Is electricity expensive in Tennessee?

Tennessee's residential average of 14.1¢/kWh is 23% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 5 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $96 a year at Tennessee rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does Tennessee 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). Tennessee sits at $170.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · Tennessee · 14.1¢/kWh residential average

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

$170/yr · median certified model

Residential electricity in Tennessee runs 14.1¢/kWh — 23% under the U.S. average — putting the median certified electric water heater at about $170 a year, versus $222 nationally.

Out of all 50 states plus D.C., Tennessee is the #5 cheapest place to run an electric water heater. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Tennessee rates the most efficient certified model (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) costs $96 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $245 — a spread of $149 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.

Tennessee

$170

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 Tennessee rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 14.1¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in TN
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$96
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$102
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$108
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$109
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$110
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$110
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$110
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$110
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$110
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$110

Price any model at Tennessee rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 47¢
Per month: $14.19
Per year: $170

1,210 kWh/yr × 14.1¢/kWh = $170/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 Tennessee?: About $170 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Tennessee's average residential rate of 14.1¢/kWh — that's $14.19 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Tennessee?: Tennessee's residential average of 14.1¢/kWh is 23% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 5 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Tennessee?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $96 a year at Tennessee rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does Tennessee 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). Tennessee sits at $170.

Keep digging

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