Does the kVArh reactive energy on my electricity bill count in emissions?

No. Emissions use active energy in kWh. Reactive energy in kVArh is not consumed from the grid in the same way and is not multiplied by the grid factor. It matters for your power factor and any penalty. If your tariff charges for apparent energy, still take the kWh line for emissions.

Which line to use

• kWh: active energy, multiply by 0.710 kg CO2.
• Apparent energy: billed on some tariffs; use the kWh shown alongside.
• kVArh: reactive energy; leave it out of emissions.

Why power factor still matters

A poor power factor raises current and losses in your own cables and transformer, which shows up as extra kWh. Correcting it can save a little energy as well as the penalty.

What Senseible does here

Senseible reads fuel invoices and electricity bills and applies IPCC 2006 factors and the CEA grid factor (0.710 kg CO2 per kWh), so you can compare Scope 1 and 2 before and after a change from the documents themselves.

• Apparent energy billing to kWh
• Does power factor correction cut emissions?
• Read an HT bill

Sources: GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance, CEA CO2 Baseline Database

Last reviewed 2026-10-23.