WattCost

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · Hawaii · 52.7¢/kWh residential average

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

$638/yr · median certified model

Hawaii is the extreme case for U.S. electricity costs: 52.7¢/kWh, roughly 2.9× the national average. The median certified electric water heater costs about $638 a year here — the same appliance would cost $222 at national-average rates. In this rate environment, the gap between an efficient and an inefficient electric water heater is often larger than the appliance's purchase-price difference over its lifetime.

Only 0 jurisdictions cost more: Hawaii ranks 51 of 51 for running an electric water heater. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Hawaii rates the most efficient certified model (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) costs $359 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $918 — a spread of $559 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.

Hawaii
$638
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 Hawaii rates

Price any model at Hawaii rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
$1.75
Per month
$53.16
Per year
$638

1,210 kWh/yr × 52.7¢/kWh = $638/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 Hawaii?
About $638 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Hawaii's average residential rate of 52.7¢/kWh — that's $53.16 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Hawaii?
Hawaii's residential average of 52.7¢/kWh is 187% above the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 51 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Hawaii?
Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $359 a year at Hawaii rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does Hawaii 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). Hawaii sits at $638.

Keep digging

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