EV Charging Costs in Washington
Residential electricity in Washington averages 13.81¢/kWh — 2.7¢ below the national average. Source: U.S. EIA.
Home Rate
13.81¢/kWh
Model Y Full Charge
$8.29
vs National Avg
-$1.61
Renewable Mix
80%
In Washington, home charging at 13.81¢/kWh is the cheapest option — even cheaper than Francis Energy at 28¢/kWh. Residents save $8.51 per full charge by charging at home.
Home vs Public Charging in Washington
Using a Tesla Model Y (75 kWh) as benchmark. Full charge (80%).
| Network | Rate | Full Charge Cost | vs Home Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| BestHome Charging | 13.81¢/kWh | $8.29 | — |
| Francis Energy | 28¢/kWh | $16.80 | +$8.51 |
| ChargePoint | 30¢/kWh | $18.00 | +$9.71 |
| Rivian Adventure Network | 30¢/kWh | $18.00 | +$9.71 |
| IONNA | 32¢/kWh | $19.20 | +$10.91 |
| FLO | 35¢/kWh | $21.00 | +$12.71 |
| Tesla Supercharger | 36¢/kWh | $21.60 | +$13.31 |
| Mercedes-Benz HPC | 40¢/kWh | $24.00 | +$15.71 |
| bp pulse | 42¢/kWh | $25.20 | +$16.91 |
| Shell Recharge | 44¢/kWh | $26.40 | +$18.11 |
| Blink Charging | 44¢/kWh | $26.40 | +$18.11 |
| Electrify America | 48¢/kWh | $28.80 | +$20.51 |
| EVgo | 48¢/kWh | $28.80 | +$20.51 |
Charging Popular EVs at Home in Washington
| EV Model | Battery | Full Charge Cost | Per 100 Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac LYRIQ | 102 kWh | $11.27 | $4.32 |
| Cadillac OPTIQ | 85 kWh | $9.39 | $3.70 |
| Cadillac VISTIQ | 102 kWh | $11.27 | $4.62 |
| Kia EV9 | 99.8 kWh | $11.03 | $4.53 |
| Rivian R2 | 87.9 kWh | $9.71 | $3.70 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 79 kWh | $8.73 | $3.01 |
| Tesla Model Y | 75 kWh | $8.29 | $2.90 |
| Acura ZDX | 102 kWh | $11.27 | $4.50 |
How Charging Costs Work in Washington
The 13.81¢/kWh figure above is the EIA-reported residential average across all of Washington's utilities. Your actual bill depends on your specific utility, rate plan, and the time of day you charge. Many utilities in Washington offer time-of-use (TOU) rates that charge 16.3¢/kWh during peak hours and significantly less overnight — the window when most EV owners plug in. If your utility offers an EV-specific rate, off-peak charging can drop to 60–70% of the residential average. That takes the Model Y full-charge cost from $8.29 down closer to $5.39.
Washington's grid is 80% renewable, which matters for two reasons: your charging is lower-carbon per kWh than states relying on coal or natural gas, and states with high renewables (hydro in the Pacific Northwest, wind in the Midwest) tend to see more stable electricity prices year-over-year. If you install solar, the effective cost of EV charging drops to whatever your system produces above your home baseline load — often under 5¢/kWh over the panel's lifetime. Net metering rules vary by state and utility; check your local PUC for current export rates.
Public fast-charging makes sense in Washingtonwhen you're traveling, can't install home charging (apartments, rentals), or need to top up mid-trip. For a road trip across Washington, budget $7.98 per 100 miles at typical DC fast-charger rates (around 38¢/kWh blended) versus $2.90 per 100 miles at home. That difference is roughly $5.08 per 100 miles — meaningful over a 300-mile day.
Apartment dwellers in Washington have two realistic paths. Workplace charging (often free or subsidized) cuts the per-kWh cost to near zero for commute-only charging. Destination charging — Level 2 stations at grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels — typically runs $0.20–$0.35/kWh and adds roughly 20–30 miles of range per hour. For regular use, a nearby public Level 2 charger combined with a monthly network membership (EVgo Plus, Electrify America Pass+) usually beats paying per-session at fast chargers. See our full network comparison to pick the right plan.
Related Charging Guides
Data sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) residential electricity averages; network-published rate cards; manufacturer battery specs. Rates vary by utility, rate plan, and time of day — check your specific bill for exact figures.