Validity:
From: 1 October 2019
Until: 1 September 2022
The calculator is to be moved to /p/lightbill.html. For calculations of newer electricity bills, including bills from February 2023 onwards, see that page.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
USER MANUAL:
It is intended to work on effectively all browsers with JavaScript enabled, including:
Internet Explorer 6 or newer
Firefox 0.8 or newer
Safari 3.0 (522.11.3) or newer
Chrome 0.2.149.27 or newer
Android Browser 1.6 (3.1.2) or newer
Opera Mini 4.5 or newer
Actual compatibility will differ due to the use of https.
To obtain the cost of electricity, first obtain the wattage of the electrical device. It is located on its box, a label, a mark stamped on, its instruction manual, or its manufacturer's website.
60W is located on an incandescent bulb. Such bulbs have been replaced with more efficient technologies and shall no longer be used.
55W is located on a CFL bulb. This bulb would be brighter, though generally with a different color temperature, if it were to have the same amount of watts as the incandescent bulb.
9W is located on a LED bulb. This bulb would be brighter if it were to have the same amount of watts as the CFL bulb.
Then take note of how many hours per day it is used on average. For example:
1) 5 hours for the 9W bulb (switched on at 6PM - 11PM;
2) 5 hours for the 55W bulb (switched on at 6PM - 11PM).
Use the calculator provided.
For a 31-day month it is 1.395kWh+8.525kWh. A total of 9.92 kWh (Kilowatt Hours) can now be converted to its cost in Ghana Cedis. But it is only valid if nothing other than these 2 bulbs are connected to the meter in the month (1-31), and a margin should be given.
All calculations are approximate. The approximation can cause 0.999999 to be displayed instead of 1.000000.
Use the calculator provided.
For a 31-day month it is 1.395kWh+8.525kWh. A total of 9.92 kWh (Kilowatt Hours) can now be converted to its cost in Ghana Cedis. But it is only valid if nothing other than these 2 bulbs are connected to the meter in the month (1-31), and a margin should be given.
All calculations are approximate. The approximation can cause 0.999999 to be displayed instead of 1.000000.
Update
Perform the calculation, intended for compatibility if it does not automatically refresh.End-User Tariff (EUT)
Residential
Residential tariff. Non-"End-User Tariffs" are excluded.
Non-Residential
Residential tariff. Non-"End-User Tariffs" are excluded.
Non-Residential
Non-Residential. Non-"End-User Tariffs" are excluded. SLT-LV, SLT-MV, SLT-HV, and SLT-HV MINES tariffs are excluded.
Mode
Monthly (1 to 31)The first purchase made in a month or the total of all purchases made in a month, such as January. It is not necessarily a 31-day month.
Shared Meter
The cost per unit for you depends on the total money spent in the month. It can also be used to obtain the energy cost of a machine taking a portion of the total.
More Than Once A Month
For example January 1 then it wasn't enough, once more at January 10. Enter the previous purchase(s) in Total and the new purchase(s) in Next. The initial service charge is excluded.
Service Charge
Auto
Automatically set the service charge. The service charged is billed monthly.Normal SC
Normal SC, for testing purposes.
Lifeline SC
Lifeline SC, users that don't use much electricity don't pay much. For testing purposes.
None
No service charge, for testing purposes.
Tax
These are applied to the non-residential tariff. Select it according to what appears in bills/receipts. Example: 12.5% to VAT; no CHRL. Subject to change, so the highest is selected by default.
Total KWH
Total energy use of all electrical devices connected to a meter, or the amount bought this month.Total GHS
Total Ghana Cedis of all electrical devices connected to a meter, or the amount bought this month.Your KWH
Your power consumption (a part of the total); intended for use with a meter being shared with others, or the power consumption of a specific electrical device only.Your GHS
Your GHS (a part of the total); intended for use with a meter being shared with others, or the GHS of a specific electrical device only.Next kWh
Target this kWh in the next purchase.Next GHS
Target this GHS in the next purchase.Kilowatt Hours
It is sometimes referred to as units or credit. It's the units displayed on meters that's not Ghana Cedis.
Ghana Cedis
Ghana Cedis (currency). There are 6 digits after the decimal point, because that's determined by the tariffs. Total tax inclusive value.
Energy Charge
Cost of the electricity bought, but it doesn't include the Service Charge or taxes.
A simple explanation: every month, there's 50 of something sold by a shop for 0.326060 Ghana Cedis each. Once you buy all 50, it'll be out of stock and you can only buy it from another shop for 0.654161 Ghana Cedis each, until that other shop runs out of stock.
'Going to another shop' is done automatically. You do not need to buy units from another location.
'Shops' run out of stock per-meter. The actual cost can differ from what's given by this example.
'Shops' will restock on the first day of each month.
The more you buy, the less you get. If kilowatt hours are sold directly, it can be best to only buy enough for 1 month, not 2 months.
Service Charge
For each meter, the service charge is billed monthly. There is a "lifeline" service charge applied to people who use 50kWh or less per month. If this is exceeded, the normal service charge is billed, minus the lifeline service charge if already billed.
Public Lighting Levy
The Public Lighting Levy. It may also appear in bills or receipts as "Street Light Levy".
National Electrification Scheme Levy
The National Electrification Scheme Levy.
GETFund Levy
The Ghana Education Trust Fund Levy.
National Health Insurance Levy
The National Health Insurance Levy.
COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy
This is not necessarily applied to Non-Residential. Select taxes to calculate according to what appears in bills/receipts. Example: 12.5% to VAT; no CHRL. Subject to change, so the highest is selected by default.
Value Added Tax
It may be calculated in an unconventional way for Non-Residential. Select taxes to calculate according to what appears in bills/receipts. Example: 12.5% to VAT; no CHRL. Subject to change, so the highest is selected by default.
Update (2)
Perform the calculation.
Days
Days in a month.
Mode (2)
Don't calculate GHS
Only calculate the kWh.
How much does it use?
An electrical device that's in use was connected to the meter for a month or more, how much does it use? Remember to specify the amount currently paid every month.
How much will it use?
A new electrical device is going to be bought, how much will it use? The initial service charge is excluded.
How to estimate
According to watts and hours
According to watts and hours.
According to ENERGY GUIDE
Look for an ENERGY GUIDE label or use the Certified Appliances app.
Kilowatt Hours(kWh)
Result of how much the electrical device may use every month. It's the units displayed on meters that's not Ghana Cedis.
Ghana Cedis(GHS)
If the watts and hours or ENERGY GUIDE is accurate, it's the calculated result of how much the electrical device may use every month. The "Ghana Cedis already paid monthly" must also be accurate.
Minimum Ghana Cedis to add after installation
If the watts and hours or ENERGY GUIDE is accurate, this is the minimum anyone will pay after connecting the electrical device to the meter.
Maximum Ghana Cedis to add after installation
If the watts and hours or ENERGY GUIDE is accurate, this is the maximum anyone will pay after connecting the electrical device to the meter.
Ghana Cedis already paid monthly (Total GHS):
Verify that it is correct.
Examples of other electrical devices:
PC or Computer or Laptop.Its power use depends on what you're doing.
The screen's brightness could be lowered. LCD screens should replace CRT (long screens). Displaying black in common screens does not lower the brightness, the lamp inside remains bright.
Fan.
A common fan uses 50-75W.
The screen's brightness could be lowered. LCD screens should replace CRT (long screens). Displaying black in common screens does not lower the brightness, the lamp inside remains bright.
Fan.
A common fan uses 50-75W.
If the regulator that changes the speed of the fan becomes hot at low speeds it should be considered that electricity is sent to a 'heater' instead of a fan to lower its speed, and that the 'heater' uses some electricity. Consider the new type of regulator. Usage also varies with the voltage and while starting.
ECM/BLDC fans save even more power, but its board may fail, and those fans are rarely sold in Ghana.
Air conditioner or fridge.
Air conditioners and refrigerators transfer heat from the inside to the outside. The air conditioner has a larger inside (house room), so it uses more power.
When a common air conditioner or fridge detects that the inside has reached the temperature you have chosen, it automatically switches off (stops humming), then the power consumption is minimal or comparable with a tower fan. You will very likely find its wattage on a label.
Microwave oven.
Check its settings (and efficiency). 300W+
Blender or food processor.
The blender or food processor, though it may have a high wattage, is only on for a minute, so it does not have much time to use much power.
TV.
It depends on the size (affecting its interior lamps) and then the processing circuitry. Types that aren't long (CRT) generally consume less.
Air conditioners and refrigerators transfer heat from the inside to the outside. The air conditioner has a larger inside (house room), so it uses more power.
When a common air conditioner or fridge detects that the inside has reached the temperature you have chosen, it automatically switches off (stops humming), then the power consumption is minimal or comparable with a tower fan. You will very likely find its wattage on a label.
Microwave oven.
Check its settings (and efficiency). 300W+
Blender or food processor.
The blender or food processor, though it may have a high wattage, is only on for a minute, so it does not have much time to use much power.
TV.
It depends on the size (affecting its interior lamps) and then the processing circuitry. Types that aren't long (CRT) generally consume less.
