Answer:
To find the percentage decrease, we need to calculate the difference between the initial and final values, divide that by the initial value, and then multiply by 100.
The initial use of electricity was 12,000 kilowatt-hours per month, and the final use was 7,000 kilowatt-hours per month. The difference is:
12,000 - 7,000 = 5,000
To find the percentage decrease, we divide the difference by the initial value:
5,000 / 12,000 = 0.4167
Finally, we multiply by 100 to get the percentage:
0.4167 * 100 = 41.67%
Therefore, the percentage decrease in electricity usage is 41.67%.