Data through April 2026
Cost to run · North Carolina · 16.3¢/kWh residential average
How much does it cost to run an electric water heater in North Carolina?
$176/yr · median certified model
Residential electricity in North Carolina runs 16.3¢/kWh — 14% under the U.S. average — putting the median certified electric water heater at about $176 a year, versus $204 nationally.
In the national ranking, North Carolina lands at 24 of 51 for what an electric water heater costs to run. At local rates, certified models span $104 (Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15) to $283 (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) per year — $178 of annual headroom that depends entirely on which unit you buy. 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.
The cheapest water heaters (electric) to run at North Carolina rates
| # | Model | kWh/yr | $/yr in NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 | 643 | $104 |
| 2 | Rheem PROPH40 T2 RH375-15 | 643 | $104 |
| 3 | Rheem PROPH40 T2 RH400-15 | 643 | $104 |
| 4 | Rheem XE40T10H22U0 | 643 | $104 |
| 5 | Rheem XE40T10H22U1 | 643 | $104 |
| 6 | Richmond 10E40-HP515 | 643 | $104 |
| 7 | Richmond 10E40-HP5U15 | 643 | $104 |
| 8 | Ruud PROUH40 T2 RU375-15 | 643 | $104 |
| 9 | Ruud PROUH40 T2 RU400-15 | 643 | $104 |
| 10 | Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A | 681 | $111 |
Price any model at North Carolina rates
Your rate, your numbers
- Per day
- 48¢
- Per month
- $14.65
- Per year
- $176
1,082 kWh/yr × 16.3¢/kWh = $176/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 North Carolina?
- About $176 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at North Carolina's average residential rate of 16.3¢/kWh — that's $14.65 a month.
- Is electricity expensive in North Carolina?
- North Carolina's residential average of 16.3¢/kWh is 14% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 24 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
- What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in North Carolina?
- Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $104 a year at North Carolina rates (643 kWh/yr).
- How does North Carolina 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). North Carolina sits at $176.
Keep digging
- All certified water heaters (electric) compared
- Water Heaters (Electric) costs in Oregon (rank 22 of 51)
- Water Heaters (Electric) costs in West Virginia (rank 23 of 51)
- Water Heaters (Electric) costs in Minnesota (rank 25 of 51)
- Water Heaters (Electric) costs in Colorado (rank 26 of 51)
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Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.