Outdoor & Garage · South Dakota
How Much Does It Cost to Run a EV Charger in South Dakota?
The short answer
In South Dakota, a Level 2 EV charger drawing 7,200W costs about $1.11 per hour — roughly $67.33 a month if it runs 2 hours a day.
That’s based on South Dakota’s average residential rate of 15.4¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 16% below the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
EV Charger cost by daily use in South Dakota
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 219.0 | $1.11 | $33.66 | $404 |
| 2 hours/day | 438.0 | $2.21 | $67.33 | $808 |
| 4 hours/day | 876.1 | $4.43 | $135 | $1,616 |
| 8 hours/day | 1,752.2 | $8.85 | $269 | $3,231 |
| 12 hours/day | 2,628.3 | $13.28 | $404 | $4,847 |
| 24 hours/day | 5,256.6 | $26.56 | $808 | $9,694 |
South Dakota vs other states
At typical use, a Level 2 EV charger costs $808 a year in South Dakota — $1,715 less than in Hawaii and $139 more than in Louisiana.
South Dakota has the 18th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. South Dakota electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in South Dakota
15.4¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +5.9% 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 South Dakota?
Running a 7,200W Level 2 EV charger for 24 hours uses about 173 kWh, which costs about $26.56 at South Dakota’s average rate of 15.4¢/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 South Dakota that costs $67.33.
Is it expensive to run a Level 2 EV charger in South Dakota?
South Dakota has the 18th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 15.4¢/kWh — cheaper than most. Running a Level 2 EV charger here costs about $808 a year at typical use, compared with $962 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in South Dakota right now?
The average residential electricity rate in South Dakota was 15.4¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 5.9% 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 South Dakota
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).