Energy and utility operations
Generator plant operating cost per kWh
Calculate generation operating cost from metered output and recorded fuel and maintenance expenses.
Your inputs
Complete the fields for your selected method. Zero means intentionally zero, not unknown. Currency selection labels amounts; it does not convert exchange rates.
How this calculation works
operating cost/kWh = (fuel × price + maintenance + labor + other)/delivered kWh
Use net output for the same boundary as expenses. Fuel quantity and price units must match. Capital, finance, grid and emissions costs are excluded unless entered. No generator sizing, interconnection design, tariff or emissions certification is provided. Use your own records for the same scope and period. Example figures are illustrative, not industry benchmarks. Results exclude income taxes and any cost you have not entered. Check the result before pricing work or committing resources.
What information do I need?
Use records for the same job, equipment or accounting period. Only the fields for your selected entry method are required. An unknown amount is not zero.
Input definitions and where to find them
- Metered electrical energy delivered (kWh): Use the matching measured quantity, time log, schedule or clearly stated estimate. Zero means intentionally none; an unknown amount is not zero.
- Fuel consumed on matching billed basis (fuel units): Use the matching measured quantity, time log, schedule or clearly stated estimate. Zero means intentionally none; an unknown amount is not zero.
- Fuel price per matching unit (selected currency): Use a supplier quote, invoice, payroll record or allocated cost for the exact job or period named here. Include this amount only once.
- Allocated period maintenance (selected currency): Use a supplier quote, invoice, payroll record or allocated cost for the exact job or period named here. Include this amount only once.
- Allocated period labor (selected currency): Use a supplier quote, invoice, payroll record or allocated cost for the exact job or period named here. Include this amount only once.
- Other period generation expense (selected currency): Use a supplier quote, invoice, payroll record or allocated cost for the exact job or period named here. Include this amount only once.
Use the Where to find this value controls beside the inputs for available work-it-out helpers. Estimates remain your assumptions; a helper does not verify the source figures.
Worked example
Example amounts use US dollars (USD).
Example answer: Operating cost per delivered kWh is $0.50 for the illustrative inputs below.
Example inputs
- Metered electrical energy delivered: 10,000.00 kWh
- Fuel consumed on matching billed basis: 1,000.00 fuel units
- Fuel price per matching unit: $4.00
- Allocated period maintenance: $500.00
- Allocated period labor: $300.00
- Other period generation expense: $200.00
- Operating cost per delivered kWh
- $0.50
- Generation operating cost
- $5,000.00
- Fuel intensity on entered unit basis
- 0.1000 fuel units/kWh
These illustrative values are not recommended rates or industry averages. Replace every example input with your own figures.
Use the result well
Calculate generation operating cost from metered output and recorded fuel and maintenance expenses. Inputs come from your own records and stated assumptions; no rates or legal limits are looked up.
Keep inputs on the same scope and time basis. Calculations retain precision internally; displayed values generally round to two decimal places, with extra precision for very small values and whole-unit rounding where required. Economic comparisons describe your supplied assumptions and do not guarantee future results.
This tool provides business arithmetic. It does not approve engineering designs, establish legal or tax treatment, select equipment or certify safe operating conditions.