body {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
}
.calculator-container {
background: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.calc-row {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.calc-row label {
display: block;
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 8px;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.calc-row input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ced4da;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.calc-row input:focus {
border-color: #007bff;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(0,123,255,0.25);
}
.calc-btn {
background-color: #28a745;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 15px 30px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
width: 100%;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
}
.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #218838;
}
.result-box {
margin-top: 25px;
background: #fff;
border: 1px solid #dfe6e9;
border-radius: 6px;
padding: 20px;
display: none;
}
.result-item {
margin-bottom: 15px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
.result-item:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.result-label {
font-size: 14px;
color: #666;
text-transform: uppercase;
letter-spacing: 0.5px;
}
.result-value {
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: 700;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.highlight-result {
color: #28a745;
font-size: 32px;
}
.content-section h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 30px;
border-bottom: 2px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
.content-section p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
font-size: 17px;
}
.content-section ul {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.content-section li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.help-text {
font-size: 12px;
color: #6c757d;
margin-top: 4px;
}
.error-msg {
color: #dc3545;
display: none;
margin-top: 10px;
font-weight: bold;
}
function calculateKwhRate() {
// Get inputs
var billAmount = parseFloat(document.getElementById('billAmount').value);
var kwhUsage = parseFloat(document.getElementById('kwhUsage').value);
var fixedFees = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fixedFees').value);
var errorDisplay = document.getElementById('errorDisplay');
var resultDisplay = document.getElementById('resultDisplay');
var pureEnergySection = document.getElementById('pureEnergySection');
// Validation
if (isNaN(billAmount) || isNaN(kwhUsage) || billAmount <= 0 || kwhUsage = 0 && fixedFees < billAmount) {
var variableCost = billAmount – fixedFees;
var variableRate = variableCost / kwhUsage;
document.getElementById('variableRateResult').innerHTML = '$' + variableRate.toFixed(4) + ' / kWh';
pureEnergySection.style.display = 'block';
} else {
pureEnergySection.style.display = 'none';
}
// Show results
resultDisplay.style.display = 'block';
}
How to Calculate Rate per kWh
Understanding your electricity rate is the first step toward lowering your monthly utility bills. While energy providers often advertise a specific "supply rate," your actual cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is usually higher due to delivery charges, taxes, and fixed monthly service fees. This guide and calculator help you determine exactly what you are paying for every unit of energy you consume.
Why Calculate Your Effective Electricity Rate?
Most utility bills are split into two main sections: supply and delivery. The supply portion covers the actual generation of electricity, while delivery covers the infrastructure (poles and wires) that brings it to your home. Additionally, many bills include a "Customer Charge" or "Base Charge" that you pay regardless of how much power you use.
Calculating your effective rate (or "all-in" rate) gives you a realistic view of your energy costs. This figure is crucial if you are considering:
- Switching energy providers in a deregulated market.
- Investing in solar panels and calculating return on investment (ROI).
- Budgeting for seasonal changes in energy usage (e.g., air conditioning in summer).
The Formula: How to Calculate Cost Per kWh
The math to find your electricity rate is straightforward. To find your effective rate, you simply divide the total amount of the bill by the total kilowatt-hours used.
Formula:
Total Bill Amount ($) รท Total Usage (kWh) = Effective Rate ($/kWh)
Example Calculation
Let's look at a realistic scenario:
- Total Bill: $145.50
- Total Usage: 950 kWh
To calculate the rate: $145.50 / 950 = $0.1531 per kWh.
This means for every kilowatt-hour of electricity you use, you are effectively paying roughly 15.3 cents.
Understanding Fixed vs. Variable Costs
If you use the "Fixed Monthly Charges" field in the calculator above, you can distinguish between your variable costs (what you pay for usage) and your fixed costs (what you pay to be connected).
For example, if your bill is $100 and you used 500 kWh, your effective rate is $0.20/kWh. However, if that bill includes a $20 fixed connection fee, your actual energy cost is only ($80 / 500 kWh) = $0.16/kWh. Knowing this distinction is helpful because conserving energy will only reduce the variable portion of your bill, not the fixed fees.
How to Find These Numbers on Your Bill
Total Amount Due: Usually located at the top or bottom right of the first page of your bill.
Total kWh Used: Look for a section labeled "Meter Reading," "Usage Summary," or a bar graph showing your monthly consumption. Ensure you are using the total kWh for the specific billing period associated with the dollar amount.