Kitchen · Vermont
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Microwave in Vermont?
The short answer
In Vermont, a microwave drawing 1,100W costs about $0.26 per hour — roughly $1.99 a month if it runs 15 minutes a day.
Vermont’s average residential rate was 23.8¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 30% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Microwave cost by daily use in Vermont
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes/day | 3.3 | $0.03 | $0.79 | $9.54 |
| 15 minutes/day | 8.4 | $0.07 | $1.99 | $23.84 |
| 30 minutes/day | 16.7 | $0.13 | $3.97 | $47.68 |
| 1 hour/day | 33.5 | $0.26 | $7.95 | $95.36 |
| 2 hours/day | 66.9 | $0.52 | $15.89 | $191 |
| 3 hours/day | 100.4 | $0.78 | $23.84 | $286 |
Vermont vs other states
At typical use, a microwave costs $23.84 a year in Vermont — $24.34 less than in Hawaii and $11.07 more than in Louisiana.
Vermont has the 12th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Vermont price per kWh · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Vermont
23.8¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +7.3% 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 Vermont?
Running a 1,100W microwave for 24 hours uses about 26.4 kWh, which costs about $6.27 at Vermont’s average rate of 23.8¢/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 Vermont that costs $1.99.
Is it expensive to run a microwave in Vermont?
Vermont has the 12th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 23.8¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a microwave here costs about $23.84 a year at typical use, compared with $18.38 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Vermont right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Vermont was 23.8¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 7.3% 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 Vermont
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).