Electricity cost in Washington, 2026
Homes in Washington paid an average of 14.40¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 21% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 13.0% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 15th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$38.88a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.22
- Per day
- $1.30 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $473.04 · 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 Washington
At 14.40¢/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 | $6.48 | $78.84 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $120.96 | $1,472 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $31.10 | $378.43 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $38.88 | $473.04 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $58.32 | $709.56 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $17.50 | $212.87 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $40.69 | $495.12 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $2.16 | $26.28 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $4.15 | $50.46 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $5.83 | $70.96 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $2.59 | $31.54 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $49.77 | $605.49 |
Washington compared with its neighbors
Washington is in the EIA's Pacific region. July's price (14.71¢) ran above the year-to-date average, the usual summer peak. It had the lowest price in its region.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 14.40 | +13.0% | 15 of 51 |
| Oregon | 15.40 | +1.4% | 23 of 51 |
| California | 33.25 | +2.5% | 50 of 51 |
Charging an EV in Washington
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $4.57 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $54.86 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 — 4.4 times Washington's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.