Cost to run a computer in every state
For 150 W for 6 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¢ | $0.02 | $3.43 | $41.21 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $0.02 | $3.47 | $41.70 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $0.02 | $3.59 | $43.12 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $0.02 | $3.59 | $43.12 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $0.02 | $3.61 | $43.32 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $0.02 | $3.62 | $43.48 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $0.02 | $3.66 | $43.87 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $0.02 | $3.73 | $44.71 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $0.02 | $3.88 | $46.56 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $0.02 | $3.90 | $46.75 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $0.02 | $3.90 | $46.75 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $0.02 | $3.95 | $47.40 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $0.02 | $4.00 | $48.02 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $0.02 | $4.04 | $48.44 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $0.02 | $4.05 | $48.57 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $0.02 | $4.06 | $48.76 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $0.02 | $4.09 | $49.09 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $0.02 | $4.18 | $50.12 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $0.02 | $4.20 | $50.45 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $0.02 | $4.26 | $51.06 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $0.02 | $4.29 | $51.52 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $0.02 | $4.30 | $51.55 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $0.02 | $4.30 | $51.58 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $0.02 | $4.33 | $51.90 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $0.02 | $4.40 | $52.84 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $0.02 | $4.41 | $52.91 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $0.02 | $4.46 | $53.49 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $0.03 | $4.60 | $55.14 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $0.03 | $4.61 | $55.27 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $0.03 | $4.64 | $55.63 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $0.03 | $4.64 | $55.73 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $0.03 | $4.76 | $57.15 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $0.03 | $5.05 | $60.59 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $0.03 | $5.22 | $62.60 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $0.03 | $5.23 | $62.79 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $0.03 | $5.24 | $62.89 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $0.03 | $5.78 | $69.34 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $0.03 | $5.88 | $70.53 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $0.03 | $6.21 | $74.49 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $0.04 | $6.44 | $77.24 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $0.04 | $6.62 | $79.41 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $0.04 | $6.64 | $79.74 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $0.04 | $7.01 | $84.18 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $0.04 | $7.46 | $89.55 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $0.04 | $7.61 | $91.30 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $0.04 | $7.74 | $92.83 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $0.04 | $7.94 | $95.29 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $0.04 | $8.03 | $96.39 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $0.05 | $8.23 | $98.76 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $0.05 | $8.67 | $104.04 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $0.07 | $12.74 | $152.86 |
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 on sleep mode for the computer and the monitor.
- Switch off the power strip at night to cut standby power from speakers and chargers.
- A laptop uses a fraction of the power of a desktop.
