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Glite Dictionary
kilowatt hour

kilowatt hour

8 3.2
The energy used by a 1,000-watt device in one hour
  • noun
  • /ˈkɪləˌwɑt aʊər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : kilovatio hora
  • The more electricity a customer draws, the higher the rate per kilowatt-hour.
  • cents per kilowatt hour
  • kilowatt hour of electricity
  • kilowatt hour (kWh)

And the parameter of merit is, is performance per unit cost, kilowatt hours per dollar if you will.

Examples

  • The array of panels can generate 5 kilowatt-hours a day for a community of about 125 people.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Nations in which the annual demand for electricity exceeds 10,000 kilowatt hours per capita have either emerging or developed economies.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Under the proposed legislation, the tax credit would be 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.

    Academic text (2001)

  • In the US, the average price for electricity is 6-7 cents per kilowatt-hour.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The US Department of Energy chose a target of 6 cents per kilowatt-hour for its terrestrial photovoltaic program.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Overall, the technology has saved an estimated 160 billion gallons of water and 108 million kilowatt-hours of energy annually.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Contra Costa charges a fee of 0.03 in hard currency per kilowatt-hour to cover their life-cycle costs.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The low-cost, low-maintenance system produces 50,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year and offsets.

    Blog text (4)

  • In 1930, the average Con Edison residential customer used 404 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity a year.

    Academic text (1999)

  • You probably pay 10 cents or 15 cents per kilowatt hour for your power at home.

Synonyms

Board of Trade unit
vskilowatt hour
  • Archaic
7.1

The energy used by a 1,000-watt machine running for one hour

has identical meaning but is a regional historical name
kW-hr
vskilowatt hour
  • Specialized
3.7

The amount of energy a 1,000-watt device uses in one hour

is the unabbreviated name used in general contexts

How Energetic

megawatt hour
  • Specialized
1 4.0
kilowatt hour
  • Specialized
8 3.2
megajoule
  • Specialized
2 6.0
joule
  • Specialized
11 7.2

Surface Forms

kilowatt hour singular
kilowatt hours plural
kilowatt-hours plural
kilowatt-hour singular

Morphology

kilowatt + hour

The meaning of 'kilowatt hour' is directly derivable from its parts: 'kilowatt' (a unit of power) combined with 'hour' (a unit of time) yields a unit of energy (power × time). This formation follows a standard, cross-linguistic pattern for naming measurement units, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Kilowatt hour is a name made from kilo (thousand), watt (a unit of power), and hour (one hour). It means the amount of 'energy' used when a 1,000-watt device runs for one hour, so it is the number you see on electricity bills.