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There is no single monthly electricity cost for a used desktop in India. Multiply the desktop and monitor’s average combined power draw by the hours you use them, then apply the marginal electricity rate on your household bill. For example, a setup averaging 80 W for eight hours a day uses 19.2 kWh in a 30-day month; at ₹3.55 per unit, that adds ₹68.16 in energy charges, provided all those units fall within that tariff slab. The 80 W is an illustrative assumption, not a measured typical value.

Calculate the desktop’s monthly electricity use

Use this formula to estimate energy consumption:

Monthly units (kWh) = average combined power (W) × hours per day × 30 ÷ 1,000

One electricity unit is one kilowatt-hour (kWh). Include the monitor if it is on while you watch YouTube. If the computer is used for other tasks during those hours, the estimate covers the whole setup’s electricity use, not YouTube alone.

Worked example: 80 W for eight hours daily

  1. Multiply 80 W by 8 hours: 640 watt-hours per day.
  2. Multiply by 30 days: 19,200 watt-hours per month.
  3. Divide by 1,000: 19.2 kWh, or 19.2 units, in a 30-day month.

This example assumes the desktop and monitor together average 80 W during use. It is a calculation, not a test result or a claim about the typical draw of a used PC.

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Estimate the added bill using your local tariff

India has no single domestic price per unit. The applicable energy rate depends on the state or union territory, DISCOM, consumer category, tariff period and the household’s usage slab. The Ministry of Power states that “Electricity tariffs in India are determined by the Appropriate Electricity Regulatory Commissions under the Electricity Act, 2003.” Its release, dated 10 August 2026, also notes that state governments may subsidize consumer classes, including domestic consumers.

If the desktop’s added usage stays within one slab, multiply its units by that slab’s energy rate for a rough added energy charge. If it crosses into another slab, split the units across the applicable rates. This estimates energy charges, not the final bill: fixed or load-based charges, electricity duty, fuel or power adjustments, and subsidies can affect the amount due.

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Local example: Lakshadweep FY 2026–27

The Lakshadweep Department of Electricity’s published FY 2026–27 domestic LTDS-II schedule lists ₹3.55 per kWh for the first 0–100 units. If the example setup’s 19.2 additional units all fall in that slab, they add ₹68.16 in energy charges. The same schedule lists ₹5.30 for 101–200 units, ₹7.70 for 201–300, ₹10.05 for 301–400 and ₹13.05 above 400, as well as a fixed charge of ₹25 per kW per month or part thereof. These rates illustrate one local schedule; they are not a national estimate.

The India Residential Electricity Tariff Database page, updated 1 October 2026, can help locate a relevant state, DISCOM, tariff year and consumer category. It tracks slab rates and other bill elements, but says official tariff orders remain the legal source. Check your actual bill and the relevant regulator or DISCOM order before relying on a rate.

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Find the desktop’s actual power draw

A desktop’s power-supply rating is its capacity, not the amount the computer continuously draws from the wall. Actual consumption varies with components, workload, video resolution, power settings and the monitor. The most useful figure is the average draw of the complete setup during representative viewing sessions.

  1. Use a plug-in electricity usage monitor (watt meter) between the wall outlet and the desktop’s power connection. Follow the meter’s instructions and its electrical rating.
  2. Measure the desktop and monitor together if both are powered during viewing. If the meter cannot measure both at once, measure each and add their readings.
  3. Take readings over representative YouTube sessions rather than relying on a brief moment. Include the usual video quality and normal computer activity.
  4. Use the average wattage in the monthly formula, and use your actual viewing hours per day. Double the hours at the same wattage and the estimated energy use doubles.

For context, a 2026 secondary article reports a 10.6 W median idle draw across 298 ENERGY STAR-certified desktops, based on 2026 ENERGY STAR data. That figure excludes the monitor and describes idle use; it does not establish the power draw of a desktop playing YouTube or of used computers in India. Do not substitute it for a streaming measurement.

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Why your bill may differ from the estimate

  • Slab crossing: Added units may be charged at more than one marginal rate if they push household consumption into a higher slab.
  • Variable use: Viewing hours, video quality, computer workload and power settings can change average draw.
  • Other bill items: Fixed or load-based charges and adjustments are not necessarily caused by this one device; duties and subsidies may also affect the bill.
  • Billing period: The formula uses a 30-day month. For a different billing period, multiply average watts by actual daily hours and days in that period, then divide by 1,000.

Or let YouTube run in the cloud

If you are running a prerecorded YouTube live stream rather than watching videos, a cloud service is a different use case from desktop viewing. StreamNeo keeps a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It streams the uploaded video as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start the free trial.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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