What Is the Average Electricity Use Per Month in BC?
In this article, our Premium Electric electricians answer your questions about the average electricity use per month in BC including your household, appliances, electronic devices, and more.
In this beautiful province of British Columbia (BC), amidst stunning mountain and forest landscapes and a high standard of living, you may be wondering why your electric bills are so high. Most of us have electricity questions, especially about our electricity consumption and its associated costs.
From powering our seaside homes to fueling our daily outdoor and indoor activities, electricity plays a central role in our lives. If you ever wondered how your average electricity use compares to other households in BC, or how much electricity your TV uses or a fan uses, hopefully, this article will help.
Understanding Electrical Consumption
As residents of BC, understanding your electrical consumption can be both practical and insightful. Electricity rates in the province are regulated and overseen by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC).
Electricity powers our homes, fuels our electronic devices, and keeps our lives connected. From flipping a switch to turning on a device, our modern lifestyle relies on electricity more now than ever.
Electricity consumption, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) by your electric meter, will vary based on a range of factors, including:
- Household Size
- Personal Habits
- Appliances
- Climate
- And if you use energy-saving devices like smart thermostats
These elements collectively contribute to the average electricity use per month of a typical BC household. This is explained further in our blog post, ‘Why Is My Electric Bill So High?’.
Using the Energy Markets’ BC Monthly Electricity Bill Break-down and Appliance Costs tool, our electricians explored further the average electricity use per month for BC households.
General Questions About Household Electricity Use
There are many reasons why British Columbians are asking questions about electricity use including:
- Financial considerations and how to reduce their electricity bill
- How to reduce their carbon footprint
- Potential upgrades and maintenance costs
- Curious about the electricity consumption of electronic devices and appliances
- Other personal reasons
Below, we provide answers to many of the questions our electricians get asked.
How much is electricity in BC per month?
BC residents typically use 900-1,300 kWh per month which roughly equates to $140.50-$200 per month of residential rate electricity consumption.
How much is electricity per month in Canada?
Compared to BC, residents in Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, PEI, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick have higher rates of electricity consumption.
The accompanying chart shows monthly comparisons between October and March. During the months of April to September, residents of Nunavut pay roughly up to $600 per month for electricity!
How much electricity does a house use in BC?
BC’s average household electricity consumption is about 11,000 kWh per year with the average person using about 917 kWh.
According to BC Hydro’s Average consumption for homes in B.C. table, a single-family house averages 1,279 kWh of electricity.
How much electricity does an electric furnace use?
Depending on the make and model, an electric furnace can consume between 10 and 50 kilowatts of power. The hourly cost to run your furnace can vary anywhere from $1.60 to $8 or more.
BC Hydro offers Rebates to switch to energy-efficient furnaces and there are natural gas furnace rebates available from Fortis BC.
How much to replace an electrical panel in Canada?
The cost to replace an electrical panel in Canada depends on the location, size of the panel, the complexity of the installation, local labour rates, and any additional work that might be required, such as upgrading wiring or addressing safety issues.
The cost of an electric panel replacement can range anywhere from $1,025 to over $12,800. The average Canadian homeowner’s electric panel replacement cost is around $3,200.
Which Appliances Use the Most Electricity?
Our homes are filled with an abundance of electrical appliances that make our lives easier, more comfortable, and efficient. From clothes dryers to air conditioners, these appliances play a huge role in our daily routines.
Thankfully, many of the newer models are more energy-efficient than their older counterparts.
Visit this Public Tableau link to determine how much each of your appliances will cost in electricity per month.
How much electricity does a heat pump water heater use?
A conventional water heater heats water using either electricity or natural gas and stores it in a tank until it’s needed, running about 2 to 4 times an hour.
A heat pump water heater uses the neighbouring air to draw heat and transfer it to the water, which is then stored in a tank. Heat pump water heaters can be more energy-efficient and cost-effective in the long run compared to traditional water heaters, especially in regions with moderate to warm climates.
For a heat pump water heater to run for 4 hours of the day in BC, it can roughly cost about $45.36 per month.
How much electricity does a fan use?
For a ceiling fan to be consistently on for 24 hours of the day, it’ll typically cost $5.10/month for energy consumption. This could be a lower-cost option to use if you don’t need a powerful air conditioner.
How much electricity does a dryer use?
If you used your clothes dryer for an hour a week, it would roughly cost your BC household $2.13 per month in electricity costs.
How much electricity does a washing machine use?
The frequency of doing clothes laundry is different for each household, however, on average most households do laundry at least once or twice a week. To use your clothes washer for an hour per day, it’ll roughly cost $1.42 per month.
How much electricity does a dishwasher use?
For most households, running the dishwasher is a daily routine. Dishwashers will roughly cost $5.10 per month to use for 1 hour a day.
How much electricity does an air conditioner (AC) use?
In those hot summer months (and sometimes spring or fall), using an AC unit is second nature to most. To use your central AC for 24 hours of the day, it’ll cost about $357.08 per month in electricity consumption.
If you were to cut down usage to 12 hours/day, that cost would be cut in half to $178.54/month. For a window air conditioner, it’ll cost about $102.02 per month to run for the full day.
How much electricity does a fridge use?
Even though refrigerators are used 24/7, most are now very energy-efficient, so the cost estimate is about $12.25/month.
How much electricity does a space heater use?
For a space heater to be on 12 hours of the day, it’ll roughly cost about $51.03 per month of usage. Limiting the space heater to 4 hours per day would lower the cost to about $17.01 per month.
How much electricity does a hot tub use?
Usage varies depending on the size of the hot tub, insulation, how often it’s used, and temperature settings. On average, running a hot tub is roughly $40-$120 per month in electricity costs.
How Much Electricity Do Personal Electronics Use?
In the modern, interconnected world, personal electronics are ubiquitous and have become an extension of ourselves. From smartphones that keep us connected to computers that power our work and leisure, these devices are an integral part of our lives.
All these devices need to be powered and the energy they consume will have an impact on your household electricity usage.
How much electricity does a TV use?
Most households are home to at least one television and use it to watch approximately 100 hours of TV per month. For a +42” LED TV to be used for 4 hours/day, electricity costs start at $0.91/month.
How much electricity does a computer use?
Most of us use laptops or desktop computers daily for work and/or leisure. For those using a laptop computer, for 12 hours a day, it’ll cost about $2.04 per month in electricity and double to $4.08 per month for 24 hours daily. Desktop computers, especially for the home office, use a little more electricity and can cost about $3.40/month for 12 hours/day.
How much electricity does a charger use?
A cell phone charger that’s plugged in for 24 hours of the day, every day, will be about $0.34 per month in electricity costs.
How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle (EV)?
Not including the EV charger installation, the cost to charge an electric vehicle in BC depends on several factors. The type of electrical vehicle, the size of the EV charging station, and the current electricity rates will all have an effect.
On average, charging an electric vehicle at home using a standard household outlet (Level 1 charging) can cost around $1-$3 per 100 kilometres of driving. The cost may be slightly higher if you use a Level 2 EV home charger. See our EV Charging Station Installation Guide for more information.
Summary
As a consumer, you always have the opportunity to take control of your electricity consumption and expenses. By considering factors like weather conditions, optimizing home insulation, and adopting energy-efficient products, you can contribute to a more sustainable and cost-effective energy future for the province.
Understanding your electricity consumption is not only informative but also empowers you to make conscious choices that can lead to energy savings and reduced electricity bills.
Feel free to reach out to us at Premium Electric if you still have questions about average electricity use. We’re happy to help!
At the end of the day, being mindful of our electricity usage not only benefits our wallets but also contributes to a sustainable future for our beautiful province of British Columbia.
Contact Premium Electric
We serve both residential and commercial customers in the Fraser Valley and the Greater Vancouver area. Our electricians are fully certified and bonded and available 24/7. No electrical job is too big or too small.
Please call us locally at 604-308-6195 or contact us online.
We can also be reached by email.
