WattCost

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · District of Columbia · 25.4¢/kWh residential average

How much does it cost to run an electric water heater in District of Columbia?

$275/yr · median certified model

Electricity in District of Columbia is genuinely expensive — 25.4¢/kWh, 35% above the national average — so the median certified electric water heater costs about $275 a year, and efficiency differences between models turn into real money.

In the national ranking, District of Columbia lands at 42 of 51 for what an electric water heater costs to run. Model choice matters as much as geography: at District of Columbia rates the most efficient certified model (Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15) costs $163 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $442 — a spread of $279 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.

District of Columbia
$275
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 District of Columbia rates

Price any model at District of Columbia rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
75¢
Per month
$22.91
Per year
$275

1,082 kWh/yr × 25.4¢/kWh = $275/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 District of Columbia?
About $275 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at District of Columbia's average residential rate of 25.4¢/kWh — that's $22.91 a month.
Is electricity expensive in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia's residential average of 25.4¢/kWh is 35% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 42 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in District of Columbia?
Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $163 a year at District of Columbia rates (643 kWh/yr).
How does District of Columbia 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). District of Columbia sits at $275.

Keep digging

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