Electricity rates in Tennessee 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.

Tennessee sits at 14.07¢ per kWh on a scale running from 13.11¢ in Nevada to 52.72¢ in Hawaii.

Households in Tennessee pay an average of 14.07¢ per kilowatt-hour, against a national average of 19.42¢. That is 28% below the U.S. figure, and it moved up 1.8% from 13.82¢ a year earlier.

EV registration fees in Tennessee

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

Electric Vehicle (EV) Fee

In addition to standard registration fees, EV owners must pay an annual fee, which increases according to the following schedule: Years Annual EV Fee ---------------- -------------------------------------- 2024 to 2026 $200 2027 $274 2028 and later $274, adjusted for annual inflation In addition to standard registration fees, hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) owners will be subject to the following annual fees: Years Annual HEV and PHEV Fee ---------------- -------------------------------------- 2024 to 2028 $100 2028 and later $100, adjusted for annual inflation Low-speed and medium-speed vehicles are exempt from the fee. (Reference Tennessee Code 55-4-116)

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

Annual home-charging cost in Tennessee, by car

At 14.07¢/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 Tennessee

How much is electricity in Tennessee?

Households in Tennessee pay an average of 14.07¢ per kilowatt-hour, against a U.S. average of 19.42¢. That is 28% below the national figure, making it the 5th cheapest of 51 including DC. Prices moved up 1.8% over the past year, from 13.82¢.

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

At 14.07¢ per kWh and 12,000 miles a year, home charging runs from $390 a year for the most efficient car on sale (the Lucid Air Pure) to $1,116 for the least efficient (the GMC Hummer EV SUV 2M20). Public DC fast charging costs substantially more per kWh than charging at home.

Does Tennessee charge an EV registration fee?

Yes. Tennessee charges an annual fee on electric vehicles of $100 to $274, 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 Tennessee a cheap place to run an electric car?

On electricity price alone, yes. Charging a typical EV for a year costs $599 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.