What units are used in electricity?

Answer 1

The international (or "SI") unit of electrical charge is the coulomb.

When coulombs of electrical charge are flowing - which is called an electric current - the flow rate is measured in terms of coulombs per second which has been given the international unit name ampere. (Commonly shortened to "amp".)

Since 1 ampere equals a flow rate of 1 coulomb per second, it's also correct to measure quantities of electric charge in terms of amperes times seconds, thus 1 coulomb equals one amperesecond.

The unit quantity of electrical energy (or any other form of energy) is the joule.

When joules of energy are flowing, the flow is measured in joules per second or watts.

Since 1 watt equals 1 joule/second, it's also correct to measure energy in terms of watts times seconds, thus 1 joule equals one watt second.)

<><><>

A list of common electrical units

• coulomb (for electrical charge)
• amp (for current flow)
• volt (for potential difference)
• ohm (for resistance)
• farad (for capacitance)
• henry (for inductance)
• second (for time flow)
• hertz (for cycle/second)

Another answer

The 'unit' is used by electrical utility companies in the United Kingdom (and, possibly, some other countries) as the standard unit of measurement for electrical energy for the purposes of billing their consumers. Typically, a British consumer would say, 'How many units of electricity did I use last month?'. meaning 'How many kilowatt hours of electrical energy did I use last month?'

The term 'unit' derives from the name 'Board of Trade Unit', and is exactly equivalent to one kilowatt.hour (kW.h).

i.e. 1 Unit = 1 kW.h