Outdoor & Garage · Wisconsin
How Much Does It Cost to Run a EV Charger in Wisconsin?
The short answer
Running a 7,200W Level 2 EV charger in Wisconsin costs about $1.37 an hour. At 2 hours a day, that’s roughly $83.49 a month and $1,002 a year.
That’s based on Wisconsin’s average residential rate of 19.1¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 4% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
EV Charger cost by daily use in Wisconsin
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 219.0 | $1.37 | $41.75 | $501 |
| 2 hours/day | 438.0 | $2.74 | $83.49 | $1,002 |
| 4 hours/day | 876.1 | $5.49 | $167 | $2,004 |
| 8 hours/day | 1,752.2 | $10.98 | $334 | $4,007 |
| 12 hours/day | 2,628.3 | $16.47 | $501 | $6,011 |
| 24 hours/day | 5,256.6 | $32.94 | $1,002 | $12,022 |
Wisconsin vs other states
At typical use, a Level 2 EV charger costs $1,002 a year in Wisconsin — $1,521 less than in Hawaii and $333 more than in Louisiana.
Wisconsin has the 18th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Wisconsin electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Wisconsin
19.1¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +4.4% 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 Wisconsin?
Running a 7,200W Level 2 EV charger for 24 hours uses about 173 kWh, which costs about $32.94 at Wisconsin’s average rate of 19.1¢/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 Wisconsin that costs $83.49.
Is it expensive to run a Level 2 EV charger in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has the 18th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 19.1¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a Level 2 EV charger here costs about $1,002 a year at typical use, compared with $962 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Wisconsin right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Wisconsin was 19.1¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 4.4% 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 Wisconsin
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).