Is electricity expensive in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin's residential average of 19.6¢/kWh is 7% above the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 35 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $133 a year at Wisconsin rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does Wisconsin 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). Wisconsin sits at $237.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · Wisconsin · 19.6¢/kWh residential average

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

$237/yr · median certified model

Wisconsin's residential rate of 19.6¢/kWh tracks the national average (18.3¢) closely, so national cost figures translate almost directly: a median certified electric water heater runs about $237 a year here.

Wisconsin ranks 35 of 51 jurisdictions for electric water heater running costs — solidly mid-table. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Wisconsin rates the most efficient certified model (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) costs $133 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $341 — a spread of $207 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.

Wisconsin

$237

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 Wisconsin rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 19.6¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in WI
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$133
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$142
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$150
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$151
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$153
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$153
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$153
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$153
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$153
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$153

Price any model at Wisconsin rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 65¢
Per month: $19.72
Per year: $237

1,210 kWh/yr × 19.6¢/kWh = $237/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 Wisconsin?: About $237 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Wisconsin's average residential rate of 19.6¢/kWh — that's $19.72 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Wisconsin?: Wisconsin's residential average of 19.6¢/kWh is 7% above the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 35 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Wisconsin?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $133 a year at Wisconsin rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does Wisconsin 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). Wisconsin sits at $237.

Keep digging

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