Water heating · May 2026 rates
Water-heater electricity cost calculators
Turn gallons of hot water and temperature rise into a transparent thermal load, then apply an editable performance factor and your state electricity rate.
Modeled effective thermal factorElectric storage water heater$640 / year default model at the U.S. averageModeled effective performance factorHeat pump water heater$192 / year default model at the U.S. averageModeled effective thermal factorElectric tankless water heater$470 / year default model at the U.S. average
Same hot-water load
Heat pump vs electric resistance
Compare two efficiency assumptions while holding daily gallons, temperature rise, and electricity price constant.
What the calculator is doing
Water has a known heat capacity, so daily hot-water volume and temperature rise define an approximate thermal-energy requirement. The calculator converts that requirement to grid electricity using an editable effective factor. The model is deliberately simpler than the federal UEF laboratory test and should be used for planning, not product certification.