The Kilowatt (kW) and the Kilowatt Hour (kWh) as Units of Energy

The Kilowatt (kW) as a Unit of Energy

Kilowatt (kW) is a unit of power in the International System of Units (SI). It represents a thousand watts.
Power is the rate at which energy is transferred or converted.
The formula for power is Power (P) = Energy (E) / Time (t), where power is measured in kilowatts, energy in kilowatt-hours and time in hours.
In the context of domestic electricity, appliances are often rated in kW to indicate their power consumption.

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy. It is the energy consumed by a 1,000-watt or 1-kilowatt electrical appliance running for 1 hour.
It is commonly used to measure the energy consumption of home appliances and to calculate the cost of electricity for homes or businesses.
To calculate the number of kilowatt-hours an electrical device uses, multiply the device’s power (in kilowatts) by the amount of time the device is used (in hours).
Energy companies use kilowatt-hours to measure and bill customers for the amount of energy they have used.

Understanding kW and kWh is important for understanding how electrical items consume power and how much that power costs.
Energy efficient appliances often use fewer kilowatts per hour, making them cheaper to run.
By understanding your energy usage in kW and kWh, you can take steps to reduce your energy consumption and your monthly power bill.