Question 1

How do I find an appliance's wattage?

Accepted Answer

Look at the label on the back or underside, or the manual. It is given in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW); 1 kW is 1,000 W. If only amps and volts are shown, multiply them to get watts.

Question 2

Why is my actual bill higher than this?

Accepted Answer

Two common reasons. Many places use tiered pricing, where the rate rises once you pass a monthly threshold, and appliances such as air conditioners draw more power when starting up or working against a large temperature difference.

Question 3

Do devices on standby cost anything?

Accepted Answer

A little. A typical set-top box or games console draws 1–10 W on standby, which is a few units of electricity a month per device — small individually, but noticeable across a whole house.