Is electricity expensive in Alabama?

Alabama's residential average of 16.4¢/kWh is 11% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 28 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Alabama?

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $112 a year at Alabama rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does Alabama compare with other states?

The same median electric water heater costs $159 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $638 in Hawaii (the priciest). Alabama sits at $198.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · Alabama · 16.4¢/kWh residential average

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

$198/yr · median certified model

Alabama's 16.4¢/kWh rate undercuts the national average by 11%, so the typical certified electric water heater costs roughly $198 a year here instead of $222.

Alabama ranks 28 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 (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) costs $112 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $286 — a spread of $174 every year. For reference, the national extremes are Nevada (13.1¢/kWh) and Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh); the same median electric water heater would cost $159 and $638 a year there.

Alabama

$198

US average

$222

Nevada

$159

Hawaii

$638

Median certified electric water heater (1,210 kWh/yr) per year, at each rate

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

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 16.4¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in AL
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$112
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$119
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$126
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$127
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$128
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$128
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$128
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$128
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$128
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$128

Price any model at Alabama rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 54¢
Per month: $16.54
Per year: $198

1,210 kWh/yr × 16.4¢/kWh = $198/yr

Prefilled with the median certified electric water heater (1,210 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 $198 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Alabama's average residential rate of 16.4¢/kWh — that's $16.54 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Alabama?: Alabama's residential average of 16.4¢/kWh is 11% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 28 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Alabama?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $112 a year at Alabama rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does Alabama compare with other states?: The same median electric water heater costs $159 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $638 in Hawaii (the priciest). Alabama sits at $198.

Keep digging

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