MODULE 5
UNIT 2: Electricity Billing
Introduction:
In electrical engineering, the power rating of equipment is the highest power input allowed to flow
through particular equipment. The term "power" may refer to electrical or mechanical power. The power rating
of an electric appliance is the electrical energy consumed per second by the appliance when connected across
the voltage of the mains.
∴ Power consumption of an appliance – Wattage X Operational hours
Power rating of household appliances:
You can usually find the wattage of most appliances stamped on the bottom or back of the appliance,
or on its "nameplate." The wattage listed is the maximum power drawn by the appliance. Since many
appliances have a range of settings (for example, the volume on a radio), the actual amount of power consumed
depends on the setting used at any one time.
A refrigerator, although turned "on" all the time, actually cycles on and off at a rate that depends on a
number of factors. These factors include how well it is insulated, room temperature, freezer temperature, how
often the door is opened, if the coils are clean, if it is defrosted regularly, and the condition of the door seals.
To get an approximate figure for the number of hours that a refrigerator actually operates at its
maximum wattage, divide the total time the refrigerator is plugged in by three.
The computer’s wattage consumption is the measurement of how much power it needs. The more
wattage the laptop uses, its battery will drain the quicker. The laptop uses anywhere between 20 and 100 watts
per hour, this can increase to 180 watts per hour for some laptops.
Different needs require different hardware and usage. If we are a serious gamer or plan on using
programs that need high-quality visuals, we can expect the laptop to consume more watts. The easiest way to
get a rough estimate of how many watts does a laptop us is to check its adapter. The adapter will tell us the
maximum power input your laptop can accommodate.
The table below shows wattage of some typical household appliances.
Appliances Wattage (range)
Refrigerator 725
1 Ton Air Conditioner 800 - 1000
Laptop Computer 40-120
Washing Machine 500
Water Heater 4500-5500
Ceiling Fan 150
Iron Box 800-1500
Hair Dryer 1200-1875
The total connected load = Sum of all the individual loads connected
Definition of ‘Unit’ used for consumption of electrical energy:
1 Unit Electricity is the amount of electrical energy consumed by a load of 1 kW power rating in 1
hour. It is basically measurement unit of electrical energy consumption in Joule. 1 kWh (kilo watt hour) and
1 Unit are same. 1 kWh is the amount of energy consumption by 1 kW load in one hour. Therefore, 1 Unit =
1 kWh.
Since,
1 Unit Electricity = 1 kWh
= 1 kW x 1 Hour
= 1000 W x 3600 seconds
= 3.6×106 Joule
Therefore, 1 Unit Electricity is equal to 3.6×106 Joule of electrical energy consumption.
Two Part Tariff
The rate at which electrical energy is supplied to a consumer is known as tariff. Although tariff should
include the total cost of producing and supplying electrical energy plus the profit, yet it cannot be the same
for all types of consumer.
When the rate of electrical energy is charged on the basis of maximum demand of the consumer and
the units consumed, it is called a two-part tariff.
In two-part tariff, the total charge to be made from the consumer is split into two components viz.,
fixed charges and running charges. The fixed charges depend upon the maximum demand of the consumer
while the running charges depend upon the number of units consumed by the consumer. Thus, the consumer
is charged at a certain amount per kW of maximum demand plus a certain amount per kWh of energy
consumed.
i.e. Total charges = Rs (b × kW + c × kWh)
where, b = charge per kW of maximum demand
c = charge per kWh of energy consumed
This type of tariff is mostly applicable to industrial consumers who have appreciable maximum
demand.
Advantages of two-part Tariff:
• It is easily understood by the consumers.
• It recovers the fixed charges which depend upon the maximum demand of the consumer.
• It is independent of the units consumed.
Disadvantages two-part Tariff:
• The consumer has to pay the fixed charges irrespective of energy consumed
• There is always error in assessing the maximum demand of the consumer.
Calculation of electricity bill for domestic consumers:
In the succeeding paragraphs we will discuss some of the factors which determine the cost of
generating electric energy and hence the rates or tariffs of charging for this energy.
The cost is composed of,
a) standing charges which are independent of the output and
b) running or operating charges which are proportional to the output.
Average power demand of an installation during a specific period can be obtained by dividing the
energy consumption of the installation in kWh by the number of hours in the period.
Average power = (kWh consumed in the period) / (hours in the period)
Example 1.
A consumer has the following connected load: 10 lamps of 60W each and two heaters of 1000W each.
His maximum demand is 1500 W. On the average, he uses 8 lamps for 5 hours a day and each heater for 3
hours a day. Each unit is 5 INR. Find his total load, monthly energy consumption and amount of bill.
Solution.
Total connected load = 10 x 60+ 2 x 1000 = 2600W
Daily energy consumption = (8 x 60 x 5) + (2 x 1000 x 3) = 8400 Wh = 8.4kWh
Monthly energy consumption = 8.4 x 30 = 252 kWh
Electricity Bill: 1kWh = 1 unit, therefore 252 kWh = 252 unit.
Each unit cost is 5 INR, total 252 x 5 = 1260 /- INR
Example2:
A consumer has the following load schedule for a day:
From midnight (12pm) to 6 am = 200W; From 6am to 12 noon = 3000W, From 12 noon to 1 pm = 100W;
From 1 pm to 4 pm = 4000W, From 4pm to 9 pm = 2000W; From 9pm to mid night (12pm) = 1000W. Find
the load factor. If the tariff is Rs.10 per KW of max demand plus Rs.2/- per kWh, find the daily bill the
consumer has to pay.
Solution:
Energy consumed per day i.e. in 24 hours =
= (200 x 6) + (3000 x 6) + (100 x 1) + (4000 x 3) + (2000 x 5) +(1000 x 3)
= 44,300Wh
Average Power = 44,300 / 24
= 1846 W
= 1.846 kW
Daily load factor = Average power / max power demand
= 1846 / 4000
= 0.461 or 46.1%
Since max demand = 4kW M.D charge
= 4* 10
= Rs.40/-
Energy consumed = 44.3kWh
Energy charge = 44.3 x 2
= Rs. 88.6/-
Daily bill of the consumer = Rs40 + Rs. 88.6
= Rs. 128.6/-