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

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Oil-Filled Radiator in Pennsylvania?

The short answer

Running a 1,500W oil-filled radiator in Pennsylvania costs about $0.23 an hour. At 8 hours a day, that’s roughly $55.50 a month and $666 a year.

That’s based on Pennsylvania’s average residential rate of 21.7¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 19% above the US average.

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

Oil-Filled Radiator cost by daily use in Pennsylvania

Cost at 21.7¢/kWh, the Pennsylvania average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 31.9 $0.23 $6.94 $83.24
2 hours/day 63.9 $0.46 $13.88 $166
4 hours/day 127.8 $0.91 $27.75 $333
8 hours/day 255.5 $1.82 $55.50 $666
12 hours/day 383.3 $2.74 $83.25 $999
24 hours/day 766.6 $5.47 $167 $1,998

Pennsylvania vs other states

At typical use, an oil-filled radiator costs $666 a year in Pennsylvania — $806 less than in Hawaii and $276 more than in Louisiana.

Pennsylvania has the 14th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Pennsylvania electricity rates · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Pennsylvania

21.7¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.3% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running an oil-filled radiator

An oil-filled radiator heats sealed-in oil, which then releases heat slowly through the fins. It is not more efficient than a fan heater — electricity to heat is still about 1:1 — but the stored heat means the thermostat switches the element off for longer stretches once the room is warm. We assume the element is on about 70% of the time, so a 1,500W radiator averages roughly 1.05 kWh per hour of use. Expect the real number to be higher in a cold, drafty room and lower in a well-insulated one.

  • Set the thermostat dial to the lowest comfortable setting and let the oil do the work.
  • Place it near the coldest wall or under a window, away from furniture that blocks the fins.
  • Switch to the lower power setting (600–900W) once the room is up to temperature.
  • Winters in Pennsylvania are long, so heating appliances often run more hours here than the national default — adjust the hours above to match your home.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run an oil-filled radiator for 24 hours in Pennsylvania?

Running a 1,500W oil-filled radiator for 24 hours uses about 25.2 kWh, which costs about $5.47 at Pennsylvania’s average rate of 21.7¢/kWh.

How many kWh does an oil-filled radiator use per month?

At 8 hours a day, a typical oil-filled radiator uses about 256 kWh a month. In Pennsylvania that costs $55.50.

Is it expensive to run an oil-filled radiator in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania has the 14th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 21.7¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running an oil-filled radiator here costs about $666 a year at typical use, compared with $561 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Pennsylvania right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Pennsylvania was 21.7¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.3% from a year earlier.

Are oil-filled heaters cheaper to run than fan heaters?

Per watt, no — both convert electricity to heat at about 100%. In practice an oil-filled radiator often uses a little less because its thermostat cycles off for longer once the oil is hot.

Oil-Filled Radiator costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method