Cost to run a TV in every state
For 100 W for 5 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity rate (August 2026, EIA). Click a state for more detail.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $1.91 | $22.90 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $0.01 | $1.93 | $23.17 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $0.01 | $2.00 | $23.96 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $0.01 | $2.00 | $23.96 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $0.01 | $2.01 | $24.07 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $0.01 | $2.01 | $24.16 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $0.01 | $2.03 | $24.37 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $0.01 | $2.07 | $24.84 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $0.01 | $2.16 | $25.87 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $0.01 | $2.16 | $25.97 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $0.01 | $2.16 | $25.97 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $0.01 | $2.19 | $26.33 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $0.01 | $2.22 | $26.68 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $0.01 | $2.24 | $26.91 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $2.25 | $26.98 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $0.02 | $2.26 | $27.09 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $0.02 | $2.27 | $27.27 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $0.02 | $2.32 | $27.85 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $0.02 | $2.34 | $28.03 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $0.02 | $2.36 | $28.37 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $0.02 | $2.39 | $28.62 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $0.02 | $2.39 | $28.64 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $0.02 | $2.39 | $28.66 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $0.02 | $2.40 | $28.84 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $0.02 | $2.45 | $29.36 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $0.02 | $2.45 | $29.39 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $0.02 | $2.48 | $29.72 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $0.02 | $2.55 | $30.64 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $0.02 | $2.56 | $30.71 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $0.02 | $2.58 | $30.91 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $0.02 | $2.58 | $30.96 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $0.02 | $2.65 | $31.75 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $0.02 | $2.81 | $33.66 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $0.02 | $2.90 | $34.78 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $0.02 | $2.91 | $34.88 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $0.02 | $2.91 | $34.94 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $0.02 | $3.21 | $38.52 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $0.02 | $3.27 | $39.19 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $0.02 | $3.45 | $41.38 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $0.02 | $3.58 | $42.91 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $0.02 | $3.68 | $44.12 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $0.02 | $3.69 | $44.30 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $0.03 | $3.90 | $46.76 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $0.03 | $4.15 | $49.75 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $0.03 | $4.23 | $50.72 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $0.03 | $4.30 | $51.57 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $0.03 | $4.41 | $52.94 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $0.03 | $4.46 | $53.55 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $0.03 | $4.57 | $54.86 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $0.03 | $4.82 | $57.80 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $0.05 | $7.08 | $84.92 |
How much homes actually use, by region
Average annual electricity used by a TV in homes that have one, from the EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), and what that use costs at today's U.S. average rate.
| Region | kWh per year | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 210 | $38.14 |
| New England | 177 | $32.14 |
| Middle Atlantic | 197 | $35.78 |
| East North Central | 214 | $38.86 |
| West North Central | 205 | $37.23 |
| South Atlantic | 212 | $38.50 |
| East South Central | 241 | $43.77 |
| West South Central | 247 | $44.86 |
| Mountain North | 186 | $33.78 |
| Mountain South | 222 | $40.32 |
| Pacific | 190 | $34.50 |
How the cost is calculated
The Department of Energy's formula: watts × hours per day ÷ 1,000 = kWh per day. Multiply by the days you use it and by your rate in dollars per kWh. A 1,500 W device running 1 hour uses 1.5 kWh; at 18¢ that is 27¢.
How to lower the cost
- Turn off "vivid" or "store" picture mode.
- Enable the auto-brightness or eco setting.
- Game consoles and streaming boxes left on standby add to the TV's cost.
