July 2, 2026
5 Ways to Cut Your Electricity Bill This Winter
By the WattItCost Team
The average US electricity rate is $0.18 per kWh. Small changes to how you use appliances add up fast — here are five that actually work.
1. Drop your space heater wattage
A 1,500W heater running 8 hours a day costs around $64.80 a month at the national average rate. Switching to a 750W model for the same hours cuts that roughly in half.
2. Use a timer
Heating an empty room is wasted money. A simple plug-in timer costs under $15 and typically pays for itself in the first month of use.
3. Check your state electricity rate
Electricity prices vary widely. Users in Idaho pay just $0.11/kWh while those in Hawaii pay $0.43/kWh — a gap that matters a lot if you run high-wattage appliances all day.
4. Run big appliances off-peak
If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, running dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers overnight or on weekends can cut those costs by 20–30%. Check your utility's website for rate schedules.
5. Calculate before you buy
A $50 difference in sticker price can easily be dwarfed by a much larger difference in annual running cost. Use our free calculators to see the real cost of any appliance before purchasing — so you're comparing the true cost, not just the price tag.