The wattage of appliances and equipment as well as the amount of operating time can vary greatly. Collecting the information in these tables will show you how to determine where the energy dollars are going in your home or farm.

HOW TO ESTIMATE ENERGY USE & COST

STEP 1
Since the cost of electricity is determined by the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) used during a billing period, the first step is to determine your average cost per kWh.

The average cost per kWh is computed this way:
Average Cost per kWh=$ amount of bill/Total kWh used.
(Example: $0.11 = $110/1,000 kWh)

STEP 2
Since the wattage of an appliance (equipment) determines the electrical usage per hour, the second step is to determine the wattage.

The wattage of an appliance is found on the nameplate. But it is possible that the electrical requirements will be expressed in volts and amperes, rather than watts. If so, multiply volts times amperes to obtain the wattage.

STEP 3
Use the formula shown in this example to estimate usage.

A light uses 100 watts and is on for 15 hours. Compute the usage as follows:
kWh = (100 watts X 15 hours)/ 1000 watts = 1.5 kWh.

STEP 4
To find your daily cost for electricity, divide your bill by the number of days in the month.

Equipment

Average kWh Use*

Comments

Estimated kWh/Month

Barn Cleaner

120 annually

 

 

Barn Lighting

60/month

 

 

Barn Ventilation (approx.)

2 ½/cow/month

 

 

Clipper

1/10 hours of Use

 

 

Dairy Water Heater

1/3.6 gallons

Heated from 50° to 165° @ 100% efficiency

 

Engine Heater (truck or tractor)

1-2/hour

1000 to 2000 watts

 

Fence

7/month

 

 

Grain Dryer (no heat)

1/bushel

Varies with weather & moisture to be removed

 

(heated with electric heat)

2/bushel

 

Grain Elevator

4/1000 bushel

 

 

Grain Grinder

.2/100 pounds

 

 

Incubator

1/25 eggs set

 

 

Milking Machine (portable)

1 ½/cow/month

 

 

Milking Machine (pipeline)

1 ½/cow/month

 

 

Milk Cooler (can)

1/10 gallons

¼ to 5 H.P.

 

Milk Cooler (bulk)

11/100 gallons

½ to 7 ½ H.P.

 

Motor

1/H.P./hour

sizes ½ to 10 H.P.

 

Poultry House (incandescent)

6/100 birds/month

 

 

Poultry House (fluorescent)

2/100 birds/month

 

 

Poultry Water Warmer

1/day

 

 

Silo Unloader (grass)

4/ton

3 to 5 H.P.

 

Silo Unloader (corn)

2 ½/ton

3 to 5 H.P.

 

Tool Grinder

½/hour of use

 

 

Water Pump (deep well)

1 ½/1000 gallons

rate: 8 gallons/min.

 

Water Pump (shallow well)

1/1000 gallons

rate: 8 gallons/min.

 

Water Stock Tank Heater –Hog

193/season

sheltered area

 

Water Stock Tank Heater-Cattle

193/season

in barn

 

Water Stock Tank Heater-Cattle

469/season

open shed

 

Cattle-Hog Combination

535/season

open shed

 

Cattle-Hog Combination

1208/season

open lot

 

Welder

100/year

variable

 

Yard Lighting (dusk to dawn)

 

 

 

70 Watt Sodium Vapor

31/month

 

 

100 Watt Sodium Vapor

47/month

 

 

175 Watt Mercury Vapor

73/month

 

 

250 Watt Mercury or Sodium Vapor

105/month

 

 

400 Watt Mercury or Sodium Vapor

161/month

 

 

 

 

Farm Total:

 

* The average monthly kilowatt-hour consumption figures shown on this chart are based on normal use. Your electrical consumption may be higher or lower, depending on how you and other people in your home or on your farm use the various appliances and equipment and on the season of the year.

If you have questions on this, or any of our energy services programs, please contact our Director of Energy Services at extension 3116.