Is electricity expensive in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin's residential average of 19.2¢/kWh is 2% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 34 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $124 a year at Wisconsin rates (643 kWh/yr).

How does Wisconsin 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). Wisconsin sits at $208.

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Wisconsin · 19.2¢/kWh residential average

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

$208/yr · median certified model

Wisconsin's residential rate of 19.2¢/kWh tracks the national average (18.8¢) closely, so national cost figures translate almost directly: a median certified electric water heater runs about $208 a year here.

Wisconsin ranks 34 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 (Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15) costs $124 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $334 — a spread of $211 every year. 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.

Wisconsin

$208

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 Wisconsin rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 19.2¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in WI
1	Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15	643	$124
2	Rheem PROPH40 T2 RH375-15	643	$124
3	Rheem PROPH40 T2 RH400-15	643	$124
4	Rheem XE40T10H22U0	643	$124
5	Rheem XE40T10H22U1	643	$124
6	Richmond 10E40-HP515	643	$124
7	Richmond 10E40-HP5U15	643	$124
8	Ruud PROUH40 T2 RU375-15	643	$124
9	Ruud PROUH40 T2 RU400-15	643	$124
10	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$131

Price any model at Wisconsin rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 57¢
Per month: $17.32
Per year: $208

1,082 kWh/yr × 19.2¢/kWh = $208/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 Wisconsin?: About $208 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at Wisconsin's average residential rate of 19.2¢/kWh — that's $17.32 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Wisconsin?: Wisconsin's residential average of 19.2¢/kWh is 2% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 34 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in Wisconsin?: Among currently certified models, the Friedrich PROH40 T2 FD400-15 costs the least at about $124 a year at Wisconsin rates (643 kWh/yr).
How does Wisconsin 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). Wisconsin sits at $208.

Keep digging

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