How much does an electric water heater cost to run per year?

The median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater costs about $222 a year at the U.S. average rate (18.3¢/kWh). Across all 510 certified models, costs range from $125 to $319.

Where is an electric water heater cheapest and most expensive to run?

Nevada has the lowest residential rate (13.1¢/kWh), putting the median electric water heater at $159 a year; Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh) is the most expensive at $638.

Data through June 2026

Category · 510 certified models

Water Heaters (Electric): what they cost to run

An electric water heater tracks your household's demand rather than a switch, so the DOE test simulates a typical family's daily draw. The 510 certified electric models here cost between $125 and $319 a year at the U.S. average rate — median $222, one of the largest line items any appliance puts on a bill.

Heat-pump water heaters use a half to a third of the electricity of resistance units — the UEF figure makes the difference plain. Every figure on this page comes from ENERGY STAR's certified test data — the 681–1,741 kWh/yr range you see is measured, not estimated.

Median cost: $222/yr
Cheapest model: $125/yr
Priciest model: $319/yr

Distribution of certified annual kWh across 510 water heaters (electric)

The 20 most efficient to run

Lowest certified annual kWh among all water heaters (electric)
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr (US avg)
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$125
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$133
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$141
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$142
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$143
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$143
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$143
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$143
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$143
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$143
11	Richmond 10E40-HP120M	780	$143
12	Richmond 10E40-HP120MS	780	$143
13	Ruud PROUH40 T0 RU120-M	780	$143
14	Ruud PROUH40 T0 RU120-MSO	780	$143
15	A. O. Smith HPS10-50H45DV 2	831	$152
16	A. O. Smith HPSN10-50H45DV 2	831	$152
17	A. O. Smith HPTS-50 2	831	$152
18	American HPS10250H045DV 2	831	$152
19	Lochinvar HPSA050KD 2	831	$152
20	RELIANCE WATER HEATERS 10-50-DHPTS 2	831	$152

See the full ranking →

Typical cost by state

Median certified electric water heater (1,210 kWh/yr) at each state's average residential rate
State	Rate ¢/kWh	Median $/yr
Alabama	16.4¢	$198
Alaska	28.2¢	$341
Arizona	15.2¢	$184
Arkansas	14.1¢	$171
California	34.7¢	$420
Colorado	17.1¢	$207
Connecticut	24.3¢	$294
Delaware	19.3¢	$233
District of Columbia	24.4¢	$295
Florida	15.1¢	$183
Georgia	16.4¢	$198
Hawaiipriciest	52.7¢	$638
Idaho	14.4¢	$174
Illinois	19.9¢	$241
Indiana	17.5¢	$212
Iowa	15.9¢	$193
Kansas	15.7¢	$190
Kentucky	14.3¢	$173
Louisiana	13.5¢	$163
Maine	29.6¢	$358
Maryland	21.8¢	$264
Massachusetts	29.6¢	$358
Michigan	23.0¢	$278
Minnesota	17.5¢	$212
Mississippi	14.9¢	$180
Missouri	16.2¢	$196
Montana	15.1¢	$183
Nebraska	13.3¢	$160
Nevadacheapest	13.1¢	$159
New Hampshire	27.0¢	$327
New Jersey	24.9¢	$302
New Mexico	15.1¢	$182
New York	29.5¢	$357
North Carolina	14.7¢	$178
North Dakota	14.1¢	$171
Ohio	19.2¢	$232
Oklahoma	14.3¢	$173
Oregon	16.3¢	$197
Pennsylvania	21.7¢	$263
Rhode Island	29.2¢	$354
South Carolina	15.6¢	$188
South Dakota	15.4¢	$186
Tennessee	14.1¢	$170
Texas	15.9¢	$193
Utah	13.4¢	$162
Vermont	24.4¢	$296
Virginia	17.2¢	$208
Washington	14.9¢	$180
West Virginia	15.4¢	$187
Wisconsin	19.6¢	$237
Wyoming	15.2¢	$184

How to read these numbers

The certified annual kWh comes from the DOE Uniform Energy Factor test, which simulates a typical household's daily hot-water draw pattern. Only electric models (including heat-pump units) are listed — gas models burn gas, not kWh. Full methodology and limitations →

Browse Water Heaters (Electric) by Brand

Browse Water Heaters (Electric) by Size

Browse Water Heaters (Electric) by Type

Questions, answered with the data

How much does an electric water heater cost to run per year?: The median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater costs about $222 a year at the U.S. average rate (18.3¢/kWh). Across all 510 certified models, costs range from $125 to $319.
How much electricity does an electric water heater use?: Certified models use between 681 and 1,741 kWh per year (median 1,210). The certified annual kWh comes from the DOE Uniform Energy Factor test, which simulates a typical household's daily hot-water draw pattern. Only electric models (including heat-pump units) are listed — gas models burn gas, not kWh.
Where is an electric water heater cheapest and most expensive to run?: Nevada has the lowest residential rate (13.1¢/kWh), putting the median electric water heater at $159 a year; Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh) is the most expensive at $638.
What makes one electric water heater cheaper to run than another?: Heat-pump water heaters use a half to a third of the electricity of resistance units — the UEF figure makes the difference plain.