How to use the job-site electricity cost calculator
- Enter nameplate watts and the hours the load will run. The 1,500 W default is a circular-saw example.
- Choose a rate. The default is the EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A U.S. all-sectors average for August 2026: 14.87¢/kWh (released Oct 23, 2026). A second preset is Table 5.6.B residential year-to-date January–August 2026: 18.19¢/kWh. A quoted temporary-power or bill rate wins.
A planning generator size is on the generator size calculator. Feeder voltage drop is on the voltage drop calculator.
kWh and cost
Energy (kWh) = watts × hours ÷ 1,000. Cost = kWh × rate (¢/kWh) ÷ 100. BLS’s city average (19.6¢ in Sep 2026) and EnergySage’s marketplace figure (about 19¢) are independent but use different methods and are not the default. Choose Energy republishes EIA and is not independent.
A worked example: 1,500 W saw for 4 hours
A 1,500 W circular saw run for 4 hours uses 6 kWh. At the default all-sectors 14.87¢ the cost is $0.89. At the residential YTD preset of 18.19¢ it is $1.09.
Sources & assumptions
How this calculator gets its numbers. Full method: our methodology.
- Energy (kWh) = watts × hours ÷ 1,000. Cost = kWh × rate (¢/kWh) ÷ 100.
- Default rate is the EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A U.S. all-sectors average for August 2026: 14.87¢/kWh, released Oct 23, 2026. A preset offers Table 5.6.B residential YTD January–August 2026: 18.19¢/kWh. Both are national averages; a bill or temporary-power quote wins.
- This is a job-site running-cost check for tools and temporary power, not a household bill and not EV charging. BLS (19.6¢, Sep 2026) and EnergySage (~19¢) are independent but use different methods and are not the default. Choose Energy republishes EIA and is not counted as independent.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector. August 2026: U.S. all-sectors average 14.87¢/kWh; residential 18.16¢/kWh. Released Oct 23, 2026.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.B, Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, Year-to-Date. Year-to-date January–August 2026 U.S. residential average 18.19¢/kWh. Released Oct 23, 2026.
Last reviewed . The rate on your bill or temporary-power quote wins.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a 1,500 W saw for 4 hours?
6 kWh. At the EIA all-sectors default of 14.87¢/kWh that is $0.89. At the residential YTD preset of 18.19¢ it is $1.09. Enter your bill or temporary-power rate when you have it.
Why isn’t the default the residential average?
This page is for job-site tools and temporary power. The all-sectors U.S. average is used as a neutral national default; the residential YTD figure is offered as a preset. Both are national averages, not your rate — enter your bill or temporary-power rate.
Is this a household bill or EV calculator?
No. It is a job-site running-cost check for tools, compressors, welders and work lights.
When was the EIA figure released?
October 23, 2026, for August 2026 data (Table 5.6.A) and January–August 2026 year-to-date (Table 5.6.B).