Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)

Definition: A unit of energy equivalent to one kilowatt (1,000 watts) of power sustained for one hour.

Relevance to energy: kWh is the standard unit for measuring electricity consumption in homes and businesses, used by utility companies for billing purposes.

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Benefits:

• Provides a standardized measure of energy consumption
• Allows for easy comparison of energy use over time
• Helps in calculating the cost of electricity usage

Drawbacks:

• Can be confusing for consumers to understand initially
• Doesn't directly indicate the efficiency of appliances
• May not reflect the environmental impact of energy production

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Statistics: The average U.S. residential utility customer consumed about 877 kWh per month in 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.