Glossary
kWh (kilowatt hour)
The kilowatt hour (kWh) is a unit of energy: what a 1 kW appliance uses running for one hour. It is what the meter measures, what you pay for in the energy charge and how an electric car battery is sized.
What a kWh is
The kW measures power, how much an appliance draws at any instant. The kWh measures energy, how much it has used over time. Multiply power by hours of use:
- A 1,500 W water heater running for 2 hours uses 3 kWh.
- A 10 W LED bulb on for 100 hours uses 1 kWh.
- An electric car uses about 17 kWh per 100 km, depending on the model.
The kWh on your Spanish bill
Your bill has two main parts: the power charge (término de potencia), paid for the contracted kW, and the energy charge (término de energía), paid for each kWh used. The kWh price depends on your supplier and tariff. On the 2.0TD tariff it changes with the time of day: peak, standard or off-peak. That is why it pays to move big loads, such as the dishwasher, water heater or car charging, to off-peak hours, when the kWh usually costs 0.08 to 0.15 euros depending on the supplier.
The kWh in an electric car
Battery capacity is expressed in kWh. A 60 kWh battery stores the energy of 60 hours of a 1 kW appliance. With a 7.4 kW charger, taking a 60 kWh battery from 20 to 80 % takes about 5 hours, within the off-peak period.
How to see what your home uses
The smart meter records your kWh hour by hour. With your CUPS supply code you can download your consumption curve from the distributor’s customer area. To cut the kWh you pay for, see solar panels in Seville, Spain.
Related services
Home EV charger for houses
EV charger installation in Seville, Spain for your villa or townhouse is a one-day job: a dedicated circuit from your fuse board, its own protection devices, a 7.4 to 22 kW wallbox and a boletín registered with the Junta de Andalucía. In 2026 you can still deduct 15 % in your Spanish income tax return.
Solar panels for self-consumption
We install solar panels in Seville, Spain and the surrounding province on a turnkey basis: we study your consumption and your roof, fit panels, inverter and protection devices, and handle the legalisation and the compensation for your surplus energy. With Seville's sunshine, each kW installed saves an average of about 189 euros a year.
Related questions
Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.