Most appliances in our homes need electrical energy to work, but they use the energy in a different way. Some, like electric heaters, use the energy quickly. Others, like light bulbs, use the electrical energy much more slowly. The rate at which energy is being used is called the power of the appliance. We measure the power in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). One kW is 1000 W.
The power of some common domestic appliances is:
