The typical American home uses about 7,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. Megawatts are used to measure the output of a power plant or the amount of electricity required by an entire city. One megawatt (MW) = 1,000 kilowatts = 1,000,000 watts.

What is a Megawatt (MW)?
A megawatt (MW) is a unit of electric capacity or electric load.  A MW is equal to 1,000 kilowatts (kW).  Generators depending on size have rated capacities reported as MW, kW or watts.  The load of electric equipment such as light bulbs, homes, businesses and industries are rated in kW or watts.  The capacity of all the operating electric generators must match the required load at the time. 

What are Megawatt-hour (MWh) and kilowatt-hours (kWh)?
A megawatt-hour (MWh) is a unit of measure of electric energy.  A MWh is 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh).  An MWh is the amount of electricity generated by a one megawatt (MW) electric generator operating or producing electricity for one hour.  On an electric bill, electricity usage is commonly reported in kilowatt-hours.