Electricity Rates in Kentucky: Cost per kWh and What Appliances Cost

Kentucky households pay 14.98 cents per kilowatt-hour on average, which is 18.8 percent below the national figure. That single number decides what every appliance in the house costs to run, so this page works it through for all of them.

The average residential rate in Kentucky is 14.98¢ per kWh, ranking 16 of 51 from cheapest to most expensive, in the middle of the national range. Commercial customers pay 13.09¢. The average monthly household bill is $146.

Calculate any appliance at Kentucky rates

Change any box. The result updates as you type.

W
hours
USD/kWh
Cost per month
Per hour
Per day
Per year
kWh per day

Planning estimate. The rate box is prefilled with a regional average; the figure on your own bill is the one that matters. Power is draw while running, not while switched on.

How Kentucky compares

Residential rate14.98¢/kWh
US average18.44¢/kWh
Difference−18.8%
Rank, cheapest to dearest16 of 51
Southeast regional average16.16¢/kWh
Commercial rate13.09¢/kWh
Average monthly bill$146
Retail choiceRegulated: your utility sets the rate

You cannot shop for supply in Kentucky

Kentucky is a regulated market. Your utility is your only option for supply, and the rate is set through a public commission process rather than by competition. Pricing tends to be more stable than in deregulated states, and there is no switching decision to make.

That makes the levers on your side of the meter the only ones available: what you run, for how long, and whether you generate any of it yourself.

What every appliance costs to run in Kentucky

All figures below are computed at the Kentucky rate of 14.98 cents. The last column shows the annual difference against the same appliance at the national average, which is where the effect of living here actually shows up.

Air quality

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Dehumidifier500 W$0.07$26.96$328−$75.77
Air purifier50 W$0.01$5.39$65.61−$15.15
Humidifier40 W$0.01$1.80$21.87−$5.05

Cleaning

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Vacuum cleaner1,400 W$0.21$3.15$38.27−$8.84

Cooling

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Central air conditioner3,500 W$0.52$126$1,531−$354
Portable air conditioner1,100 W$0.16$39.55$481−$111
Window air conditioner900 W$0.13$32.36$394−$90.93
Evaporative cooler300 W$0.04$10.79$131−$30.31
Box fan75 W$0.01$2.70$32.81−$7.58
Ceiling fan60 W$0.01$2.16$26.24−$6.06
Tower fan50 W$0.01$1.80$21.87−$5.05

EV

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Level 2 EV charger7,200 W$1.08$129$1,575−$364

Electronics

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Gaming PC400 W$0.06$7.19$87.48−$20.21
Game console160 W$0.02$2.16$26.24−$6.06
Desktop computer150 W$0.02$5.39$65.61−$15.15
Television90 W$0.01$2.02$24.60−$5.68
Laptop60 W$0.01$2.16$26.24−$6.06
Wi-Fi router10 W$0.00$1.08$13.12−$3.03

Fitness

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Treadmill900 W$0.13$4.04$49.21−$11.37

Heating

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Garage heater5,000 W$0.75$89.88$1,094−$253
Air-source heat pump3,000 W$0.45$108$1,312−$303
Space heater1,500 W$0.22$40.45$492−$114
Electric fireplace1,500 W$0.22$33.71$410−$94.72
Electric baseboard heater1,500 W$0.22$53.93$656−$152
Mini-split heat pump900 W$0.13$32.36$394−$90.93
Electric blanket100 W$0.01$3.60$43.74−$10.10

Kitchen

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Electric oven2,400 W$0.36$10.79$131−$30.31
Dishwasher1,800 W$0.27$8.09$98.42−$22.73
Electric stove burner1,500 W$0.22$6.74$82.02−$18.94
Air fryer1,500 W$0.22$3.37$41.01−$9.47
Electric kettle1,500 W$0.22$1.69$20.50−$4.74
Toaster1,200 W$0.18$0.81$9.84−$2.27
Microwave oven1,000 W$0.15$2.25$27.34−$6.31
Electric pressure cooker1,000 W$0.15$2.25$27.34−$6.31
Coffee maker900 W$0.13$2.02$24.60−$5.68
Chest freezer200 W$0.03$6.29$76.55−$17.68
Slow cooker200 W$0.03$7.19$87.48−$20.21
Refrigerator150 W$0.02$5.39$65.61−$15.15

Laundry

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Electric clothes dryer3,000 W$0.45$13.48$164−$37.89
Washing machine500 W$0.07$2.25$27.34−$6.31

Lighting

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Incandescent light bulb60 W$0.01$1.35$16.40−$3.79
LED light bulb9 W$0.00$0.20$2.46−$0.57

Other

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Aquarium heater200 W$0.03$8.99$109−$25.26
CPAP machine40 W$0.01$1.44$17.50−$4.04

Outdoor

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Pool pump1,500 W$0.22$53.93$656−$152
Hot tub1,500 W$0.22$26.96$328−$75.77
Sump pump800 W$0.12$3.60$43.74−$10.10
Well pump750 W$0.11$6.74$82.02−$18.94

Personal care

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Hair dryer1,800 W$0.27$1.62$19.68−$4.55

Water heating

AppliancePowerPer hourPer monthPer yearvs US average
Electric tankless water heater18,000 W$2.70$40.45$492−$114
Electric water heater4,000 W$0.60$53.93$656−$152
Heat pump water heater500 W$0.07$6.74$82.02−$18.94

What this rate means for solar in Kentucky

At 14.98 cents, Kentucky sits close enough to the national average that solar payback here tends to track the national picture. The variables that decide it are local: net metering terms, state incentives, roof orientation and shading.

Typical peak sun hours across the Southeast region run around 4.5 to 5 hours a day as an annual average, though the spread within a region can be wide. For a figure based on your actual location rather than a regional band, use the location-based solar production calculator, and the solar payback calculator for the financial side.

Questions people actually ask

What is the average electricity rate in Kentucky?
14.98 cents per kilowatt-hour for residential customers, which is 18.8 percent below the US average of 18.44 cents.
What is the average electric bill in Kentucky?
About $146 a month. That reflects both the rate and how much electricity households here typically use, which is driven mostly by climate and heating fuel.
Can I choose my electricity provider in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky is a regulated market, so your utility is the only supplier available and the rate is set through the state commission.
Why is my electricity bill higher than the Kentucky average?
The state average blends every household, including small apartments. Electric heating, electric water heating, a pool pump, an older refrigerator or an EV will each push a bill well above it. The appliance table above shows what each of those costs at the Kentucky rate.

Work out your own numbers

Costs on this page use a national average residential rate of 18.44¢ per kWh (August 2026, EIA-derived state residential averages). Your own rate is printed on your electricity bill and is the number that actually matters. Every figure here is recalculated from one central rate setting, so these tables move when the national average moves.