How is electrical energy consumption typically measured?

Electrical energy consumption is typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) because this unit effectively represents the total amount of energy used over time. One kilowatt-hour is equivalent to using 1,000 watts of power for one hour. This measurement provides a clear understanding of energy usage in practical terms, especially for residential and commercial settings, where energy billing and consumption tracking are based on time intervals.

Using kilowatt-hours helps consumers and utilities gauge energy consumption over a specific time frame, making it easier to assess usage patterns, costs, and the efficiency of appliances and systems. Other units, such as watts (W), joules (J), and amperes (A), measure different aspects of electrical activity—power, energy, and current, respectively—but do not directly convey the total energy consumed over time as effectively as kilowatt-hours do.