Calculating electricity consumption for an appliance is a single multiplication: watts × hours of use ÷ 1,000 = kWh. Then, to know the cost, multiply those kWh by the energy price. With the BT1 residential tariff of CGE for October 2026, CLP 255.27 per kWh, a 1,500 W heater running 2 hours a day uses 90 kWh a month and costs about CLP 22,974.
This guide explains the formula step by step, how to find each appliance's wattage, a table with the consumption and cost of 12 common appliances in Chile, how to calculate the whole home's use and why the result almost never matches the bill exactly.
View the data as a table
| Watts × hours ÷ 1,000 | 1 kWh |
| kWh price (CGE, BT1) | $255.27 |
| 1,500 W heater, 2 h/day | $22,974 a month |
| CNE typical household | 180 kWh/month |
The formula to calculate electricity consumption
The energy an appliance uses depends on two things: its power, measured in watts (W), and the time it runs. The electricity bill charges energy in kilowatt-hours (kWh): one kWh is the energy a 1,000 W appliance uses in one hour.
- Step 1, hourly use: watts ÷ 1,000 = kWh per hour. A 1,500 W heater uses 1.5 kWh per hour.
- Step 2, daily use: kWh per hour × hours a day. With 2 hours, 3 kWh a day.
- Step 3, monthly use: daily kWh × 30. That is 90 kWh a month.
- Step 4, cost: kWh × price per kWh. At CLP 255.27, that is CLP 22,974 a month.
If the appliance shows amps instead of watts, convert by multiplying by Chile's grid voltage, 220 V: a 5 A device draws about 1,100 W. And if what you have is the annual consumption from the efficiency label, divide by 12 to get the monthly figure.
| Step | Formula | Example: 1,500 W heater, 2 h a day |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly use | W ÷ 1,000 | 1,500 ÷ 1,000 = 1.5 kWh |
| Daily use | kWh/h × hours | 1.5 × 2 = 3 kWh |
| Monthly use | kWh/day × 30 | 3 × 30 = 90 kWh |
| Monthly cost | kWh × CLP/kWh | 90 × 255.27 = CLP 22,974 |
| Hourly cost | kWh/h × CLP/kWh | 1.5 × 255.27 = CLP 383 |
Price source: CGE, supply tariffs in force from October 1, 2026, BT1 tariff, base tier, excluding the fixed charge. It is the latest tariff sheet we could download as of November 13; the price varies by distributor and municipality, as shown in the kWh price in Chile by municipality.
Where to find each appliance's wattage
Power is on the rating plate, a sticker or engraved label on the back or bottom of the device, or on the charger. It also appears in the manual and on the store's product page. For refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and TVs, Chile's mandatory energy efficiency label gives consumption directly in kWh, per year or per cycle; how to read it is explained in our guide to inverter air conditioners and their label.
Watch out for three traps. First, maximum power is not actual use: a refrigerator or inverter air conditioner runs in cycles and uses less most of the time. Second, standby adds up even when the device is off. Third, appliances with thermostats, such as kettles, irons and heaters, switch on and off by themselves. In these cases, the most accurate option is to measure with an electricity usage meter.
Electricity consumption table for household appliances
The table brings together the consumption of 12 common appliances, calculated with the same formula and with data from spec sheets and labels compiled in Energía Futura's guides. Cost uses the kWh at CLP 255.27.
| Appliance | Power or consumption | Assumed use | kWh a month | Cost a month (CLP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 25 to 60 kWh/month (label) | All day | 25 to 60 | 6,400 to 15,300 |
| Electric heater | 1,500 W | 2 h a day | 90 | 22,974 |
| 12,000 BTU inverter AC | ~1.09 kW at full load | 4 h a day | ~131 | ~33,400 |
| Electric shower | 5,500 to 7,500 W | 8 min a day | 22 to 30 | 5,600 to 7,700 |
| Gaming PC | ~300 W while gaming | 3 h a day | 27 | ~6,900 |
| 55” LED TV | 63 to 84 W | 4 h a day | 7.6 to 10 | 1,930 to 2,570 |
| Washing machine | 0.3 to 1.5 kWh per load | 14 loads | 4.2 to 21 | 1,072 to 5,361 |
| Microwave | ~1,200 W | 15 min a day | 9.5 | ~2,400 |
| Kettle | ~0.11 kWh per litre | 2 litres a day | 6.6 | ~1,700 |
| Wi-Fi router | 5 to 10 W | All day | 3.6 to 7.2 | 919 to 1,838 |
| Hair dryer | 2,000 W | 10 min a day | 10 | ~2,550 |
| LED bulb | 9 W | 5 h a day | 1.35 | ~345 |
Sources: spec sheets and labels compiled in Energía Futura's guides on each appliance (refrigerator, inverter AC, electric shower, computer, TV, washing machine, microwave, kettle, router and hair dryer), with Solotodo listings and efficiency labels; the kWh price is CGE's for October 2026. The assumed uses are examples: adjust the hours to your case.
| 1,500 W electric heater (2 h/day) | 90.0 | 22,974 |
| 12,000 BTU inverter AC (4 h/day) | 130.8 | 33,389 |
| Refrigerator (all day) | 42.5 | 10,849 |
| Electric shower (8 min/day) | 26.0 | 6,637 |
| Gaming PC (3 h/day) | 27.0 | 6,892 |
| Washing machine (14 loads) | 12.6 | 3,216 |
| Hair dryer (10 min/day) | 10.0 | 2,553 |
| Microwave (15 min/day) | 9.5 | 2,425 |
| 55" LED TV (4 h/day) | 8.8 | 2,246 |
| Kettle (2 litres/day) | 6.6 | 1,685 |
| Wi-Fi router (all day) | 5.4 | 1,378 |
| 9 W LED bulb (5 h/day) | 1.4 | 345 |
Do you sell efficient appliances or energy-saving solutions? Reach Energía Futura's readers.
See advertising optionsHow to calculate the whole home's electricity consumption
There are two ways. The first is to add up appliance by appliance with the formula: list your devices, their watts and hours of use, calculate each one's kWh and add them up. The second is to read the bill: the month's consumption appears in kWh, and many bills show a chart of recent months. If your list falls far below the bill, some appliance uses more than you think, or there is a problem in the wiring.
As a reference, Chile's National Energy Commission uses 180 kWh a month as a typical household, equivalent to about 250 watts running continuously. The breakdown by home size is in how much electricity a home in Chile uses each month.
| Monthly consumption | Energy (kWh × CLP 255.27) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 100 kWh | CLP 25,527 | Small apartment, one or two people |
| 180 kWh | CLP 45,949 | CNE typical household |
| 250 kWh | CLP 63,818 | Family with an electric heater or air conditioning |
| 350 kWh | CLP 89,345 | Above this level the public service charge rises |
| 500 kWh | CLP 127,635 | Large house with electric heating |
Source: Energía Futura calculation with CGE's October 2026 kWh price. The actual bill also adds the monthly fixed charge. Above 350 kWh a month, the Tariff Stabilization Fund component is added to the public service charge, according to CNE Exempt Resolution No. 722 of 2025.
A complete example with the table above: a family with a refrigerator (42.5 kWh), TV (8.8), washing machine (12.6), microwave (9.5), kettle (6.6), router (5.4) and eight 9 W LED bulbs on 5 hours a day (10.8) adds up to about 96 kWh a month, about CLP 24,600 in energy. If in winter it adds a 1,500 W electric heater two hours a day, consumption rises to 186 kWh and the cost to about CLP 47,500: the heater alone nearly doubles the bill.
Why the calculation does not match the bill
- Cycles: refrigerators, air conditioners and thermostat heaters do not draw maximum power all the time.
- Standby: TVs, set-top boxes, microwaves and chargers add consumption even when off.
- Reading period: the bill does not always cover exactly 30 days.
- Tariff: the price per kWh varies by distributor, municipality and the six-monthly price settings.
- Extra charges: the fixed charge and, above 350 kWh, the Stabilization Fund charge.
With the calculation done, it is easy to see where to save: appliances that heat, such as heaters, electric showers, kettles and hair dryers, and those that run all day, such as the refrigerator. Small always-on devices add up too, as shown in how much a Wi-Fi router costs to run.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate an appliance's electricity consumption?
Watts × hours of use ÷ 1,000 = kWh. For example, 1,500 W for 2 hours is 3 kWh.
How do I calculate what an appliance costs in pesos?
Multiply the kWh by the kWh price on your bill. At CLP 255.27 per kWh, 3 kWh cost about CLP 766.
How many kWh does a home in Chile use?
The CNE uses 180 kWh a month as a typical household, about CLP 45,949 in energy at CLP 255.27 per kWh, plus the fixed charge.
How do I convert amps to watts?
Multiply amps by voltage: in Chile, 220 V. A 10 A device draws about 2,200 W.
Which appliance uses the most electricity in a home?
Those that produce heat: electric heaters, electric showers, water heaters and air conditioners. Because it runs all the time, the refrigerator is often the biggest consumer over a year.
