Fictional worked example

Budget electric hot water across two rate windows

A renter has an electric resistance heater and a measured 50 L hot draw at a 35°C rise. Assume a fictional tariff of USD 0.32/kWh at peak time and USD 0.16/kWh off-peak. Compare the same heat requirement under each rate.

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Inputs and calculation

Peak rate
Tool inputValue
CurrencyUSD
Volume or billing unitliters
Volume (L)50
Temperature rise (°C)35
Heating methodElectric resistance
Efficiency (%)100
Energy price (USD per input kWh)0.32
Water price (USD/L)0

Heat delivered = 50 × 35 × 0.001163 kWh. Divide by 1 to get about 2.0353 input kWh. Multiply input energy by 0.32, add 50 × 0 for water, then round to USD 0.65.

Tool result · USD 0.65

Off-peak rate
Tool inputValue
CurrencyUSD
Volume or billing unitliters
Volume (L)50
Temperature rise (°C)35
Heating methodElectric resistance
Efficiency (%)100
Energy price (USD per input kWh)0.16
Water price (USD/L)0

Heat delivered = 50 × 35 × 0.001163 kWh. Divide by 1 to get about 2.0353 input kWh. Multiply input energy by 0.16, add 50 × 0 for water, then round to USD 0.33.

Tool result · USD 0.33

What the comparison shows

The price is halved before rounding and modeled energy stays constant. Verify the heater’s actual reheat schedule before estimating a time-of-use bill.

Assumptions and limits

A real tank can reheat outside the draw window. This comparison assumes the full modeled input is purchased in the stated window.

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