total electricity demand.

What are the 4 types of electricity?

Though in general it is called electricity, in reality, there are different types of electricity. The different types of electricity are used for different purposes. The 4 types of electricity are static electricity, current electricity, hydroelectricity, and solar electricity. 

To Know about, how to harvest energy from piezoelectric roads – Click here

What is the difference between an AC and a DC generator?

The current electricity refers to electric flow across the electrical fields. There are two different kinds of electric currents which are alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). Since there are two different types of electric currents, there are also two different types of generators. 

The AC generator is a type of generator that converts moving or mechanical energy into AC electric current. On the other hand, the DC generator converts moving or mechanical energy into DC electric current. The DC generator is also known as dynamo since the generation pulsates direct current without changing its direction. 

Power Generation Method
Power Generation Method

What are the 6 types of energy?

To produce electricity, there are lots of energy sources to rotate the turbine. The conventional way is to use fossil fuel to produce steam. But there are other types of energy which are solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, tidal energy, hydrogen energy, hydroelectric energy, wave, energy, and biomass energy. 

What are the 3 basic types of electrical circuits?

An electrical circuit is an important part of electricity distribution as it provides the path for electricity. The electric circuit consists of wires, a load of resistance, and a switch. The series of circuits are also called open circuits. There are three basic types of electrical circuits which are series, parallel, and series-parallel. The common electrical circuits usually combine a series of resistance and load devices. 

Conclusion

Electricity is continuously growing as the demand is rising. Though in the old days’ fossil fuel is widely used for generating electricity, it is time to change for a more sustainable source. Fossil fuel is a limited resource and it emits pollutants and carbon. The electricity industry should be able to think about environment change while providing the best electric power for human activities.

To know more about United States power generation and updated information please visit https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php

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