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

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Microwave in Connecticut?

The short answer

Running a 1,100W microwave in Connecticut costs about $0.27 an hour. At 15 minutes a day, that’s roughly $2.02 a month and $24.25 a year.

That’s based on Connecticut’s average residential rate of 24.2¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 32% above the US average.

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

Microwave cost by daily use in Connecticut

Cost at 24.2¢/kWh, the Connecticut average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
6 minutes/day 3.3 $0.03 $0.81 $9.70
15 minutes/day 8.4 $0.07 $2.02 $24.25
30 minutes/day 16.7 $0.13 $4.04 $48.50
1 hour/day 33.5 $0.27 $8.08 $97.00
2 hours/day 66.9 $0.53 $16.17 $194
3 hours/day 100.4 $0.80 $24.25 $291

Connecticut vs other states

At typical use, a microwave costs $24.25 a year in Connecticut — $23.93 less than in Hawaii and $11.48 more than in Louisiana.

Connecticut has the 11th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Connecticut price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Connecticut

24.2¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▼ −12.5% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a microwave

The power rating on the front of a microwave (e.g. 900W or 1,000W) is its cooking output; the draw from the wall is higher, usually 1,000–1,500W. Because it heats food directly and runs for minutes at a time, a microwave is one of the cheapest ways to cook or reheat. Our default assumes 15 minutes a day — adjust the hours to match how you cook.

  • Reheat in the microwave instead of the oven — it can use up to 80% less energy for small portions.
  • Unplug models with clocks you don't use to avoid a few watts of standby power.
  • Cover food so it heats faster and more evenly.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a microwave for 24 hours in Connecticut?

Running a 1,100W microwave for 24 hours uses about 26.4 kWh, which costs about $6.38 at Connecticut’s average rate of 24.2¢/kWh.

How many kWh does a microwave use per month?

At 15 minutes a day, a typical microwave uses about 8.37 kWh a month. In Connecticut that costs $2.02.

Is it expensive to run a microwave in Connecticut?

Connecticut has the 11th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 24.2¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a microwave here costs about $24.25 a year at typical use, compared with $18.38 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Connecticut right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Connecticut was 24.2¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — down 12.5% from a year earlier.

Does a microwave use a lot of electricity?

Its wattage is high, but it runs for so little time that a typical microwave adds only a dollar or two to a monthly bill.

Microwave costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method