Entertainment · District of Columbia
How Much Does It Cost to Run a TV in District of Columbia?
The short answer
In District of Columbia, a TV drawing 100W costs about $0.03 per hour — roughly $3.83 a month if it runs 5 hours a day.
That’s based on District of Columbia’s average residential rate of 25.2¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 38% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
TV cost by daily use in District of Columbia
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 3.0 | $0.03 | $0.77 | $9.20 |
| 2 hours/day | 6.1 | $0.05 | $1.53 | $18.40 |
| 4 hours/day | 12.2 | $0.10 | $3.07 | $36.81 |
| 8 hours/day | 24.3 | $0.20 | $6.14 | $73.61 |
| 12 hours/day | 36.5 | $0.30 | $9.20 | $110 |
| 24 hours/day | 73.0 | $0.61 | $18.41 | $221 |
District of Columbia vs other states
At typical use, a TV costs $46.01 a year in District of Columbia — $41.59 less than in Hawaii and $22.79 more than in Louisiana.
District of Columbia has the 9th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in District of Columbia · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in District of Columbia
25.2¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +9.4% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a TV
TV power use depends mostly on screen size and brightness. A 50–55 inch LED TV typically draws about 70–100W, while large 75-inch-plus and HDR content at full brightness can exceed 200W. OLED TVs vary with what's on screen. Standby power on modern sets is under a watt. The default here assumes 5 hours of viewing a day.
- Use the energy-saving or auto-brightness picture mode.
- Turn off quick-start or instant-on features if you don't need them.
- Set a sleep timer so the TV isn't left on overnight.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a TV for 24 hours in District of Columbia?
Running a 100W TV for 24 hours uses about 2.40 kWh, which costs about $0.61 at District of Columbia’s average rate of 25.2¢/kWh.
How many kWh does a TV use per month?
At 5 hours a day, a typical TV uses about 15.2 kWh a month. In District of Columbia that costs $3.83.
Is it expensive to run a TV in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has the 9th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 25.2¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a TV here costs about $46.01 a year at typical use, compared with $33.42 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in District of Columbia right now?
The average residential electricity rate in District of Columbia was 25.2¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 9.4% from a year earlier.
How much does it cost to leave a TV on all day?
A 100W TV left on for 24 hours uses 2.4 kWh — at the US average rate that's roughly 40–45 cents a day.
TV costs in nearby states
Other appliances in District of Columbia
Cheapest and priciest states
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 TV: 5 hours a day. Typical power 100W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).