Free Energy Tools · Powered by EIA, DOE & EPA Data

Energy Cost Calculator 2026
Solar, EV & Electricity Tools

28 free tools to convert joules, calculate electricity costs, compare time-of-use rates, estimate solar savings, compare solar LCOE, compare EV charging costs, estimate EV battery health, size peak-shaving batteries, and plan cleaner home energy upgrades.

$150/mo

Avg solar savings

2025

Federal credit cutoff

6-8 yrs

Solar payback

$0.05/mi

EV charging cost

Live US Electricity Prices

Auto-updated monthly from EIA · last refresh: April 25, 2026

🟢 Cheapest States (residential ¢/kWh)

  • ND11.64¢
  • NE11.79¢
  • MO12.17¢
  • ID12.63¢
  • AR12.73¢

🔴 Most Expensive States

  • HI43.00¢
  • PACN34.24¢
  • CA33.22¢
  • ME32.17¢
  • CT30.77¢
US Average
17.65¢/kWh
EIA · 2026-02
Energy Inflation YoY
12.53%
BLS CPI Energy
Total States Tracked
61
EIA Residential

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), BLS. Updated monthly.

Calculator intent router

Looking for a specific energy calculator?

These are the exact JouleIO pages to open when the question is about joules, demand-charge peak shaving, electric boiler running cost, LCOE, or a vehicle-specific EV charger.

Open all calculators

Joules calculator

Use this page for J to kWh, kWh to joules, watts x seconds, BTU, calories, therms, Joule heating, and temperature-rise math.

calculator joules, joules calculator, how much is a joule, joule heating calculator

Peak shaving calculator

Use this calculator to estimate shaved kW, demand-charge savings, interval-data storage needs, and simple battery payback.

peak shaving calculator, demand charge savings, battery kWh for peak demand

Time-of-use calculator

Use this calculator to compare a flat electricity rate with peak, shoulder, and off-peak TOU rates, then test EV or night charging shifts.

time of use calculator, TOU electricity calculator, peak off peak bill comparison

Solar panel system size

Use this guide when the question is about annual kWh, peak sun hours, panel wattage, usable roof area, setbacks, EV or heat-pump load, and whether the system fits before quoting savings.

what size solar panel system do i need, how many solar panels do i need, solar panel size guide

Electric boiler and circulator cost

Use this page to split true electric-resistance boiler heat from boiler controls, circulator pumps, zone pumps, and standby electricity against local electricity rates.

electric boiler energy cost calculator, electric boiler running costs calculator, boiler circulator pump cost

LCOE calculator

Use this calculator for system cost, lifetime kWh, degradation, operations cost, discount rate, and levelized cost per kWh.

lcoe calculator, cost of energy calculator, levelized cost of electricity

Lucid Air Sapphire EV charger

Use this vehicle page for the Sapphire battery, Level 2 charge time, DC fast-charging rate, full-charge cost, and home charger payback.

lucid air sapphire ev charger, Lucid Air Sapphire charging cost

VinFast VF 9 EV charger

Use this vehicle page for VF 9 home charging, full-charge cost, range, DC fast charging, and annual electricity cost.

vinfast vf 9 ev charger, VinFast VF9 charging cost

Start With the Energy Question

Energy decisions are local, seasonal, and equipment-specific. Choose the question you are answering now and open the calculator that uses the right inputs.

Featured Local Energy Benchmarks

Local calculators connect equipment usage, solar output, and electricity rates to city-specific cost decisions.

28

Free Tools

50

States + DC

EIA/DOE

Data Sources

0

Data Stored

All Energy Calculators

Organized by category. Click any tool to get started.

Solar

7 tools

Home Energy

15 tools

EV & Wind

6 tools

Energy & Solar by the Numbers

17.65¢

avg U.S. residential electricity rate/kWh (EIA 2026-02)

23.4%

of U.S. electricity from renewables (EIA, 2025)

10,500

kWh avg annual household usage (EIA, 2025)

$0.05

/kWh home EV charging vs $0.15/mile gas (DOE)

JouleIO is the most comprehensive free energy calculator suite available online. With 28 calculators covering joule conversion, solar energy, LCOE, electricity costs, time-of-use bill comparison, electric vehicles, EV battery health, wind power, peak shaving, and carbon footprint, JouleIO eliminates the need for multiple apps or paid energy audit services. Every calculation runs instantly in your browser using real-world data from the EIA, DOE, SEIA, and EPA.

Whether you're estimating solar savings, calculating electricity costs, comparing EV vs gas, or running a home energy audit, JouleIO delivers accurate results in seconds. For mortgage tools, visit Amortio. For tax planning, see LevyIO. For construction estimates, try HammerIO.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is JouleIO?

JouleIO is a free collection of 28 solar, energy, and EV calculators. Convert joules, estimate solar savings, calculate LCOE, compare TOU rates and EV charging options, estimate EV battery health, and measure your carbon footprint — all in your browser.

How accurate are the energy estimates?

Our calculators use EIA electricity rates, SEIA solar data, and EPA emission factors. Results are planning estimates — get professional quotes for exact costs.

What official data sources does JouleIO use?

JouleIO uses EIA electricity data, NREL PVWatts solar assumptions, BLS household energy price context, EPA greenhouse gas equivalencies, and DOE Energy Saver guidance. The current homepage electricity-rate baseline is 17.65 cents/kWh for EIA 2026-02.

Is my data private?

Yes. All calculations happen locally in your browser. Your energy usage and other data never leave your device.

Which calculator should I start with?

Try the Solar Savings Calculator to see if solar makes sense, or the Electric Bill Estimator to understand your current costs.