WattCost

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Alabama · 17.4¢/kWh residential average

How much does it cost to run an electric water heater in Alabama?

$188/yr · median certified model

Electricity in Alabama is priced within a few percent of the U.S. average — 17.4¢/kWh — which puts the typical certified electric water heater at about $188 annually, essentially the national number.

Alabama ranks 31 of 51 jurisdictions for electric water heater running costs — solidly mid-table. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Alabama rates the most efficient certified model (Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15) costs $112 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $303 — a spread of $191 every year. For reference, the national extremes are North Dakota (12.3¢/kWh) and Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh); the same median electric water heater would cost $134 and $504 a year there.

Alabama
$188
US average
$204
North Dakota
$134
Hawaii
$504
Median certified electric water heater (1,082 kWh/yr) per year, at each rate

The cheapest water heaters (electric) to run at Alabama rates

Price any model at Alabama rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
52¢
Per month
$15.70
Per year
$188

1,082 kWh/yr × 17.4¢/kWh = $188/yr

Prefilled with the median certified electric water heater (1,082 kWh/yr). Every model page on this site carries its exact certified figure.

Questions, answered with the data

How much does it cost to run an electric water heater in Alabama?
About $188 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Alabama's average residential rate of 17.4¢/kWh — that's $15.70 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Alabama?
Alabama's residential average of 17.4¢/kWh is 8% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 31 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Alabama?
Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $112 a year at Alabama rates (643 kWh/yr).
How does Alabama compare with other states?
The same median electric water heater costs $134 a year in North Dakota (the cheapest state) and $504 in Hawaii (the priciest). Alabama sits at $188.

Keep digging

Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.