Is electricity expensive in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's residential average of 21.5¢/kWh is 14% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 38 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $138 a year at Pennsylvania rates (643 kWh/yr).

How does Pennsylvania 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). Pennsylvania sits at $232.

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Pennsylvania · 21.5¢/kWh residential average

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

$232/yr · median certified model

Pennsylvania pays 21.5¢/kWh for residential power — 14% above the national average — lifting the median certified electric water heater to about $232 a year, versus $204 nationally.

Pennsylvania ranks 38 of 51 jurisdictions for electric water heater running costs — solidly mid-table. At local rates, certified models span $138 (Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15) to $374 (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) per year — $236 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.

Pennsylvania

$232

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 Pennsylvania rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 21.5¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in PA
1	Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15	643	$138
2	Rheem PROPH40 T2 RH375-15	643	$138
3	Rheem PROPH40 T2 RH400-15	643	$138
4	Rheem XE40T10H22U0	643	$138
5	Rheem XE40T10H22U1	643	$138
6	Richmond 10E40-HP515	643	$138
7	Richmond 10E40-HP5U15	643	$138
8	Ruud PROUH40 T2 RU375-15	643	$138
9	Ruud PROUH40 T2 RU400-15	643	$138
10	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$146

Price any model at Pennsylvania rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 64¢
Per month: $19.36
Per year: $232

1,082 kWh/yr × 21.5¢/kWh = $232/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 Pennsylvania?: About $232 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Pennsylvania's average residential rate of 21.5¢/kWh — that's $19.36 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania's residential average of 21.5¢/kWh is 14% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 38 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Pennsylvania?: Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $138 a year at Pennsylvania rates (643 kWh/yr).
How does Pennsylvania 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). Pennsylvania sits at $232.

Keep digging

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