Is electricity expensive in Montana?

Montana's residential average of 15.1¢/kWh is 17% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 16 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $103 a year at Montana rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does Montana 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). Montana sits at $183.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · Montana · 15.1¢/kWh residential average

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

$183/yr · median certified model

Montana's 15.1¢/kWh rate undercuts the national average by 17%, so the typical certified electric water heater costs roughly $183 a year here instead of $222.

In the national ranking, Montana lands at 16 of 51 for what an electric water heater costs to run. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Montana rates the most efficient certified model (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) costs $103 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $264 — a spread of $160 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.

Montana

$183

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 Montana rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 15.1¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in MT
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$103
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$110
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$116
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$117
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$118
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$118
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$118
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$118
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$118
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$118

Price any model at Montana rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 50¢
Per month: $15.27
Per year: $183

1,210 kWh/yr × 15.1¢/kWh = $183/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 Montana?: About $183 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Montana's average residential rate of 15.1¢/kWh — that's $15.27 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Montana?: Montana's residential average of 15.1¢/kWh is 17% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 16 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Montana?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $103 a year at Montana rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does Montana 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). Montana sits at $183.

Keep digging

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