Electricity rates in Rhode Island 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.

Rhode Island sits at 29.23¢ per kWh on a scale running from 13.11¢ in Nevada to 52.72¢ in Hawaii.

Households in Rhode Island pay an average of 29.23¢ per kilowatt-hour, against a national average of 19.42¢. That is 50% above the U.S. figure, and it moved up 8.9% from 26.84¢ a year earlier.

EV registration fees in Rhode Island

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

Electric Vehicle (EV) Registration Fee

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, in addition to standard vehicle registration fees, EV owners must pay an annual fee of $200, plug-in hybrid EV owners an annual fee of $100, and hybrid EV owners an annual fee of $50. In addition, by Jan. 1, 2027, the Rhode Island Department of Revenue and Rhode Island Department of Transportation must submit a report, including information and practices of other states, to the General Assembly on findings and recommendations to index or update these fees and any other related charges for electric-drive vehicles. (Reference Public Law Chapter 278, Article 11, 2025)

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

Annual home-charging cost in Rhode Island, by car

At 29.23¢/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 Rhode Island

How much is electricity in Rhode Island?

Households in Rhode Island pay an average of 29.23¢ per kilowatt-hour, against a U.S. average of 19.42¢. That is 50% above the national figure, making it the 6th most expensive of 51 including DC. Prices moved up 8.9% over the past year, from 26.84¢.

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

At 29.23¢ per kWh and 12,000 miles a year, home charging runs from $810 a year for the most efficient car on sale (the Lucid Air Pure) to $2,318 for the least efficient (the GMC Hummer EV SUV 2M20). Public DC fast charging costs substantially more per kWh than charging at home.

Does Rhode Island charge an EV registration fee?

Yes. Rhode Island charges an annual fee on electric vehicles of $50 to $200, 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 Rhode Island a cheap place to run an electric car?

On electricity price alone, no. Charging a typical EV for a year costs $1,244 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.