U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Kitchen · Maine

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in Maine?

The short answer

A typical dishwasher uses about 1.50 kWh per load, which costs $0.49 per load in Maine — about $10.56 a month at 5 loads a week.

The estimate uses Maine’s average residential electricity price of 32.4¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 77% above the national average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Dishwasher cost by number of loads in Maine

Cost at 32.4¢/kWh, the Maine average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 6.5 $0.07 $2.11 $25.35
3 loads/week 19.6 $0.21 $6.34 $76.05
5 loads/week 32.6 $0.35 $10.56 $127
7 loads/week 45.6 $0.49 $14.79 $177
10 loads/week 65.2 $0.69 $21.13 $253
14 loads/week 91.3 $0.97 $29.58 $355

Maine vs other states

At typical use, a dishwasher costs $127 a year in Maine — $60.97 less than in Hawaii and $77.00 more than in Louisiana.

Maine has the 3rd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Maine · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Maine

32.4¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +15.8% 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 Maine?

A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.49 at Maine’s average rate of 32.4¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.29 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 Maine that costs $10.56.

Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in Maine?

Maine has the 3rd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 32.4¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a dishwasher here costs about $127 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Maine right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Maine was 32.4¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 15.8% 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

Cheapest and priciest states

Sources & method