Cost of Operating Home AppliancesMany people are not aware of the costfor using electric appliances in theirhomes. The Cost of Operating HomeAppliances is designed to give you infor-mation about how much energy yourhousehold appliances use and howmuch they cost to operate each month.The figures represent average energyconsumption. THE FIGURES AREONLY ESTIMATES. Actual energy con-sumption of your appliances and equip-ment will vary depending on the size ofyour family, the age and size of a partic-ular appliance, how often it is used, andhow the appliance was engineered.

Definitions of energy useterms

Kilowatt - A kilowatt (kW) is a unit ofelectrical energy equal to 1,000 watts.

Kilowatt-Hour - A kilowatt-hour (kWh)is a unit of electrical energy equal to onekilowatt flowing for one hour. For

example, ten 100-watt light bulbs burn-ing for one hour would use one kWh ofelectrical energy. A kilowatt-hour is thestandard unit of electricity shown onyour electric bill.

CCF - This abbreviation stands for 100cubic feet. It is a standard measurementof gas quantity.

Kilowatt - A kilowatt (kW) is a unit ofelectrical energy equal to 1,000 watts.

Kilowatt-Hour - A kilowatt-hour (kWh)is a unit of electrical energy equal to onekilowatt flowing for one hour. Forexample, ten 100-watt light bulbs burn-ing for one hour would use one kWh ofelectrical energy. A kilowatt-hour is thestandard unit of electricity shown onyour electric bill.

CCF - This abbreviation stands for 100cubic feet. It is a standard measurementof gas quantity.

Figuring electric applianceoperating costsCalculating the cost of operation for appli-ances can be quite easy. Just use theappropriate formula below.

Find the wattage of the appliance. It willprobably be stamped on a metal plate orin the plastic covering somewhere on theback or bottom of the appliance. Dividethe wattage by 1,000 (or multiply by .001)to get the kilowatts used per hour.Multiply this by your rate per kilowatt-hour (for example, $ .125) and by thenumber of hours you use the appliance.

This will give you the operating cost.

Cost of operation per month =(Watts/1000) x (rate/kWh) x

(hours used per month)or

Cost of operation per month =(Watts x .001) x (rate/kWh) x

(hours used per month)

Some appliances—such as your oven,dehumidifier, furnace fan and refrigera-tor—cycle on and off automatically,using energy only part of the time theyare turned on. To figure your monthlycost, you will have to estimate theamount of time the appliance is actuallyusing energy.

For example: If your refrigerator rated at610 watts is on 24 hours a day (720hours per month) but you estimate thatit only runs 40% of the time, then themonthly cost is as follows: (610W) x(.001) x ($ .125/kWh) x (720) x (.40)= $21.96 per month to operate therefrigerator.

Wattage isn’t shown on some appli-ances—only amps and volts. The ampsfigure is usually stamped on the bottomor back of the appliance. Most appli-ances that are plugged into a regularwall outlet take 120 volts. Since watts= amps x volts, we can substitute anduse the same formula to calculate oper-ating costs.

Cost of operation per month = (amps)x (volts) x (rate/kWh) x (hours used

per month) x (.001)

For National Grid’s Residential Customers in New York

Cost of operating home appliancesMost homes have a number of appliances that are major energy users that typicallyoffer the greatest opportunity for energy efficiency and cost saving. For ease of identi-fication, these are highlighted.

Certain appliances or equipment (such as swimming pools, ceramic kilns, multipleheat tapes or winter auto engine block heaters) can lead to high consumption as well.Some of this consumption can be controlled through the use of timers or more effi-cient equipment.

Laundry and water heatingLike dishwashers, about 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes intoheating the water. Most home laundry can be washed successfully in warm or coldwater. Using cooler water can bring significant energy savings.

Dryers work by heating and aerating clothes. Energy-efficient units have a sensingmechanism that determines dryness and turns off automatically. All dryers shouldbe vented to the outdoors. Venting them into the house adds harmful dust, lint andmoisture to the air and can actually lengthen the drying time.

Average Cost per Typical kWh per Month @Wattage Month .125/kWh

Laundry and Water HeatingWWaatteerr HHeeaatteerr 4500 442 $55.25(52 Gallon)CCllootthheess DDrryyeerr 4350-5500 *variable *variable(average 5 kWh per load)CCllootthheess WWaasshheerr 500 *variable *variable(Not counting hot water averages .5 kWh per load)CCllootthheess WWaasshheerr 500 *variable *variable(with electric hot water averages 3.4 kWh per load)HHoott TTuubb//SSppaa 1500-4000 191 $22.90-25.09IIrroonn 1100 1-12 $.13-$1.50

Heating and CoolingAAiirr CCoonnddiittiioonneerr**** (on 75% time - 7 hours per day)

Central-24,000 Btu *variable 708 $88.50Room-5,000 Btu 700 110 $13.75Room-7,000 Btu 933 147 $18.38Room-10,000 Btu 1400 221 $27.62

AAuuttoo EEnnggiinnee HHeeaatteerr (dipstick type) 500 90 $11.25AAuuttoo EEnnggiinnee HHeeaatteerr 1000 180 $22.50(radiator hose type)DDeehhuummiiddiiffiieerr 300-500 108-180 $13.50-$22.50(12 hrs. per day)EElleeccttrriicc BBllaannkkeett (4 hours per day) 150-200 21 $2.63-$3.FFaannss (7 hrs. per day)

Box/Window 200 42 $5.25Table 100 21 $2.63Ceiling, no light 55 12 $1.50Attic 500 105 $13.13

HHeeaattiinngg CCaabbllee**Water pipes (24 ft.) 200 144 $18.Roof/Gutter (60 ft.) 500 15 $1.88

HHeeaattiinngg SSyysstteemm FFaann//BBlloowweerr MMoottoorr (8 hrs. per day)1/2 H.P. 375 90 $11.251/3 H.P. 250 60 $7.501/4 H.P. 188 45 $5.63Burner Motor 210 60 $7.50Hot Water

Circulating Pump 105 30 $3.75HHuummiiddiiffiieerr 200 40 $5.PPoorrttaabbllee SSppaaccee HHeeaatteerr (2.5 hrs. per day) 500-1500 30-90 $3.75-$11.25SSwwiimmmmiinngg PPooooll PPuummpp//FFiilltteerrss (12 hrs. per day) 400-1400 144-504 $18.-$63.

NOTES: Monthly kWh use and operating costs have been rounded for easy reference.

*Variable: Individuals will want to calculate their own kWh per month consumption. For Laundry: (loads permonth) x (kWh per load) = average kWh use per month. For other appliances and lights: (watts) x (hours permonth) x (.001) = kWh per month.

**Appliance is thermostatically controlled and uses energy only a portion of the time that it is on.

Electric Appliances

Kitchen appliances The modern kitchen has a wide variety ofenergy-consuming devices used forpreparing and preserving food and forcleaning up. The biggest energy users areoften refrigerators and freezers—they arein use all the time. Older models typicallycost between $90 and $350 a year to run!Fortunately, manufacturers havedesigned better controls, improved doorseals and efficient compressors andmotors. This means that a new genera-tion of high-efficiency refrigerators isnow available and affordable. Typically,the yearly energy cost of a new refrigera-tor is in the range of $60 to $80. Andrefrigerators rated with the Energy Star®label can help you find the best energybuy for your money.

The following range of monthly kWhuse for refrigerators and freezers usesestimates of data for both old and newmodels.

There is a wide range of efficiencies inother major kitchen appliances—muchof which depends on personal choicesand habits. Equipment such as blenders,mixers, coffee makers, microwaves andelectric frying pans offers convenienceand saves human energy. In someinstances, such as using an electric toast-er oven or microwave rather than a largerange, they also save fuel, energy andmoney.

Most of the energy used by dishwashersgoes toward heating the water. Modelsthat use less water are more efficient.Hot water is necessary for dishwashers,but letting the dishes air dry instead ofusing the drying cycles can save signifi-cant energy as well.

Average Cost per Typical kWh per Month @Wattage Month .125/kWh

Kitchen AppliancesBBrrooiilleerr 1200 8 $1. CCaarrvviinngg KKnniiffee 100 1 $.13CCooffffeeee MMaakkeerr 1100 9 $1.13CCoorrnn PPooppppeerr (oil and hot air) 575-1400 1 $.13DDeeeepp FFaatt FFrryyeerr 600-1500 1-7 $.13-$ .88DDiisshhwwaasshheerr (30 loads per month)Washing Cycle 200 5 $ .63Drying Cycle 1000 25 $3.13HHeeaattiinngg WWaatteerr bbyy EElleeccttrriicciittyy 800 100 $12.50FFoooodd PPrroocceessssoorr 360 1 $ .13FFrreeeezzeerr--MMaannuuaall DDeeffrroosstt** (12-15 cubic feet on 40% time) 225-350 65-101 $8.13-$12.63FFrroossttlleessss** (12-15 cubic feet on 45% time) 345-440 112-143 $14.-17.88FFrryyiinngg PPaann 1200 8 $1.HHoott PPllaattee 1200 8 $1.MMiiccrroowwaavvee OOvveenn (with browning element 10 min. per day) 1700 9 $1.13MMiiccrroowwaavvee OOvveenn (no browning element 10 min. per day) 1450 7 $ .88RRaannggee** Surface Burner (30 min. per day) 1600 24 $3.OOvveenn** (30 min. per day) 3200-5000 48 $6.RReeffrriiggeerraattoorr//FFrreeeezzeerr--FFrroossttlleessss** (on 40% time)14 cubic feet 505-615 145-177 $18.13-$22.1317 cubic feet 400-665 115-192 $14.38-$24.18-21 cubic feet (side by side) 500-763 144-220 $18.-$27.5021 cubic feet 750 216 $27.RReeffrriiggeerraattoorr//FFrreeeezzeerr--MMaannuuaall** (on 60% time)12 cubic feet (no freezer) 225-300 97-130 $12.13-$16.2514 cubic feet 330 143 $17.82RRoottiisssseerriiee 1400 6 $.75SSllooww CCooookkeerr (low & high settings) 125-250 5-10 $.63-$1.25TTeeaa KKeettttllee 1500 6 $ .75TTooaasstteerr 1100-1400 3-4 $.38-$.50TTooaasstteerr OOvveenn 1350-1500 2-12 $.25-$1.50TTrraasshh CCoommppaaccttoorr 400 4 $ .50

Health, Beauty, Comfort AppliancesAAiirr CClleeaanneerr,, eelleeccttrroossttaattiicc 50 36 $4.50HHaaiirr DDrryyeerr,, hhaanndd hheelldd 600-1200 1-10 $ .13-$1.25HHaaiirr SSeetttteerr,, ccuurrlleerrss 350 1 $.13SSuunn LLaammpp 300 1 $.13TTooootthh CClleeaanneerr,, ppuullssaattiinngg wwaatteerr 100 2 $ .25VVaappoorriizzeerr 480-750 1-3 $.13-$.38WWaatteerrbbeedd HHeeaatteerr** 375 75-166 $9.38-$20.75

Home EntertainmentRRaaddiioo oorr SStteerreeoo 75 10 $1.25TTeelleevviissiioonn (6 hours per day) Color (solid state and tube) 165-275 30-50 $3.75-$6.25VViiddeeoo CCaasssseettttee RReeccoorrddeerr ((VVCCRR)) 165-275 30-50 $.25-$.50VViiddeeoo GGaammee aanndd TTVV 200 12 $1.50

Home Office (range includes standby, warm-up and operating usage)AAnnsswweerriinngg MMaacchhiinnee 20 5 $ .63CCooppiieerr (small to medium, 1,000 copies per month) 100-1500 31-44 $3.88-$5.50CCoommppuutteerr (with disk drive and monitor) 150-350 1-10 $.13-$1.25IInnkkjjeett PPrriinntteerrss 3-180 **variableLLaasseerr PPrriinntteerr 36-800 **variableFFaaxx MMaacchhiinnee

Thermal Paper 15-175 **variableLaser 15-500 **variable

Home Workshop, Crafts and HobbiesKKiillnn--cceerraammiicc 5000 200 $25.PPoowweerr TToooollss

Bench Grinder 600 6 $ .75Circular Saw 1000 10 $1.25Drill 400 4 $ .50Saber Saw 400 4 $ .50Sander-belt & disc 300-600 3-6 $ .38-$ .75Soldering Gun 600 6 $ .75

SSeewwiinngg MMaacchhiinnee 115 1 $ .13

NOTES: Monthly kWh use and operating costs have been rounded for easy reference.

*Appliance is thermostatically controlled and uses energy only a portion of the time that it is on.

**Variable: Individuals will want to calculate their own kWh per month consumption.

Appliances such as Can Opener, Toothbrush, Shaver, Heating Pad, Curling Iron, Mixer and GarbageDisposal use energy only a portion of the time that they are on.

Electric Appliances

National Grid300 Erie Boulevard WestSyracuse, NY 132021-800-642-4272www.nationalgrid.com

National Grid, through the transmis-sion and distribution of electricityand natural gas, serves close to 4 million customers across 29,000square miles of Massachusetts,New Hampshire, New York andRhode Island. Its parent company,National Grid plc, is an internationalenergy delivery business located inthe U.K. with principal activities inthe regulated electricity and naturalgas industries.

NY0020 12/05

Average Cost per Typical kWh per Month @Wattage Month .125/kWh

AAllaarrmm,, sseeccuurriittyy oorr ffiirree 20 14 $1.75BBuugg KKiilllleerr 40 12 $1.50CChhaarrccooaall SSttaarrtteerr 500 1 $ .13CClloocckk 2 2 $ .25EElleeccttrriicc FFeennccee 10 7 $ .88FFiisshh TTaannkk ((5500 ggaall..))

Filter 6 4 $ .50Heater (12 hrs. per day) 200 36 $4.50Light (12 hrs. per day) 30 11 $1.38

HHeeddggee CClliippppeerrss 300 1 $ .13LLaawwnn MMoowweerr 3000 15 $1.88MMoottoorr ((11 HH..PP..)) 766 15 $1.88SSuummpp PPuummpp 500 10 $1.25VVaaccuuuumm CClleeaanneerr RReegguullaarr (1 hour per week) 650 3 $ .38VVaaccuuuumm CClleeaanneerr CCeennttrraall (1 hour per week) 800 3 $ .38WWaatteerr PPuummpp 455 20 $2.50WWeeeedd TTrriimmmmeerr 525 3 $ .38

Electric Appliances

LightingLight output from incandescent or fluorescent light sources is measured in lumens.The more lumens per watt, the better the energy efficiency of the bulb. Comparelumen ratings on the packages to achieve the amount of light you need at the leastenergy consumption.

Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs typically produce three to fivetimes as much light as incandescent bulbs of the same wattage. This makes them a“best buy” for conserving energy and money.

For example, a 13-watt fluorescent bulb provides the same lumens as a 60-wattincandescent, and though it costs more initially, it uses much less energy to operateit and it will last nearly ten times as long.

Cost per Month @

Wattage .125/kWh

Lighting (bulbs, tubes, compact globes, circles, etc.)FFlluuoorreesscceenntt (on 4 hrs. per day)

9 watt 9 $ .1413 watt 13 $ .2022 watt 22 $ .3332 watt 32 $ .4840 watt 40 $ .60

SSttaannddaarrdd IInnccaannddeesscceenntt BBuullbbss (on 4 hrs. per day)

7.5 watt (holiday lights, chandeliers, etc.) 7.5 $ .1240 watt 40 $ .6060 watt 60 $ .9075 watt 75 $1.13100 watt 100 $1.50150 watt 150 $2.25

Electric Appliances

Gas ApplianceTo figure the cost of operation for a gasappliance, divide the Btu rating by100,000 to find the number of thermsused in 1 hour of operation. Multiplythis by the number of hours the appli-ance is used per month, and the rate pertherm (found on your current bill, oruse the sample cost per therm in chartbelow) to find:

Cost of Operation = (Btu rating/100,000) x (hours per month) x

(rate per therm)

Average Cost per Therms Month @ $1.00

per Month per Therm

DDiisshhwwaasshheerr(gas to heat water-15 gallons per use)

9 $9.

CCllootthheess DDrryyeerr(25 loads per month) 3 $3.

RRaannggeeSurface Burner(9,000 Btuh input, 30 min. per day)

2.7 $2.70

OOvveenn(30,000 Btuh input, 30 min. per day)

4.6 $4.60

WWaatteerr HHeeaatteerr--4400 ggaalllloonn 24 $24.

NOTE: Monthly kWh use, average therms and oper-ating costs have been rounded for easy reference.

For current National Grid prices

for electricity (cost per kWh) and

natural gas (cost per therm),

call 1-800-642-4272 or visit

www.nationalgrid.com. Click on

nationalgrid billing & rates.