In article ,
blackhead writes:
After a bit of research, it looks as if the utility companies in the
UK simply multiply the instantaneous voltage and current

Correct.

and average
this over time to get the apparent power.

No, it's integrated over time to give you the actual energy usage.

This is what you pay for,
rather than the real power you use which is the product of the in
phase current and voltage. An ideal inductor as a load doesn't
dissipate energy but the utility company still gets you to pay for the
apparent power.

No it doesn't.

--
Andrew Gabriel
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