write a program to calculate electricity bill in python

Introduction

In our increasingly digitized world, the ability to automate mundane tasks through programming has become an invaluable skill. One such practical application is calculating electricity bills using Python. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to create a simple yet effective program to calculate electricity bills. Whether you’re a programming novice or a seasoned developer, this guide will break down the problem, present a basic solution, and then delve into more advanced aspects like error handling and using functions.

The Whole Program

Before we dive into the intricacies of the code, let’s take a look at the complete program:

Breaking Down the Problem

Understanding the Logic

The electricity bill is often calculated based on the number of units consumed. Different slabs have different rates. For instance:

• Up to 50 units: 3.0 per unit
• 101 to 200 units: 7.5 per unit

We can use these conditions to determine the appropriate rate for each slab and calculate the total bill.

Example Scenario:

Suppose a household consumes 120 units of electricity in a billing cycle.

Calculate the Bill:

• For the first 50 units: 50 units×2.5/unit
• For the next 50 units (51 to 100): (120 units−50 units)×3.0/unit
• For the remaining units (101 to 120): 20 units×5.0/unit

Sum Up the Bills:

• Total Bill = (50×2.5)+(50×3.0)+(20×5.0)(50×2.5)+(50×3.0)+(20×5.0)

Calculation:

Let’s compute the total bill using the identified slabs and rates:

Total Bill=(50×2.5)+(50×3.0)+(20×5.0)Total Bill=(50×2.5)+(50×3.0)+(20×5.0)

Total Bill=125+150+100Total Bill=125+150+100

Total Bill=375

Taking User Input

The program begins by taking user input for the number of units consumed. The float() function ensures that the input is treated as a floating-point number, allowing for decimal values.

Breaking Down the Code – Step by Step

Step 1: Defining the Function

The core logic is encapsulated in the calculate_bill function. This function takes the number of units as a parameter and calculates the bill based on the predefined slabs.

Step 2: Applying Conditions

The if-elif-else statements in the function determine which slab the given number of units falls into and calculate the corresponding bill.

Step 3: Returning the Result

The calculated bill is returned by the function.

Step 4: Taking User Input and Displaying Result

The user is prompted to enter the units consumed. The program then calls the calculate_bill function with the user input and displays the result.

Advanced Code with Error Handling

To enhance the robustness of our program, let’s add error handling for invalid inputs. We’ll use a try-except block to catch potential errors, such as non-numeric inputs.

Certainly, let’s break down the code for error handling in the electricity bill calculator. The primary goal of error handling is to ensure that the program gracefully handles unexpected situations, such as invalid user inputs. In the given example, we use a try-except block to catch potential errors and provide meaningful error messages to the user.

Now, let’s break down the error handling part step by step:

Step 1: User Input with try-except

try:
    units_consumed = float(input("Enter the number of units consumed: "))
    if units_consumed < 0:
        raise ValueError("Units consumed cannot be negative.")
except ValueError as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")

• The try block attempts to execute the code inside it.
• The float(input(...)) statement takes user input and attempts to convert it to a floating-point number.
• If the user enters a non-numeric value, a ValueError is raised, and the control moves to the except block.
• Within the except block, we catch the ValueError and print an error message indicating that there was an issue with the input.

Step 2: Handling Negative Values

if units_consumed < 0:
    raise ValueError("Units consumed cannot be negative.")

• After successfully converting the user input to a float, we check if it’s a negative value.
• If it’s negative, we raise another ValueError with a specific error message.

Step 3: Calculation and Display

• If there are no errors in the user input, the else block is executed.
• The program proceeds to calculate the electricity bill using the calculate_bill function and displays the result.

This error handling mechanism ensures that the program informs the user about the nature of any input-related issues and prevents the program from crashing due to unexpected inputs.

Using Functions for Modularity

In programming, it’s good practice to modularize code. Let’s refactor our program by breaking it into smaller functions for better readability and maintainability.

Conclusion

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve walked through the process of creating a Python program to calculate electricity bills. Starting with a basic solution, we then explored advanced concepts like error handling and modularization using functions. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced programmer, this guide provides a solid foundation for tackling real-world problems with Python. Feel free to experiment and enhance the program further to suit your specific needs. Happy coding