Kitchen · District of Columbia
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in District of Columbia?
The short answer
A typical dishwasher uses about 1.50 kWh per load, which costs $0.38 per load in District of Columbia — about $8.22 a month at 5 loads a week.
That’s based on District of Columbia’s average residential rate of 25.2¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 38% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Dishwasher cost by number of loads in District of Columbia
| Usage | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load/week | 6.5 | $0.05 | $1.64 | $19.72 |
| 3 loads/week | 19.6 | $0.16 | $4.93 | $59.15 |
| 5 loads/week | 32.6 | $0.27 | $8.22 | $98.59 |
| 7 loads/week | 45.6 | $0.38 | $11.50 | $138 |
| 10 loads/week | 65.2 | $0.54 | $16.43 | $197 |
| 14 loads/week | 91.3 | $0.76 | $23.01 | $276 |
District of Columbia vs other states
At typical use, a dishwasher costs $98.59 a year in District of Columbia — $89.13 less than in Hawaii and $48.84 more than in Louisiana.
District of Columbia has the 9th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. District of Columbia electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in District of Columbia
25.2¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +9.4% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a dishwasher
Most of a dishwasher's electricity goes into heating water and running the heated-dry cycle; the pump and motor use comparatively little. A typical load uses around 1–2 kWh. ENERGY STAR models and eco cycles use less water and lower temperatures, and skipping heated dry can save around 15% per load. Running a full dishwasher generally uses less energy and water than washing the same dishes by hand.
- Only run it when it's full, and use the eco or energy-saver cycle.
- Turn off heated dry and let dishes air-dry with the door cracked open.
- Scrape instead of pre-rinsing under hot water.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost per load to run a dishwasher in District of Columbia?
A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.38 at District of Columbia’s average rate of 25.2¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.23 per load.
How many kWh does a dishwasher use per month?
At 5 loads a week, a typical dishwasher uses about 32.6 kWh a month. In District of Columbia that costs $8.22.
Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has the 9th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 25.2¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a dishwasher here costs about $98.59 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in District of Columbia right now?
The average residential electricity rate in District of Columbia was 25.2¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 9.4% from a year earlier.
Is it cheaper to use a dishwasher or wash by hand?
A full, efficient dishwasher typically uses less hot water — and therefore less energy — than washing the same load by hand under a running tap.
Dishwasher costs in nearby states
Other appliances in District of Columbia
Cheapest and priciest states
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 dishwasher: 5 loads a week. Typical power 1,800W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).