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Energy Usage Basics

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  1. Service & Payment
  2. New Rates
  3. Energy Usage Basics

What is the difference between kW and kWh? 

A kilowatt (kW) measures the rate of energy use, or how much energy it takes for an appliance to operate. 
A kilowatt is equivalent to 1,000 watts.

A kilowatt hour (kWh) measures the amount of energy consumed. 

If you watch a 100-watt (0.1 kW) big-screen TV for one hour, you consume 0.1 kWh of energy. 
If you run a 1 kW vacuum cleaner for one hour, you consume 1 kWh of energy. 
If you run a 2 kW electric clothes dryer for one hour, you consume 2 kWh of energy. 

Heartland’s Peak Savers rate is based on both the rate of energy use (kW) and the amount of energy consumed (kWh). 
Heartland’s Time of Use and Time of Use EV rates are based only on the amount of energy consumed (kWh), although energy costs vary by time of day. 

How much energy do typical appliances use?

The graphic below shows the rate of energy used by some typical household appliances.

Appliances and power draw

What are some practical things people can do to reduce their usage during peak times?

  • Cook dinner using a grill or a countertop appliance such as an air fryer, instant pot, or crock pot.  
  • Load the electric clothes dryer, but wait to run it until after 8 p.m.
  • Load the dishwasher, but wait to run it until after 8 p.m.
  • Pre-cool your home by running your air conditioner until the peak time starts at 3 p.m.
  • If you have an electric water heater, avoid using a lot of hot water between 3 and 8 p.m.
  • Avoid running your pool pump from 3 to 8 p.m. 
  • For those with electric vehicles, wait to charge them until after 8 p.m. 
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Contact Info

Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative Inc.
110 N. Enterprise Drive, P.O. Box 40
Girard, KS 66743

24/7 Live Phone Service

Office: 620-724-8251
Toll-Free: 800-835-9586

About Us

Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative provides power to 11,200 service locations in 12 counties in Southeast and Eastern Kansas.

Our main office is in Girard, Kansas, with additional offices in Mound City and Gas.  Our co-op roots go back to the incorporation of Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company, (Iola, Kansas) on April 16, 1937.

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©2022 Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Heartland
    • Co-op Territory Map
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Service & Payment
    • New Service
    • SmartHub Member Portal Guide
    • Rebates - Water Heaters & Heat Pumps
    • Payment Options
    • Go Paperless
    • New Rates
      • Peak Savers Rate
        • Add contacts in SmartHub
        • Info for past Peak Savers participants
      • Time of Use Rate
      • Time of Use EV
      • Rate Calculator
      • Request Time of Use rate
      • Energy Usage Basics
      • New Rate FAQs
    • Prepaid Payment Plan
  • Outages
    • Live Outage Map
    • Outage Information
    • Social Media Feeds
  • Renewables
  • Community Development
    • Concern for Community Grants
    • Operation Round Up
    • Sharing Success
  • News
    • Heartbeat Newsletter
  • Careers
  • Heartland Propane