Heating · Maryland
How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Water Heater in Maryland?
The short answer
In Maryland, an electric water heater drawing 4,500W costs about $0.96 per hour — roughly $87.92 a month if it runs 3 hours a day.
Maryland’s average residential rate was 21.4¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 17% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Electric Water Heater cost by daily use in Maryland
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 136.9 | $0.96 | $29.31 | $352 |
| 2 hours/day | 273.8 | $1.93 | $58.62 | $703 |
| 4 hours/day | 547.6 | $3.85 | $117 | $1,407 |
| 8 hours/day | 1,095.1 | $7.71 | $234 | $2,813 |
| 12 hours/day | 1,642.7 | $11.56 | $352 | $4,220 |
| 24 hours/day | 3,285.4 | $23.12 | $703 | $8,440 |
Maryland vs other states
At typical use, an electric water heater costs $1,055 a year in Maryland — $1,310 less than in Hawaii and $428 more than in Louisiana.
Maryland has the 15th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Maryland · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Maryland
21.4¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +13.7% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running an electric water heater
Electric tank water heaters keep 40–80 gallons of water hot around the clock, switching their heating elements on whenever you use hot water or the tank cools down. The elements are typically 4,500W, and total run time for a family is roughly 2–4 hours a day, which is why water heating is often the second-biggest line on an all-electric home's bill. Heat pump water heaters do the same job with 2–3 times less electricity.
- Set the tank to 120°F (49°C) — many ship at 140°F, which wastes energy.
- Insulate the first few feet of hot water pipe and fix dripping hot taps.
- Consider a heat pump water heater when your tank needs replacing — they use about a third of the electricity.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an electric water heater for 24 hours in Maryland?
Running a 4,500W electric water heater for 24 hours uses about 108 kWh, which costs about $23.12 at Maryland’s average rate of 21.4¢/kWh.
How many kWh does an electric water heater use per month?
At 3 hours a day, a typical electric water heater uses about 411 kWh a month. In Maryland that costs $87.92.
Is it expensive to run an electric water heater in Maryland?
Maryland has the 15th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 21.4¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running an electric water heater here costs about $1,055 a year at typical use, compared with $902 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Maryland right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Maryland was 21.4¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 13.7% from a year earlier.
How many hours a day does an electric water heater run?
For a typical household, about 2–4 hours a day in total, spread across showers, laundry and dishes, plus short reheats to make up for standby heat loss.
Electric Water Heater costs in nearby states
Other appliances in Maryland
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 electric water heater: 3 hours a day. Typical power 4,500W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).