Electricity cost in Tennessee, 2026
Homes in Tennessee paid an average of 13.87¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 24% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 4.9% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 9th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$37.45a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.21
- Per day
- $1.25 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $455.63 · 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 Tennessee
At 13.87¢/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 | $6.24 | $75.94 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $116.51 | $1,418 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $29.96 | $364.50 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $37.45 | $455.63 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $56.17 | $683.44 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $16.85 | $205.03 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $39.20 | $476.89 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $2.08 | $25.31 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $3.99 | $48.60 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $5.62 | $68.34 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $2.50 | $30.38 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $47.93 | $583.21 |
Tennessee compared with its neighbors
Tennessee is in the EIA's East South Central region. July's price (13.71¢) was below the year-to-date average. It had the lowest price in its region.
| 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 Tennessee
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $4.40 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $52.84 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 — 4.6 times Tennessee's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.