How is the energy cost calculated?

At 65 kW for 60 full-load-equivalent hours, energy is 3,900 kWh. At $0.12/kWh, variable cost is $468; adding $250 fixed charges gives $718 total, or about $11.05 per connected kW for this period.

What period should the inputs cover?

The hours cover the entire chosen period; 60 means 60 hours, not 60%. If lights dim, convert the schedule to full-load-equivalent hours before entering it. The blended electricity rate excludes separately entered fixed charges. Cost per connected kW is a period allocation, not a fixture-efficiency or crop-yield score.

Are these measured operating results?

The defaults are an illustrative worked example. Replace them with the relevant cost, quantity and realization records for the actual review.

Does this infer an electricity tariff or operating schedule?

No. Supply the rate and energy or equivalent operating hours from the same planning period. The example figures are illustrative assumptions.

Greenhouse, Indoor Farming & Agri-Processing calculator

Grow light energy cost calculator

Estimate grow-light electricity cost from connected kW, full-load-equivalent hours, electricity price and fixed charges for the same period. Enter quantities and monetary amounts on the stated common period and scope.

What this calculator does

Estimate grow-light electricity cost from connected kW, full-load-equivalent hours, electricity price and fixed charges for the same period.
Use it when you need to budget grow light electricity for a leafy green, herb, microgreen, tomato, or specialty herb room, compare an LED retrofit against existing HPS, or check whether a rate change makes a current photoperiod uneconomic.

Formula used

Energy consumed (kWh) = connected load (kW) × full-load-equivalent lit hours (h)
Variable lighting energy cost = energy consumed × electricity price ($/kWh)
Total grow light energy cost = variable lighting energy cost + fixed demand and meter charges

Inputs explained

Total connected grow light load:
Cost per kWh of electricity:
Effective lit hours over the period: Full-load-equivalent hours over the complete period. Account for dimming once when deriving these hours; do not enter a percentage.
Fixed demand and meter charges:

How to use the result

Use it when budgeting a lighting schedule, comparing a tariff or photoperiod change, or building the energy line of a cost-per-pound model.
The hours cover the entire chosen period; 60 means 60 hours, not 60%. If lights dim, convert the schedule to full-load-equivalent hours before entering it. The blended electricity rate excludes separately entered fixed charges. Cost per connected kW is a period allocation, not a fixture-efficiency or crop-yield score.

Current U.S. benchmarks

As of Jul 2026, industrial electricity averages 9.8 cents per kWh across the U.S. (EIA), up 4.7% from a year earlier. State averages range widely, so plants should confirm against their own tariff.
U.S. housing starts run at 1,275k per year (Census, Aug 2026), down 1.2% from a year earlier, the demand driver for building products.
Industrial natural gas averages $4.58 per Mcf (EIA, Jul 2026), down 1.3% from a year earlier, with industrial electricity at 9.77 cents per kWh. Process heating and refrigeration budgets track both.

Common questions

How is the energy cost calculated? At 65 kW for 60 full-load-equivalent hours, energy is 3,900 kWh. At $0.12/kWh, variable cost is $468; adding $250 fixed charges gives $718 total, or about $11.05 per connected kW for this period.
What period should the inputs cover? The hours cover the entire chosen period; 60 means 60 hours, not 60%. If lights dim, convert the schedule to full-load-equivalent hours before entering it. The blended electricity rate excludes separately entered fixed charges. Cost per connected kW is a period allocation, not a fixture-efficiency or crop-yield score.
Are these measured operating results? The defaults are an illustrative worked example. Replace them with the relevant cost, quantity and realization records for the actual review.
Does this infer an electricity tariff or operating schedule? No. Supply the rate and energy or equivalent operating hours from the same planning period. The example figures are illustrative assumptions.

Last reviewed 2026-09-24.