Electricity usage calculator

Estimate how much electricity your home uses — then see which loads dominate the bill and what to do about them.

Your home

Utility, size, and the loads that actually move the bill.

Electric utility

People in the home2

Home size1,800 sq ft

Space heating

Water heating

Other major loads

Estimated electricity use

7,220 kWh/ year

About 602 kWh/month in a mixed climate (North Carolina). Estimated bill: $97/month including typical connection charges.

Monthly use

602 kWh

Bought from the grid

7,220 kWh

Est. annual cost

$1,166

Biggest energy loadsShare

Everything else3,980 kWh55%

Cooling3,240 kWh45%

See what you could save View Duke Energy Progress rates

Planning assumptions

This is a planning estimate, not a bill. Heating and cooling scale with home size and a mixed climate factor for North Carolina. EV charging uses vehicle efficiency and 90% wall-to-battery losses. "Everything else" covers lighting, cooking, laundry, and plug loads. Cost uses Duke Energy Progress's standard residential midpoint, with time-varying rates only in the EV opportunity estimate. Solar self-consumption is modeled at 60%. Confirm with your bill when you have one.

How usage is estimated

Most calculators give one national average. This one adds up major loads: baseline household use from size and occupants, climate-adjusted heating and cooling, water heating, pool, and home EV charging. If you have solar, production is estimated separately so consumption and grid purchases stay distinct.

Frequently asked questions

How much electricity does a typical home use?

U.S. homes vary widely. A gas-heated apartment might use a few hundred kWh per month, while an EV household with a heat pump can exceed 1,000 kWh. This calculator builds usage from home size, occupants, climate, and major electric loads instead of using a national average.

Does an EV really use that much electricity?

Often yes. A typical EV driven 12,000 miles per year and charged mostly at home can add roughly 3,000–4,500 kWh per year — enough to become the largest single load in many households. That is why the rate you charge on matters so much.

Is this the same as my utility bill?

No. The calculator estimates energy use and a planning cost from published utility rates plus typical connection charges. Actual bills include taxes, riders, seasonality, and your real thermostat and driving habits.

Does solar reduce how much electricity I use?

Solar reduces how much you buy from the grid. The home still consumes the same kilowatt-hours. The calculator shows both total use and remaining grid purchases so those two numbers are not confused.

Is this financial advice?

No. It is a planning estimate with transparent assumptions. Use it to understand load mix and likely next steps, then confirm with your bill, tariff, and a personalized Gleam profile.