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To estimate the electricity cost, measure or estimate the average power draw of the equipment you will keep running, convert it to kilowatt-hours (kWh) for your billing period, and apply your electricity connection’s current tariff and billing rules. A kWh is commonly called a “unit” on electricity bills. There is no single per-unit rate that applies to every household in India.
1. Decide which equipment to count
For a PC-only estimate, count the PC’s average power draw. For the cost of the whole streaming setup, include every device that will remain on for the stream, such as the PC and monitor. Be explicit about what your estimate includes: leaving out a monitor or other equipment understates the setup’s energy use.
2. Find the setup’s average power draw
Measure at the wall when practical
A plug-in electricity usage monitor that records cumulative kWh can help measure the actual setup under representative streaming conditions. Check that any meter is compatible with your outlet and electrical load, including its voltage and current rating. For example, the manufacturer describes the Climax Technology PSM-29 as having a built-in power meter and energy-history function, with a stated 110–230 V range and multiple regional plug options; that does not establish that this model is sold in India or suits every PC load. Check the manufacturer’s information before considering a device.
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Use a labeled estimate if you cannot measure
If you do not have a meter, use an explicitly identified estimate of the setup’s average watts. Do not treat the PC power supply’s maximum rating as its constant draw: it is not a measurement of what the running system uses. No published statistic for a typical PC running a 24/7 YouTube stream is established here, so any watt figure you choose should be presented as an assumption, not a typical-use fact.
3. Convert watts and runtime into monthly units
Use this formula for the billing period you want to estimate:
Energy (kWh) = average power (watts) × hours per day × days in billing period ÷ 1,000
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For continuous operation, use 24 hours per day. For example, if the equipment being counted draws an assumed or measured average of 100 W and runs for 30 days:
- 100 W × 24 hours × 30 days ÷ 1,000 = 72 kWh
- That is 72 units for the 30-day period.
This is a worked arithmetic example, not a published measurement of a PC or a forecast of every month’s bill. Use the actual number of days in your billing period if it differs from 30.
4. Apply the tariff for your electricity connection
Check the current tariff for your own DISCOM, consumer category, and effective period, then apply its energy-charge rules to the estimated units. Do not use one rupee-per-unit figure as if it were the rate for all of India. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) says its Financial Studies & Analysis Division prepares an annual tariff-and-duty publication by analyzing orders from State and Joint Electricity Regulatory Commissions and collects subsidy and electricity-duty data. Its entries identify the utility, effective date, consumer category or tariff description, tariff basis, and energy charge. Use those details to locate the relevant schedule rather than assuming a national household rate: CEA Financial Studies & Analysis Division and CEA Electricity Tariff & Duty and Average Rates of Electricity Supply in India.
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Account for slabs and other bill items
If your tariff uses consumption slabs, the extra stream units may move household consumption into a higher slab. A bill can also include fixed charges, duties, surcharges, subsidies, or other adjustments. The energy-charge calculation alone is therefore not necessarily the same as the increase in the total bill.
One source-specific illustration is the Department of Electricity, Lakshadweep’s domestic LTDS-II schedule for FY 2026–27. It lists energy charges of ₹3.55/kWh for 0–100 units, ₹5.30 for 101–200, ₹7.70 for 201–300, ₹10.05 for 301–400, and ₹13.05 above 400, plus a fixed charge of ₹25 per kW per month or part thereof. These figures apply to that category and schedule only; they are not rates for other states or a proxy for India as a whole. Confirm your own category and effective tariff in the Department of Electricity, Lakshadweep schedule.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Estimate the bill increase, not just the stream’s energy charge
To estimate what the stream adds to your bill, compare two calculations for the same billing period:
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- Estimate the household bill using its baseline consumption without the streaming equipment.
- Add the stream setup’s estimated kWh to that same consumption and estimate the bill again under the same tariff.
- Compare the two estimates, including applicable slabs and other bill items where the tariff information allows.
For example, 72 kWh at a hypothetical marginal energy charge of ₹6/kWh gives ₹432 in energy-charge arithmetic. ₹6 is only an illustrative assumption, not an India-wide tariff, and ₹432 is not necessarily the increase in the full bill. Your location, consumer category, slab treatment, fixed charges, duties, surcharges, subsidies, and other billing terms can change the result. The actual bill is based on metered usage and applicable adjustments.
Measurement or estimation: which should you use?
| Approach | What it tells you | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Wall measurement with a suitable energy monitor | Observed consumption of the devices and workload you actually measure. | Requires a compatible meter and a representative measurement period. |
| Clearly labeled watt estimate | A quick planning figure when measurement is unavailable. | Accuracy depends on the assumed average draw; do not substitute a power supply’s maximum rating. |
For a fair comparison between estimates, keep the equipment counted, streaming workload, runtime, billing period, and tariff assumptions the same.
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