Is electricity expensive in Iowa?

Iowa's residential average of 15.9¢/kWh is 13% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 23 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $108 a year at Iowa rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does Iowa 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). Iowa sits at $193.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · Iowa · 15.9¢/kWh residential average

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

$193/yr · median certified model

Iowa's 15.9¢/kWh rate undercuts the national average by 13%, so the typical certified electric water heater costs roughly $193 a year here instead of $222.

Iowa ranks 23 of 51 jurisdictions for electric water heater running costs — solidly mid-table. At local rates, certified models span $108 (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) to $277 (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) per year — $169 of annual headroom that depends entirely on which unit you buy. 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.

Iowa

$193

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 Iowa rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 15.9¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in IA
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$108
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$115
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$123
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$123
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$124
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$124
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$124
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$124
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$124
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$124

Price any model at Iowa rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 53¢
Per month: $16.06
Per year: $193

1,210 kWh/yr × 15.9¢/kWh = $193/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 Iowa?: About $193 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Iowa's average residential rate of 15.9¢/kWh — that's $16.06 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Iowa?: Iowa's residential average of 15.9¢/kWh is 13% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 23 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Iowa?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $108 a year at Iowa rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does Iowa 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). Iowa sits at $193.

Keep digging

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