Guide, data: August 2026
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in each state?
Charging at home costs between $3.21 and $11.89 per 100 miles in the United States, depending on the state. Those two ends are Nevada at 12.72 cents per kilowatt hour and Hawaii at 47.18 cents (EIA, August 2026, residential, preliminary). The U.S. average is 18.16 cents, which is $4.58 per 100 miles in a 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD.
How the numbers are built
The price comes from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential column, for August 2026. EIA released it on Oct 23, 2026 and notes that 2026 values are preliminary estimates from a sample, while the August 2025 values are final. The efficiency comes from the EPA file behind fueleconomy.gov, in kWh per 100 miles. The EPA measures energy drawn from the wall, so charger losses are already inside it.
The table uses the 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD (EPA record 49743) at 25.2 kWh per 100 miles. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles, an assumption and not a measured average. Cost per 100 miles is kWh per 100 miles times cents per kWh, divided by 100.
Five cheapest and five most expensive states
Residential price, cents per kWh: the five lowest and five highest states
Cheapest five
| State | Cents/kWh | Per 100 mi | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72 | $3.21 | $385 |
| Louisiana | 12.87 | $3.24 | $389 |
| North Dakota | 13.31 | $3.35 | $402 |
| Utah | 13.31 | $3.35 | $402 |
| Idaho | 13.37 | $3.37 | $404 |
Most expensive five
| State | Cents/kWh | Per 100 mi | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 47.18 | $11.89 | $1,427 |
| Maine | 32.11 | $8.09 | $971 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48 | $7.68 | $922 |
| California | 29.75 | $7.50 | $900 |
| Alaska | 29.41 | $7.41 | $889 |
Cost columns: EPA record 49743, 25.2 kWh per 100 miles, 12,000 miles a year.
The top price is 3.7 times the bottom one. On this model that is a gap of $1,042 a year.
A worked example
Take Texas, at 15.91 cents per kWh. The Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD uses 25.2 kWh per 100 miles, so 100 miles cost 25.2 x 15.91 / 100 = $4.01. Over 12,000 miles that is $481 a year, or $40 a month. The same car in Hawaii would run $119 a month. If your bill shows a different rate per kWh, replace the cents figure and the arithmetic stays the same.
What moved against August 2025
Change in residential price, August 2026 against August 2025
Biggest increases: Hawaii +22.5%, Maine +14.1%, New Hampshire +13.1%. Biggest decreases: Connecticut -18.8%, California -3.8%, Utah -2.3%. The U.S. figure moved from 17.57 to 18.16 cents (+3.4%). The Connecticut drop is what EIA reports (30.17 to 24.51 cents); we have not traced the cause. A preliminary month set against a final one can differ for reasons unrelated to rates.
The state gap is wider than the model gap
Across the 14 models in our table the spread is 2.1 times: 2026 Lucid Air Pure RWD with 19 inch wheels (EPA) at 23.1 kWh per 100 miles against 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Ext Range WT (EPA) at 47.8. The state spread is 3.7 times. At the U.S. average price the first costs $4.19 per 100 miles and the second $8.68. The list is a convenience sample of 14 trims, not the whole market. Pick any pair in the charging cost calculator, or compare the result with gasoline in the EV vs gas calculator.
What this does not cover
- The residential figure averages all households, including fixed charges. A utility EV or time of use plan can be lower, and your own bill is the real number.
- Public fast charging is priced differently and is left out; see the Tesla example in the Tesla charging guide.
- Cold weather and highway speed change real use, and so does wheel size. The EPA number is a label rating.
- Charger purchase and installation are not in the totals. What may offset them is on the home charger incentives page, and purchase credits are on federal EV tax credits and state incentives.
Sources
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, data for August 2026, released Oct 23, 2026, read Nov 8, 2026.
- EPA and DOE, fueleconomy.gov vehicles.csv, column combE, read Nov 8, 2026.
Figures are information, not financial advice. How every number here is sourced and refreshed: data and sources. Who runs the site: about PlugRates.