Electricity cost in Iowa, 2026
Homes in Iowa paid an average of 14.20¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 22% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 5.0% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 13th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$38.34a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.21
- Per day
- $1.28 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $466.47 · 3,285 kWh
Wattage on the nameplate is the maximum. Thermostat-controlled appliances (fridges, heaters, AC) cycle, so their real cost is usually lower; a plug-in meter tells you exactly.
What appliances cost to run in Iowa
At 14.20¢/kWh, 30-day month. Your utility's rate and fixed charges will differ; your bill's total divided by its kWh is your real price.
| Appliance | Watts | h/day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (modern, ENERGY STAR) | 150 | 10 | $6.39 | $77.74 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $119.28 | $1,451 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $30.67 | $373.18 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $38.34 | $466.47 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $57.51 | $699.70 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $17.25 | $209.91 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $40.13 | $488.24 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $2.13 | $25.92 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $4.09 | $49.76 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $5.75 | $69.97 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $2.56 | $31.10 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $49.08 | $597.08 |
Iowa compared with its neighbors
Iowa is in the EIA's West North Central region. July's price (15.99¢) ran above the year-to-date average, the usual summer peak. In the same region, North Dakota paid 12.36¢.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.36 | +7.4% | 1 of 51 |
| Nebraska | 12.90 | +7.2% | 2 of 51 |
| Missouri | 13.96 | +5.9% | 12 of 51 |
| Iowa | 14.20 | +5.0% | 13 of 51 |
| South Dakota | 14.50 | +10.3% | 16 of 51 |
| Kansas | 15.21 | +6.2% | 20 of 51 |
| Minnesota | 16.25 | +4.2% | 28 of 51 |
Charging an EV in Iowa
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $4.51 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $54.10 a month to the bill. Size the circuit with the EV charger calculator.
Solar panels in Iowa
NREL's PVWatts model puts a south-facing, 20° roof array in Des Moines at about 1,370 kWh per kW of panels a year (4.8 peak sun hours a day). Covering the average US home's 899 kWh a month takes about 7.9 kW, or 20 panels of 400 W; at 14.20¢/kWh that power is worth about $1,556 a year. Output peaks in Jul (158 kWh per kW) and bottoms out in Dec (72). Run your own numbers in the solar panel calculator.
Running backup power instead
A 7.5 kW portable generator at half load burns about 0.75 gallons of gasoline an hour, roughly 3.75 kWh. At $3.20 a gallon that is about 64¢ per kWh — 4.5 times Iowa's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.