Average energy consumption per household

Knowing your energy consumption is essential for better management of household resources and reducing waste and costs in bills by making more conscious choices. In Italy, average electricity consumption per household is a key indicator for understanding daily habits in the country, and assessing the effectiveness of energy efficiency policies. National bodies such as the Autorità di Regolazione per Energia Reti e Ambiente (ARERA) and the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (Istat) periodically provide reading data showing how a household's actual consumption can varies according to numerous parameters.

But how is the average energy consumption per household calculated and what factors influence it?

What is meant by average energy consumption?

Average energy consumption is an estimate of the total amount of energy used by a household over a given period of time. It is therefore a statistical value, calculated on a representative sample of households on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. Energy consumption is expressed in bills in kilowatt-hours (kWh), a unit of measurement equivalent to 1,000 Watt-hours (Wh). Watt-hours represent the energy consumed or generated when a device with a certain power output, expressed in Watts (W), is used for a certain period of time. For example, a 100 watt bulb switched on for 10 hours consumes a total of 1 kWh.

Energy consumption and installed power are therefore two different concepts: consumption refers to the total energy used, while installed power indicates how much energy the device can absorb at any given time. For this reason, it is not really correct to say that an appliance “consumes less” in a certain time band. Instead, it is the cost of energy in that time range that varies, affecting consumption in the bill.

Average energy consumption for a household in Italy

According to ARERA's standard for analysing household consumption in Italy, a typical household has an average energy consumption of 2,700 kWh per year and an installed power of 3 kW. This value reflects a household of 4 members, residing in a dwelling in climate zone E, but consumption varies according to household members, with a value ranging from 1500 kWh for a couple residing with a 3kW meter, to 5000 kWh for an energy-intensive household residing with a 6kW meter.

There are many factors that affect the cost in the bill and they can be summed up in three categories: energy tariffs, domestic consumption and external variables.

• Energy tariffs: these depend on the supplier, the type of contract chosen (one- or two- hour tariff) and the electricity market of reference (free or protected market)

• Household consumption: this is linked to the daily habits of the household, to how many appliances are used, their energy class, and in which consumption time bands they are active. Installation efficiency and thermal insulation of the building are also affected. 

• External variables: these depend on the cost of raw materials, fiscal policies, and the presence of government or regional incentives for renewable energies, as well as seasonality and the climate zone of residence, which influences the more or less consistent use of heating and cooling systems.

How to reduce average household energy consumption

With an awareness of the parameters that influence energy consumption, you can adopt simple strategies throughout the year to monitor your consumption habits.

• Switch off lights when they are not needed, and try replacing conventional bulbs with LEDs, which consume less energy and last longer.

• Disconnect stand-by devices, such as TVs, set-top boxes and chargers, which continue to consume energy, even when not in use. Also try using multi-sockets with switch to switch off multiple devices at the same time and facilitate control.

• Use household appliances intelligently, e.g., using washing machines and dishwashers only when fully loaded and choosing eco cycles or low temperatures, but also making sure to defrost the refrigerator regularly. It is also important to choose energy-efficient appliances when purchasing.

• Consider installing a photovoltaic system to self-produce energy and reduce dependence on the grid

• Monitor household consumption and energy produced with an electricity meter or through the Consumption Portal of ARERA.

Find out more about the Enel Energia Light Offers and stay up to date on your household energy consumption.