Electricity rates in Iowa and what they mean for charging an EV

Average residential price, how it moved over the past year, the state's EV registration fee, and the annual home-charging cost of every current electric car.

Iowa sits at 15.93¢ per kWh on a scale running from 13.11¢ in Nevada to 52.72¢ in Hawaii.

Households in Iowa pay an average of 15.93¢ per kilowatt-hour, against a national average of 19.42¢. That is 18% below the U.S. figure, and it moved up 3.9% from 15.33¢ a year earlier.

EV registration fees in Iowa

Most states charge electric vehicles an extra registration fee to make up for the gasoline tax they do not pay. What Iowa currently has on the books, per the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center:

Electric Vehicle (EV) Fee

EV owners must pay an annual fee in addition to standard registration fees. All-electric EV owners must pay an annual fee of $130 and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle owners must pay an annual fee of $65. (Reference Iowa Code 321.116)

Most efficient, median and least efficient of the 223 electric cars on sale, charged at Iowa prices.

Annual home-charging cost in Iowa, by car

At 15.93¢/kWh and 12,000 miles a year. Sorted from most to least efficient.

States that pay about the same

Cheapest in the country: Nevada (13.11¢), Nebraska (13.25¢), Utah (13.37¢). Most expensive: Hawaii (52.72¢), California (34.74¢), Massachusetts (29.61¢). See all 51 →

Questions people ask about electricity and EVs in Iowa

How much is electricity in Iowa?

Households in Iowa pay an average of 15.93¢ per kilowatt-hour, against a U.S. average of 19.42¢. That is 18% below the national figure, making it the 23rd cheapest of 51 including DC. Prices moved up 3.9% over the past year, from 15.33¢.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car in Iowa?

At 15.93¢ per kWh and 12,000 miles a year, home charging runs from $441 a year for the most efficient car on sale (the Lucid Air Pure) to $1,263 for the least efficient (the GMC Hummer EV SUV 2M20). Public DC fast charging costs substantially more per kWh than charging at home.

Does Iowa charge an EV registration fee?

Yes. Iowa charges an annual fee on electric vehicles of $65 to $130, on top of normal registration, to make up for the gasoline tax an EV does not pay. The exact amount depends on the vehicle type — the statutory text is quoted in full above.

Is Iowa a cheap place to run an electric car?

On electricity price alone, yes. Charging a typical EV for a year costs $678 here, compared with $827 at the national average price. Registration fees and insurance vary by state too and are not included in that figure.

Electricity price is the state-wide average residential rate from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.A (May 2026). Your own utility's rate — and any time-of-use plan you are on — can differ substantially. Energy use per 100 miles is derived from EPA ratings; see any car's page for the method.