There is no single monthly electricity price for running a used desktop to watch YouTube 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 bill. For example, an assumed 80 W combined draw for 8 hours a day uses 19.2 kWh in a 30-day month; at one specific Lakshadweep tariff slab, that would add ₹68.16 in energy charges.
Calculate the desktop’s monthly electricity use
Use this formula for a 30-day month:
Monthly units (kWh) = combined average power (W) × viewing hours per day × 30 ÷ 1,000.
Include the monitor if it is on while you watch. The result is the electricity consumed, in kilowatt-hours (kWh), also called units. To estimate the added energy charge, multiply those units by the marginal rate that applies to your household. If the extra usage crosses a slab boundary, split the units across the relevant rates.
Worked example: an assumed 80 W setup
This is an illustration, not a measured typical desktop value. If the desktop and monitor together average 80 W while YouTube is playing for 8 hours daily:
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- 80 W × 8 hours × 30 days ÷ 1,000 = 19.2 kWh.
- The Lakshadweep Department of Electricity’s FY 2026–27 domestic LTDS-II schedule lists ₹3.55/kWh for the first 0–100 units. If all 19.2 additional units fall within that slab, the energy charge is 19.2 × ₹3.55 = ₹68.16.
This is a local tariff example, not an India-wide estimate. That schedule lists higher rates for later slabs and a fixed charge based on connected load.
Find the actual power draw of your desktop and monitor
A used desktop does not have one predictable streaming wattage. Its draw depends on its components, monitor, workload, playback resolution and power settings. A power-supply unit’s rated capacity is not the amount the computer continuously consumes.
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Measure the whole setup
For the most useful estimate, connect the desktop and monitor to a plug-in electricity usage monitor and measure them together over representative YouTube viewing sessions. If you cannot measure them, choose a clearly labeled wattage assumption and use the formula above; do not present it as a measured result.
A secondary 2026 report citing ENERGY STAR data gives a median idle draw of 10.6 W across 298 certified desktops. That figure excludes the monitor and measures idle use, not YouTube playback or used computers in India, so it is not a suitable streaming estimate. See TipidKuryente’s report for its stated context.
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Apply your household’s electricity rate
India has no single domestic per-unit rate. The applicable charge depends on the state or union territory, DISCOM, consumer category, tariff period and the household’s slab. The Ministry of Power states: “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. See the Ministry of Power press releases.
Check the current bill for your consumer category, units and applicable slab rates, or use the India Residential Electricity Tariff Database to locate the relevant tariff order. Its page, updated 1 October 2026, tracks rates and other bill components by state, DISCOM, tariff year and category; it says official tariff orders remain the legal source. Verify the rate against your bill and the regulator or DISCOM’s current order. Open the database.
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Energy charges are not the whole bill
The calculation estimates added energy charges attributable to the desktop and monitor. It does not assign existing fixed or load-based charges to this device. Electricity duty, fuel or power adjustments, subsidies and other bill items can also affect what you pay.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How usage time changes the estimate
At the same average wattage and tariff, energy use changes linearly with viewing hours: twice the hours means twice the units. To compare usage patterns, hold the combined watts and tariff constant and change only the daily hours.
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| Assumed combined draw | Daily use | Energy in 30 days |
|---|---|---|
| 80 W | 4 hours | 9.6 kWh |
| 80 W | 8 hours | 19.2 kWh |
| 80 W | 12 hours | 28.8 kWh |
These are arithmetic examples using an assumed 80 W, not measurements. Multiply the resulting units by your applicable marginal slab rate, splitting units across slabs if necessary.
Common estimating mistakes
- Using the PSU rating as consumption: the wattage printed on a power supply is its capacity rating, not continuous draw.
- Leaving out the monitor: include its draw whenever it is on during viewing.
- Using an idle figure for playback: idle measurements do not establish YouTube streaming consumption.
- Applying one national rate: use the tariff and slab that apply to your own bill.
- Calling the estimate the final bill increase: it estimates energy charges, while fixed charges and adjustments can change the bill total.
Or let it run in the cloud
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