Kitchen · Rhode Island
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Microwave in Rhode Island?
The short answer
Running a 1,100W microwave in Rhode Island costs about $0.31 an hour. At 15 minutes a day, that’s roughly $2.37 a month and $28.40 a year.
Rhode Island’s average residential rate was 28.3¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 55% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Microwave cost by daily use in Rhode Island
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes/day | 3.3 | $0.03 | $0.95 | $11.36 |
| 15 minutes/day | 8.4 | $0.08 | $2.37 | $28.40 |
| 30 minutes/day | 16.7 | $0.16 | $4.73 | $56.79 |
| 1 hour/day | 33.5 | $0.31 | $9.47 | $114 |
| 2 hours/day | 66.9 | $0.62 | $18.93 | $227 |
| 3 hours/day | 100.4 | $0.93 | $28.40 | $341 |
Rhode Island vs other states
At typical use, a microwave costs $28.40 a year in Rhode Island — $19.78 less than in Hawaii and $15.63 more than in Louisiana.
Rhode Island has the 7th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Rhode Island · 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 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 Rhode Island?
Running a 1,100W microwave for 24 hours uses about 26.4 kWh, which costs about $7.47 at Rhode Island’s average rate of 28.3¢/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 Rhode Island that costs $2.37.
Is it expensive to run a microwave 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 microwave here costs about $28.40 a year at typical use, compared with $18.38 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.
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
Other appliances in Rhode Island
Cheapest and priciest states
Comparisons
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 microwave: 15 minutes a day. Typical power 1,100W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).