Electricity Cost Per Part

Check the machine nameplate for the rating.
$ /kWh
Cycle Time
Idling (10%) Current: 60% Full Load (100%)
Power Cost Per Specific Cycle
$0.000
Energy Used
0.00 kWh
Cost Per Hour
$0.00
Estimation Guide

Estimating electricity cost is vital for accurate job quoting. While modern machines are efficient, high-horsepower cutting uses significant energy.

What is kVA?

kVA (Kilovolt-Amperes) is the "apparent power". Machines don't use 100% of this; we apply a Power Factor (PF) (usually ~0.8) to find the actual kW used.

Typical Load Factors:
  • 20-30%: Setup, probing, light finishing.
  • 50-70%: Standard milling/turning.
  • 80-100%: Heavy roughing / High-speed machining.
Formula:
Energy (kWh) = (kW × Load% × Time_hrs)
Cost = Energy × Rate
Pro Tip: Don't forget that compressed air for tool changers and chip clearing often consumes more power than the machine itself!