Is electricity expensive in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia's residential average of 24.4¢/kWh is 33% above the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 41 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in District of Columbia?

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $166 a year at District of Columbia rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does District of Columbia 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). District of Columbia sits at $295.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · District of Columbia · 24.4¢/kWh residential average

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

$295/yr · median certified model

District of Columbia pays 24.4¢/kWh for residential power — 33% above the national average — lifting the median certified electric water heater to about $295 a year, versus $222 nationally.

In the national ranking, District of Columbia lands at 41 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 (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) costs $166 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $425 — a spread of $259 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.

District of Columbia

$295

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 District of Columbia rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 24.4¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in DC
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$166
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$177
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$188
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$189
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$190
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$190
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$190
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$190
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$190
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$190

Price any model at District of Columbia rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 81¢
Per month: $24.59
Per year: $295

1,210 kWh/yr × 24.4¢/kWh = $295/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 District of Columbia?: About $295 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at District of Columbia's average residential rate of 24.4¢/kWh — that's $24.59 a month.
Is electricity expensive in District of Columbia?: District of Columbia's residential average of 24.4¢/kWh is 33% above the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 41 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in District of Columbia?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $166 a year at District of Columbia rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does District of Columbia 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). District of Columbia sits at $295.

Keep digging

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