Running cost comes down to wattage, hours and your rate. In Tennessee the rate is 14.47 cents per kWh, which is 21.5 percent below the national average. Here is what that means for a electric clothes dryer.
A electric clothes dryer drawing 3,000 W costs $0.43 per hour in Tennessee. Run 1 hours a day that is $0.43 daily, $13.02 a month and $158 a year, which is $43.47 less than the same appliance at the US average rate.
Cost by hours used per day in Tennessee
| Hours/day | Energy | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 3.00 kWh | $0.43 | $13.02 |
| 2 h | 6.00 kWh | $0.87 | $26.05 |
| 4 h | 12.00 kWh | $1.74 | $52.09 |
| 6 h | 18.00 kWh | $2.60 | $78.14 |
| 8 h | 24.00 kWh | $3.47 | $104 |
| 12 h | 36.00 kWh | $5.21 | $156 |
| 24 h | 72.00 kWh | $10.42 | $313 |
Cost by wattage at 14.47 cents
| Rated power | Per hour | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,800 W | $0.26 | $0.26 | $7.81 |
| 2,400 W | $0.35 | $0.35 | $10.42 |
| 3,000 W | $0.43 | $0.43 | $13.02 |
| 4,000 W | $0.58 | $0.58 | $17.36 |
| 5,000 W | $0.72 | $0.72 | $21.71 |
Find the row matching the nameplate on your own unit. Within a single appliance category the spread is often wider than the difference between categories, so the label is worth reading.
What this means in Tennessee
This appliance runs on much the same schedule regardless of climate, so the figure above is a reasonable year-round estimate for Tennessee. What changes it is your own usage pattern rather than the weather.
Why Tennessee pays what it does
Tennessee is a regulated market, so your utility is the only supplier and the rate is set through the state commission rather than by competition. Pricing tends to be steadier than in deregulated states, and there is no switching decision available. The levers are all on your side of the meter.
At 14.47 cents, Tennessee ranks 12 of 51 from cheapest to most expensive. The Southeast regional average is 16.16 cents. Roughly half of any residential bill is transmission and distribution rather than generation, which is why rates keep climbing even when fuel prices fall.
How this compares across the country
The same electric clothes dryer on the same schedule, in the cheapest and dearest states:
| State | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $11.12 | $135 |
| Utah | 12.96¢ | $11.66 | $142 |
| Tennessee | 14.47¢ | $13.02 | $158 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $29.93 | $364 |
| Hawaii | 52.00¢ | $46.80 | $569 |
Lowering the number in Tennessee
- Use the moisture sensor cycle, not timed dry. Timed drying keeps heating after the clothes are dry.
- Clean the lint filter every load and the vent duct yearly. Restricted airflow lengthens every cycle and causes fires.
- Spin twice for towels and jeans. Water removed in the washer is water the dryer does not evaporate.
- Run consecutive loads. A drum already hot does not need reheating.
- Line dry what you easily can. Sheets and towels dry outdoors for nothing.
Offsetting it with solar in Tennessee
This load uses about 3.00 kWh a day. Covering that would take roughly 3 standard 400 W panels at typical sun hours, an array of about 1.20 kW. Because it offsets electricity worth 14.47 cents rather than the national 18.44 cents, the same array is worth less here than the national payback figures suggest.
A dryer is a short, enormous load. Running one on solar means either a very large array or accepting that it only runs on bright afternoons. Full sizing, including battery and inverter requirements, is on the solar sizing page for this appliance.
Questions people actually ask
[hed_faq]How much does it cost to run a electric clothes dryer in Tennessee?About $0.43 per hour and $13.02 a month at 1 hours a day, using the Tennessee average rate of 14.47 cents per kWh.
How many watts does a electric clothes dryer use?Around 3,000 W while running, with a range of roughly 1,800 to 5,000 W depending on model and setting.
Is that expensive for Tennessee?Tennessee electricity runs 21.5 percent below the national average, so this appliance costs $43.47 less per year here than it would at the US average rate.
Can I lower this without replacing the appliance?Usually yes. Run time is the variable you control, and the hours table above shows exactly what each hour costs. Since Tennessee is regulated, shopping for a supplier is not an option, so usage is the lever.[/hed_faq]