Outdoor & Garage · Rhode Island
How Much Does It Cost to Run a EV Charger in Rhode Island?
The short answer
A typical 7,200W Level 2 EV charger costs about $2.04 per hour to run in Rhode Island, or $124 a month at 2 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
EV Charger cost by daily use in Rhode Island
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 219.0 | $2.04 | $61.96 | $743 |
| 2 hours/day | 438.0 | $4.07 | $124 | $1,487 |
| 4 hours/day | 876.1 | $8.15 | $248 | $2,974 |
| 8 hours/day | 1,752.2 | $16.30 | $496 | $5,948 |
| 12 hours/day | 2,628.3 | $24.44 | $744 | $8,922 |
| 24 hours/day | 5,256.6 | $48.89 | $1,487 | $17,843 |
Rhode Island vs other states
At typical use, a Level 2 EV charger costs $1,487 a year in Rhode Island — $1,036 less than in Hawaii and $818 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 a Level 2 EV charger
Level 2 chargers run on a 240V circuit and typically deliver 7.2 kW on a 40-amp circuit, or up to 11.5 kW on a 60-amp circuit. Your car decides how fast it accepts power. Two hours a day at 7.2 kW is about 14 kWh, enough for roughly 40–50 miles for most EVs. Charging overnight on a time-of-use plan can lower the cost considerably compared with the average rate shown here.
- Ask your utility about EV or time-of-use rates and schedule charging overnight.
- Charge to 80% for daily driving — it's faster and better for the battery.
- Precondition the car while plugged in during cold weather.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a Level 2 EV charger for 24 hours in Rhode Island?
Running a 7,200W Level 2 EV charger for 24 hours uses about 173 kWh, which costs about $48.89 at Rhode Island’s average rate of 28.3¢/kWh.
How many kWh does a Level 2 EV charger use per month?
At 2 hours a day, a typical Level 2 EV charger uses about 438 kWh a month. In Rhode Island that costs $124.
Is it expensive to run a Level 2 EV charger 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 a Level 2 EV charger here costs about $1,487 a year at typical use, compared with $962 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 much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
Multiply the kWh you add by your electricity rate. Adding 14 kWh (about 40–50 miles) costs 14 × your rate — for example, about $2.45 at 17.5¢/kWh.
EV Charger costs in nearby states
Other appliances in Rhode Island
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 Level 2 EV charger: 2 hours a day. Typical power 7,200W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).