Is electricity expensive in Kentucky?

Kentucky's residential average of 14.3¢/kWh is 22% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 8 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $97 a year at Kentucky rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does Kentucky 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). Kentucky sits at $173.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · Kentucky · 14.3¢/kWh residential average

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

$173/yr · median certified model

Residential electricity in Kentucky runs 14.3¢/kWh — 22% under the U.S. average — putting the median certified electric water heater at about $173 a year, versus $222 nationally.

Kentucky ranks 8 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 (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) costs $97 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $248 — a spread of $151 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.

Kentucky

$173

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 Kentucky rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 14.3¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in KY
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$97
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$103
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$110
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$110
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$111
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$111
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$111
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$111
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$111
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$111

Price any model at Kentucky rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 47¢
Per month: $14.38
Per year: $173

1,210 kWh/yr × 14.3¢/kWh = $173/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 Kentucky?: About $173 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Kentucky's average residential rate of 14.3¢/kWh — that's $14.38 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Kentucky?: Kentucky's residential average of 14.3¢/kWh is 22% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 8 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Kentucky?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $97 a year at Kentucky rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does Kentucky 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). Kentucky sits at $173.

Keep digging

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