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

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

The short answer

Running a 1,500W oil-filled radiator in Tennessee costs about $0.14 an hour. At 8 hours a day, that’s roughly $35.03 a month and $420 a year.

Tennessee’s average residential rate was 13.7¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 25% below the US average.

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

Oil-Filled Radiator cost by daily use in Tennessee

Cost at 13.7¢/kWh, the Tennessee average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 31.9 $0.14 $4.38 $52.54
2 hours/day 63.9 $0.29 $8.76 $105
4 hours/day 127.8 $0.58 $17.52 $210
8 hours/day 255.5 $1.15 $35.03 $420
12 hours/day 383.3 $1.73 $52.55 $631
24 hours/day 766.6 $3.45 $105 $1,261

Tennessee vs other states

At typical use, an oil-filled radiator costs $420 a year in Tennessee — $1,051 less than in Hawaii and $30.35 more than in Louisiana.

Tennessee has the 5th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Tennessee · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Tennessee

13.7¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +3.8% 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.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

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

Running a 1,500W oil-filled radiator for 24 hours uses about 25.2 kWh, which costs about $3.45 at Tennessee’s average rate of 13.7¢/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 Tennessee that costs $35.03.

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

Tennessee has the 5th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 13.7¢/kWh — one of the cheapest. Running an oil-filled radiator here costs about $420 a year at typical use, compared with $561 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Tennessee right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Tennessee was 13.7¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 3.8% 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