Which calculator do I need?
- “What will charging my EV cost?” The EV charging cost calculator prices your car’s EPA efficiency on your plan, at the hour you plug in, against gasoline.
- “What does this appliance cost to run?” The appliance cost calculator prices any load at the hours it actually runs, so a dryer at 6 pm and at midnight cost what your plan says.
- “Am I on the cheapest plan?” The rate plan comparator bills a year of your use under every plan your utility offers.
- “When is electricity cheapest?” Best time to use electricity finds the cheapest start hour for a dishwasher, laundry or EV on your plan.
- “Will solar pay off?” The solar payback calculator combines NREL PVWatts production with your plan’s prices and export rule.
- “Is a heat pump cheaper than my gas furnace?” Heat pump vs gas compares a winter of heating at your electricity plan and your state’s gas price.
What makes them different
Most online calculators multiply by one average price per kWh. These use your utility’s actual residential tariff: the price in every hour of weekdays and weekends, season by season, tiers applied to the month’s total, and the fixed charge. The same kWh can cost two or three times more at 6 pm than at midnight on a time-of-use plan, and that is the difference these tools show. Every tariff is checked against the utility’s own documents; the methodology explains each step.