Amendments to estimated electricity usage of a low income family

Bandula S. Tilakasena

This refers to the chart titled ‘Estimated electricity usage of a low income family’ published on page 12 of the Financial Times on Friday, 26 April 2013.

I notice that the electricity consumption figures of some equipment indicated in that graphic are grossly unrealistic. The consumption figures indicated for radio and TV are unimaginable in the modern-day context. A radio would consume only a fractional amount of watts and best be used on dry battery.

A main radio-CD found in most homes nowadays would consume about four watts on radio mode and about six watts on CD. The TV consumption of 150 watts is definitely not within the reach of a low income family. Even a 29 inch CRT tube TV would consume about 95 watts, and a typical figure for a 14 inch colour would be around 65-70 watts.

Please see attached a table recalculated on a more realistic basis, with a comparison for a higher income family with a refrigerator and two fans at home.

The writer is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and Additional General Manager – Corporate Strategy at the CEB