Is electricity expensive in Virginia?

Virginia's residential average of 17.2¢/kWh is 6% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 30 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $117 a year at Virginia rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does Virginia 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). Virginia sits at $208.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · Virginia · 17.2¢/kWh residential average

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

$208/yr · median certified model

Virginia's residential rate of 17.2¢/kWh tracks the national average (18.3¢) closely, so national cost figures translate almost directly: a median certified electric water heater runs about $208 a year here.

Virginia ranks 30 of 51 jurisdictions for electric water heater running costs — solidly mid-table. At local rates, certified models span $117 (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) to $300 (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) per year — $183 of annual headroom that depends entirely on which unit you buy. 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.

Virginia

$208

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 Virginia rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 17.2¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in VA
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$117
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$125
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$132
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$133
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$134
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$134
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$134
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$134
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$134
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$134

Price any model at Virginia rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 57¢
Per month: $17.36
Per year: $208

1,210 kWh/yr × 17.2¢/kWh = $208/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 Virginia?: About $208 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Virginia's average residential rate of 17.2¢/kWh — that's $17.36 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Virginia?: Virginia's residential average of 17.2¢/kWh is 6% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 30 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Virginia?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $117 a year at Virginia rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does Virginia 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). Virginia sits at $208.

Keep digging

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