light bill
English
Etymology
So called because electricity was once used mainly for lighting; see 1940 citation below.
Noun
light bill (plural light bills)
- (US, chiefly dated) An electricity bill.
- 1940, C. A. Winder (Director, Division of Engineering and Operations), quoted in: United States. Rural Electrification Administration, Rural Electrification News: A Summary of Rural Electrification Activities (page 26)
- People who have been connected to utility electric lines have used them almost entirely for lights, because of the expense. […] But now with plenty of power, calling their monthly statement a light bill is, I believe, wrong psychology. Too many come in and remark about the amount of their light bill even though they may use 50 to 100 kilowatt-hours.
- 1940, C. A. Winder (Director, Division of Engineering and Operations), quoted in: United States. Rural Electrification Administration, Rural Electrification News: A Summary of Rural Electrification Activities (page 26)
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