This metric tracks the actual energy used by a circuit or device, calculated by integrating real power over time. It is typically billed and measured in kilowatt-hours or megawatt-hours. Engineers monitor this figure to size supply infrastructure, evaluate the efficiency of large industrial loads, and plan for thermal dissipation.
Heard on the job
We need to log the power consumption on the main chiller circuit for a week to see if it exceeds the breaker rating during peak hours.
Related terms
Active power
The part of electrical power that does real work, averaged over each cycle and measured in watts.
Load factor
The ratio of average electrical load to peak load over a specific period.
Time-of-use meter
An electricity meter that records power consumption in different tariff periods based on the time of day.