Heating · Rhode Island
How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Baseboard Heater in Rhode Island?
The short answer
In Rhode Island, an electric baseboard heater drawing 1,500W costs about $0.42 per hour — roughly $103 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.
That’s based on Rhode Island’s average residential rate of 28.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 55% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Electric Baseboard Heater cost by daily use in Rhode Island
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 45.6 | $0.42 | $12.91 | $155 |
| 2 hours/day | 91.3 | $0.85 | $25.82 | $310 |
| 4 hours/day | 182.5 | $1.70 | $51.63 | $620 |
| 8 hours/day | 365.0 | $3.39 | $103 | $1,239 |
| 12 hours/day | 547.6 | $5.09 | $155 | $1,859 |
| 24 hours/day | 1,095.1 | $10.18 | $310 | $3,717 |
Rhode Island vs other states
At typical use, an electric baseboard heater costs $1,239 a year in Rhode Island — $863 less than in Hawaii and $682 more than in Louisiana.
Rhode Island has the 7th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Rhode Island electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Rhode Island
28.3¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +8.1% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running an electric baseboard heater
Baseboard heaters are wall-mounted resistance heaters wired into a 240V circuit. Like space heaters, they convert electricity to heat at about 100%, and size determines cost: roughly 250 watts per linear foot. A home heated entirely by baseboards may have several units per room, so multiply by the number of units running. Enter the hours per day the heater is actually on — line-voltage thermostats cycle them on and off to hold the set temperature.
- Install programmable line-voltage thermostats to lower temperatures when rooms are empty.
- Keep furniture and curtains at least 6 inches away so heat can circulate.
- Heating a whole home with baseboards? A ductless mini-split heat pump can cut heating costs by half or more.
- Winters in Rhode Island are long, so heating appliances often run more hours here than the national default — adjust the hours above to match your home.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an electric baseboard heater for 24 hours in Rhode Island?
Running a 1,500W electric baseboard heater for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $10.18 at Rhode Island’s average rate of 28.3¢/kWh.
How many kWh does an electric baseboard heater use per month?
At 8 hours a day, a typical electric baseboard heater uses about 365 kWh a month. In Rhode Island that costs $103.
Is it expensive to run an electric baseboard heater in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has the 7th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 28.3¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running an electric baseboard heater here costs about $1,239 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Rhode Island right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Rhode Island was 28.3¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 8.1% from a year earlier.
How many watts does a baseboard heater use per foot?
About 250 watts per linear foot, so a 4-foot heater is about 1,000W and an 8-foot heater about 2,000W.
Electric Baseboard Heater costs in nearby states
Other appliances in Rhode Island
Cheapest and priciest states
Comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Default usage for electric baseboard heater: 8 hours a day. Typical power 1,500W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).