Electricity Bill for a Family of four in a house in Virginia (2026)

Two adults and two children in a house. Laundry every day, the dishwasher every night, the oven several times a week, and screens in most rooms. This is the profile most regulators use as the reference household.

A family of four in a house uses about 13,072 kWh of electricity a year. At Virginia prices of 17.2¢ per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, Jun 2026), that is $187.58 per month, or $2,251 per year.

Benchmark: EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE2.1, average kWh per household using electricity: 4-person household. Data as of 2020. It covers all electricity use including electric heating, air conditioning and water heating where present. The consumption benchmark is national (United States); Virginia differs from it mainly through climate and price, and the price is what changes the figure below.

Where the electricity goes

Heating & cooling: 5,216 kWh, 40%, $898.15 per year. Heating & cooling40% · 5,216 kWhOther appliances: 2,353 kWh, 18%, $405.18 per year. Hair Dryer ×2, Vacuum Cleaner, Electric Lawn MowerOther appliances18% · 2,353 kWhHair Dryer ×2, Vacuum Cleaner, Electric Lawn MowerWater heating: 1,569 kWh, 12%, $270.12 per year. 12%Refrigeration & freezing: 1,268 kWh, 10%, $218.35 per year. Refrigerator, Chest FreezerRefrigeration & freezing10% · 1,268 kWhRefrigerator, Chest FreezerLighting: 810 kWh, 6%, $139.56 per year. LED Light Bulb ×18, Outdoor Security Floodlight6%TV, computing & network: 758 kWh, 6%, $130.56 per year. Desktop Computer, Television ×2, Laptop ×2TV, computing & network6% · 758 kWhDesktop Computer, Television ×2, Laptop ×2Washing, drying & dishwashing: 732 kWh, 6%, $126.06 per year. Clothes Dryer, Dishwasher, Washing Machine6%Cooking: 366 kWh, 3%, $63.03 per year. Induction Cooktop, Electric Oven, Air Fryer3%
End usePer yearCostShare
Heating & cooling5,216 kWh$898.1540%
Water heating1,569 kWh$270.1212%
Refrigeration & freezing1,268 kWh$218.3510%
Cooking366 kWh$63.033%
Washing, drying & dishwashing732 kWh$126.066%
TV, computing & network758 kWh$130.566%
Lighting810 kWh$139.566%
Other appliances2,353 kWh$405.1818%

End-use shares: EIA RECS 2020, Tables CE5.1a and CE5.1b (electricity by detailed end use). Heating & cooling includes air handlers, fans and dehumidifiers; electronics is TVs and related; computers fall in 'other'. These shares are official.

Through the day

kW1.42.9Heating & cooling: 14.3 kWh a day, peak around 18:00Water heating: 4.3 kWh a day, peak around 7:00Refrigeration & freezing: 3.5 kWh a day, peak around 0:00Cooking: 1.0 kWh a day, peak around 18:00Washing, drying & dishwashing: 2.0 kWh a day, peak around 19:00TV, computing & network: 2.1 kWh a day, peak around 19:00Lighting: 2.2 kWh a day, peak around 18:00Other appliances: 6.4 kWh a day, peak around 18:000003060912151821
Illustrative shape of a typical day: each band's area equals that end use's share of 35.8 kWh a day, peaking around 18:00. The timing is a standard household pattern, not a measurement, and it changes with season and habits.

What drives this household's bill

Appliance by appliance

Each end-use bucket above is spread over this household's appliances in proportion to their typical use, never at more than twice that use or more hours than the appliance can realistically run. What the listed appliances cannot account for appears as "not listed" rows, so the table still adds up to the official figures. Hours are implied, not measured.

ApplianceEnd useTypicalHours/dayPer yearCost
RefrigeratorRefrigeration & freezing150 W13.9 h761 kWh$131.01
Chest FreezerRefrigeration & freezing100 W13.9 h507 kWh$87.34
LED Light Bulb ×18Lighting9 W8.0 h473 kWh$81.46
Clothes DryerWashing, drying & dishwashing3,000 W23 min418 kWh$72.03
Desktop ComputerTV, computing & network150 W4.1 h227 kWh$39.06
DishwasherWashing, drying & dishwashing1,500 W23 min209 kWh$36.02
Hair Dryer ×2Other appliances1,800 W9 min197 kWh$33.94
Television ×2TV, computing & network100 W2.1 h151 kWh$26.04
Laptop ×2TV, computing & network45 W4.1 h136 kWh$23.44
Outdoor Security FloodlightLighting30 W12.0 h131 kWh$22.63
Induction CooktopCooking1,800 W12 min130 kWh$22.47
Electric OvenCooking2,500 W8 min121 kWh$20.80
Washing MachineWashing, drying & dishwashing500 W34 min105 kWh$18.01
Gaming Console (PS5, Xbox)TV, computing & network180 W1.6 h102 kWh$17.58
Vacuum CleanerOther appliances1,000 W15 min91 kWh$15.71
Computer MonitorTV, computing & network30 W4.1 h45 kWh$7.81
Wi-Fi RouterTV, computing & network10 W12.4 h45 kWh$7.81
Air FryerCooking1,500 W4 min36 kWh$6.24
Electric Kettle ×2Cooking2,000 W1 min29 kWh$4.99
Smart Speaker ×2TV, computing & network3 W12.4 h27 kWh$4.69
Coffee Maker (Drip)Cooking1,000 W4 min24 kWh$4.16
Electric Lawn Mower (Corded or Battery)Other appliances1,200 W6 min22 kWh$3.72
MicrowaveCooking1,000 W3 min18 kWh$3.12
Phone Charger ×4TV, computing & network10 W1.0 h15 kWh$2.60
ToasterCooking1,000 W1 min7 kWh$1.25
Streaming Stick or Box ×2TV, computing & network4 W2.1 h6 kWh$1.04
Garage Door OpenerOther appliances500 W1 min4 kWh$0.63
Printer (Inkjet or Laser)TV, computing & network30 W16 min3 kWh$0.49
Small appliances, standby and items not listedOther appliances––2,039 kWh$351.18
Additional lights and fittingsLighting––206 kWh$35.48

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The same household in other countries

CountryOfficial benchmarkPer yearPer month
United States (average)13,072 kWh$2,397$199.78
United Kingdom3,800 kWh£1,000£83.35
Germany3,800 kWh€1,406€117.17
France6,034 kWh€1,207€100.62
Australia7,311 kWhA$2,559A$213.24
Canada (average)12,694 kWhC$1,777C$148.10

Each row uses that country's own regulator benchmark and average price, in local currency. Differences reflect climate, heating fuel and appliance ownership as much as price.

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