Electricity cost in Kentucky, 2026
Homes in Kentucky paid an average of 14.27¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 22% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 8.8% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 14th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$38.53a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.21
- Per day
- $1.28 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $468.77 · 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 Kentucky
At 14.27¢/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 | $6.42 | $78.13 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $119.87 | $1,458 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $30.82 | $375.02 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $38.53 | $468.77 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $57.79 | $703.15 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $17.34 | $210.95 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $40.33 | $490.65 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $2.14 | $26.04 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $4.11 | $50.00 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $5.78 | $70.32 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $2.57 | $31.25 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $49.32 | $600.02 |
Kentucky compared with its neighbors
Kentucky is in the EIA's East South Central region. July's price (13.81¢) was below the year-to-date average. In the same region, Tennessee paid 13.87¢.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 13.87 | +4.9% | 9 of 51 |
| Kentucky | 14.27 | +8.8% | 14 of 51 |
| Mississippi | 15.19 | +9.1% | 19 of 51 |
| Alabama | 16.54 | +3.6% | 29 of 51 |
Charging an EV in Kentucky
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $4.53 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $54.36 a month to the bill. Size the circuit with the EV charger calculator.
Solar panels in Kentucky
NREL's PVWatts model puts a south-facing, 20° roof array in Louisville at about 1,355 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 8.0 kW, or 20 panels of 400 W; at 14.27¢/kWh that power is worth about $1,547 a year. Output peaks in Jun (143 kWh per kW) and bottoms out in Dec (73). 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 Kentucky's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.