How to read the kWh usage on your electric bill
The kWh figure on your electric bill is how much electricity your home used in that billing period. It sits next to your meter readings: on most home bills, the current reading minus the previous one equals the kWh used. Look for the month-by-month usage chart too, because a full 12 months, including the summer air-conditioning months, tells you much more than a single bill.
At a glance
Sample bill guide
Electric usage
- Billing periodCheck how many days the bill covers.
- Usage in kWhEnergy used—not the dollar amount.
- Usage historyA full year adds seasonal context.
What a kWh is
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy. Tampa Electric defines it as 1,000 watts used continuously for one hour. So a 100-watt bulb left on for 10 hours uses 1 kWh.
kW (kilowatts) is different. OUC explains that consumption is electricity used over time, while demand is the most you draw from the grid at one time. If your bill shows both, kWh is the usage figure.
Where kWh appears on a Florida bill
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) lists FPL, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric as investor-owned utilities and OUC as a municipal one. For investor-owned utilities, PSC Rule 25-6.100 says each bill must show at least:
- the current meter reading and the date it was read, plus the previous reading
- the kWh used
- your average daily kWh for this period and for the same period last year
- the word "estimated" if the reading was estimated
Where to look (layouts change; your own bill is the final word):
- FPL: the "Meter summary" and the "Energy usage comparison", which includes kWh per day. See FPL's sample bill page and its How to Read your Bill guide.
- Duke Energy Florida: the "usage snapshot" on page 1, with the readings and "Energy Used" further on. See Reading Your Bill and its Florida sample bill.
- Tampa Electric (TECO): Understanding Your Bill explains the terms on its bill, including kWh, the billing period and the "current reading" area.
- OUC: the "Meter Data" section (service, previous read, usage and units) and an average daily usage box. See Understanding My Bill.
These PSC rules cover electric public utilities (Rule 25-6.002), and Florida's definition of "public utility" (s. 366.02, Florida Statutes) leaves out municipalities, so they don't set what goes on OUC's bill. This is general information, not legal advice.
Read dates and billing days
Each bill covers a service period, shown with dates and often a day count. FPL and Tampa Electric both say the number of days can vary with weekends, holidays or a change in the meter-reading date. That is why kWh per day is useful: a 28-day bill and a 33-day bill aren't directly comparable.
FPL's sample lists the next scheduled meter reading; Duke's sample puts it on page 2. Under PSC Rule 25-6.093, an investor-owned utility must tell you your billing cycle and approximate meter-reading date if you ask.
Tampa Electric says "estimated" means it couldn't read the meter on the reading date; it reads the meter the next month and adjusts the bill.
The usage history chart
- FPL: in FPL's sample, the "Energy usage history" chart shows monthly kWh for the last 13 months.
- Duke Energy Florida: the usage snapshot graphs a year of monthly usage with average outdoor temperatures, compares this month with the same month last year and, where available, gives a 12-month total.
- OUC: "Consumption History" graphs, often on the back of a one-page bill.
- Tampa Electric: the online Interactive Bill shows daily, monthly and yearly usage, with temperature data.
Why 12 months matters
The U.S. Energy Information Administration says home electricity use swings with the seasons, mainly because of summer air conditioning, and typically peaks in July and August. It also says air conditioning used nearly a fifth of U.S. home electricity in 2020.
A bill from a mild month can make your year look light; an August bill alone can make it look heavy. Twelve months shows the whole cycle in your own numbers. Mention any big change at home, like a new appliance, at your consultation.
Short on history? Rule 25-6.093 also says an investor-owned utility must, on request and no more than once a calendar year, give you a statement of your actual consumption for each billing period in the previous 12 months.
Getting your usage online
- FPL: the Energy Dashboard has Monthly, Daily and Hourly tabs and a billing-cycle view.
- Duke Energy Florida: after signing in, "Energy Usage" shows use from monthly down to the half hour, with a comparison to last year (how it works). Paperless billing keeps up to 24 months of bills online.
- Tampa Electric: sign in and pick a billing period to open the Interactive Bill. Paperless billing lets you view and download bills.
- OUC: residential electric customers can select "View Usage" on the myOUC Account Summary page to open the Usage Dashboard.
Sending your bill before a consultation
When you book with Terra Green Solar, you can add a PDF or a photo of the first page of a recent electric bill. It's optional, and it helps the consultant prepare. We don't need your account number, so feel free to cover it.
Book a free 30-minute online consultation, by video call or phone. No commitment.