WattCost

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Kentucky · 15.0¢/kWh residential average

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

$163/yr · median certified model

Residential electricity in Kentucky runs 15.0¢/kWh — 20% under the U.S. average — putting the median certified electric water heater at about $163 a year, versus $204 nationally.

Kentucky ranks 16 of 51 jurisdictions for electric water heater running costs — solidly mid-table. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Kentucky rates the most efficient certified model (Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15) costs $97 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $261 — a spread of $165 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.

Kentucky
$163
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 Kentucky rates

Price any model at Kentucky rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
45¢
Per month
$13.54
Per year
$163

1,082 kWh/yr × 15.0¢/kWh = $163/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 Kentucky?
About $163 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Kentucky's average residential rate of 15.0¢/kWh — that's $13.54 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Kentucky?
Kentucky's residential average of 15.0¢/kWh is 20% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 16 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Kentucky?
Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $97 a year at Kentucky rates (643 kWh/yr).
How does Kentucky 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). Kentucky sits at $163.

Keep digging

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