Household electricity use is usually billed in what unit?
AnswerKilowatt-hours
A kilowatt-hour is 1,000 watts used for one hour.
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Utility facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about home utilities: electricity, water and gas, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
What does a home thermostat control?
AnswerHeating and cooling temperature
A thermostat switches heating or cooling on and off to hold a set temperature.
Going deeper
In the 'War of the Currents', Westinghouse and Tesla backed which system?
AnswerAlternating current (AC)
AC won out because it can be stepped up for long-distance transmission.
What is the standard voltage for a typical US household outlet?
AnswerAbout 120 volts
Standard US outlets supply roughly 120 volts.
The Hoover Dam, a major hydroelectric plant, is on which river?
AnswerColorado River
Hoover Dam sits on the Colorado River at the Nevada-Arizona border.
Expert level
One therm of natural gas equals about how many BTUs?
Answer100,000
A therm is defined as 100,000 British thermal units.
In the power industry, what is 'baseload'?
AnswerThe minimum level of demand over a day
Baseload is the steady demand that must be met around the clock.
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