Is electricity expensive in Illinois?

Illinois's residential average of 20.5¢/kWh is 9% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 36 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $132 a year at Illinois rates (643 kWh/yr).

How does Illinois 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). Illinois sits at $221.

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Illinois · 20.5¢/kWh residential average

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

$221/yr · median certified model

Illinois's residential rate of 20.5¢/kWh tracks the national average (18.8¢) closely, so national cost figures translate almost directly: a median certified electric water heater runs about $221 a year here.

In the national ranking, Illinois lands at 36 of 51 for what an electric water heater costs to run. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Illinois rates the most efficient certified model (Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15) costs $132 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $356 — a spread of $225 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.

Illinois

$221

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 Illinois rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 20.5¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in IL
1	Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15	643	$132
2	Rheem PROPH40 T2 RH375-15	643	$132
3	Rheem PROPH40 T2 RH400-15	643	$132
4	Rheem XE40T10H22U0	643	$132
5	Rheem XE40T10H22U1	643	$132
6	Richmond 10E40-HP515	643	$132
7	Richmond 10E40-HP5U15	643	$132
8	Ruud PROUH40 T2 RU375-15	643	$132
9	Ruud PROUH40 T2 RU400-15	643	$132
10	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$139

Price any model at Illinois rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 61¢
Per month: $18.46
Per year: $221

1,082 kWh/yr × 20.5¢/kWh = $221/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 Illinois?: About $221 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Illinois's average residential rate of 20.5¢/kWh — that's $18.46 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Illinois?: Illinois's residential average of 20.5¢/kWh is 9% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 36 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Illinois?: Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $132 a year at Illinois rates (643 kWh/yr).
How does Illinois 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). Illinois sits at $221.

Keep digging

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