Electricity Bill Calculator
Estimate your monthly and yearly electricity cost, and see how the fixed charge changes your real per-kWh price.
Your electricity bill is mostly two numbers: the power you use times your rate, plus a fixed monthly fee for the grid connection. Enter your usage, rate, and fixed charge to see the monthly and yearly totals — and your true all-in cost per kilowatt-hour, which is the figure that matters when you weigh solar or efficiency upgrades.
Estimated monthly bill
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- Energy charge
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- Fixed charge
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- All-in cost per kWh
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- Yearly total
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Why the fixed charge matters for solar
Solar reduces the energy portion of your bill, sometimes to near zero, but the fixed connection fee stays as long as you're grid-tied. That's why a "$0 electricity bill" is rare even with a large system: the fixed charge sets a floor. Knowing your all-in cost per kWh — energy plus that fee spread across your usage — gives a more honest sense of what each unit of electricity actually costs you, and what solar can and can't offset.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is an electricity bill calculated?
Most residential bills are the energy you use (kWh × rate) plus a fixed monthly service charge, and sometimes taxes or riders. This calculator covers the two big pieces — energy and the fixed fee — which drive the bulk of a typical bill.
What is the fixed charge and can solar remove it?
The fixed (or service/connection) charge is a flat monthly fee for being connected to the grid, regardless of how much power you use. Solar offsets the energy portion of your bill but not this fixed fee, so a grid-tied home keeps paying it.
Why is my all-in cost per kWh higher than my rate?
Because the fixed charge is spread across the kilowatt-hours you use. The fewer kWh you buy, the more that fixed fee raises your effective per-kWh cost — which is why very low usage can make each unit feel expensive.
How much electricity does a typical home use?
A US home averages roughly 850–900 kWh per month, but it ranges widely — a small apartment might use 300–500 kWh while an all-electric house with a pool or EV can exceed 2,000 kWh. Use your own bills for the most accurate figure.