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  • Typical running costs for household appliances

Typical running costs for household appliances

Here's a helpful list of what it costs to run various household appliances in different parts of your home.

How are running costs worked out?

The amount of power an appliance uses is determined by its wattage. 1000 watts equal a kilowatt. 

When you run a 1000 watt appliance for one hour, you use one unit (kilowatt hour) of electricity. One unit of electricity will run a 2000 watt plug in heater for 30 minutes or a 100 watt bulb for 10 hours. 

The following sets out approximate running costs based on an average energy retailer tariff as at February 1, 2017. All prices include GST.

Approximate net running costs

Household 24 hour use - 32 cents kW/h

Standard controlled - 21 cents kW/h

Kitchen

Jug1 litre for 4 cents
Toaster2 slices for 0.9 cents
Slow cooker1 hour on low for 3.5 cents
Cake mixer1 hour's use for 7.2 cents
Rangehood and extractor fan1 hour's use for 4.8 cents
Oven on standard bake1 chicken for 38.4 cents
1 batch of scones for 29 cents 
1 casserole for 42 cents
Oven on fan bake3 trays of scones for 32 cents
1 complete meal (meat loaf, baked potatoes and apple crumble) for 44.5 cents
Microwave oven1 chicken for 28.8 cents
1 casserole 14.8 cents
Mini oven1 casserole 25.9 cents
1 batch of scones for 8.2 cents
Electric frypan1 roast and vegetables 33 cents
1 batch of scones for 8.2 cents
Toasted sandwich maker2 toasted sandwiches 1.9 cents
Coffee maker1 10 c demi tasse coffee 4.2 cents
Dehydrator8 hour's use for 112 cents
Breadmaker (550w)1 loaf for 8.6 cents

Laundry

Washing machine1 cold wash for 5.6 cents
1 hot/cold wash for 126.2 cents
1 warm/cold wash for 45.8 cents
Drier1 hour for 64 cents
Iron1 hour for 19.2 cents

Lights

60 watt 5 hours use for 9.6 cents
100 watt 5 hours use for 16 cents
1200mm fluorescent5 hours use for 9.6 cents
Compact fluorescent (100 watt equivalent)5 hours use for 4.8 cents

Living room

Television set 5 hours use for 20-70 cents
Video 2 hours use for 5.1 cents
Radio 5 hours use for 4.8 cents
Stereo system5 hours use for 12.8 cents

Sundry appliances

Pool filter pump (1kW) 2 hours use for 64 cents
Ceiling fan 5 hours use for 12 cents
Single electric blanket 1 winter week for 25.2 cents
Dehumidifier (350w) 1 hours use for 11.2 cents
Double water bed 1 winter week for 10.75 dollars
Vacuum cleaner 1 hours use for 32 cents
Bathroom extractor fan1 hours use for 1.3 cents

Refrigeration

Frost free fridge freezer 380 litre1 day for 99.9 cents
Cyclic fridge freezer 380 litre1 day for 80 cents
Chest freezer 160 litre1 day for 32 cents
Single door freezer 160 litre1 day for 41.6 cents
Chest freezer 500 litre1 day for 57.6 cents

Heating

Heater 2.4kW1 hour's use for 76.8 cents
Heater 1 kW1 hour's use for 32 cents
Towel rail 90W1 day for 69.1 cents

Study / work room

Home computer1 hour's use for 5 cents
Computer printer1 hour's use for 2.1 cents
Sewing machine1 hour's use for 2.7 cents
Overlocker1 hour's use for 3.2 cents

Water heating

Electricity used by hot water cylinders will vary according to the cylinder size, amount of hot water used, thermostat setting, temperature of the incoming water temperature and insulation of the cylinder.

Typical family1 day $2.28
Bath - 1 bath costs approx $1.05
Shower - mains pressure7 minute shower for 77.7 cents
Shower - mains pressure, energy efficient shower head7 minute shower for 17.2 cents
Shower - low pressure7 minute shower for 16.6 cents
Shower - low pressure, energy efficient shower head 7 minute shower for 9.6 cents
Dishes1 sink full for around 12 cents
Dishwasher1 load for around 45.4 cents


Aerated sewerage system

Average daily running cost96 cents

Spa pools

The cost of running spa pools will vary according to pool size, thermostat setting, insulation, heating element size, usage and electricity tariff. Please feel free to discuss your individual requirements with one of our staff.

Get in touch

If you need any further help or advice on the costs of running appliances, we're happy to help.

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