Electricity cost in Ohio, 2026
Homes in Ohio paid an average of 18.70¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 3% above the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 13.0% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 34th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$50.49a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.28
- Per day
- $1.68 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $614.30 · 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 Ohio
At 18.70¢/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 | $8.42 | $102.38 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $157.08 | $1,911 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $40.39 | $491.44 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $50.49 | $614.30 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $75.74 | $921.44 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $22.72 | $276.43 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $52.85 | $642.96 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $2.81 | $34.13 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $5.39 | $65.52 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $7.57 | $92.14 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $3.37 | $40.95 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $64.63 | $786.30 |
Ohio compared with its neighbors
Ohio is in the EIA's East North Central region. July's price (19.45¢) ran above the year-to-date average, the usual summer peak. In the same region, Indiana paid 17.04¢.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 17.04 | +7.4% | 32 of 51 |
| Ohio | 18.70 | +13.0% | 34 of 51 |
| Wisconsin | 19.00 | +5.4% | 35 of 51 |
| Illinois | 19.22 | +10.7% | 36 of 51 |
| Michigan | 21.53 | +8.8% | 39 of 51 |
Charging an EV in Ohio
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $5.94 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $71.24 a month to the bill. Size the circuit with the EV charger 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 — 3.4 times Ohio's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.