📺 TV & Entertainment
How Much Does a Cable / Satellite Box Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a cable / satellite box costs about $2.67 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
0.4¢
at 15–30 W
Per day
8.8¢
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$2.67
15 kWh
Per year
$32.06
175 kWh
Cable and satellite boxes are infamous standby offenders: many draw nearly the same 15–30 watts whether you're watching or not, 24 hours a day. Over a year, an always-on DVR box can consume more electricity than a new refrigerator.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
0.4¢
Per day
8.8¢
Per month
$2.67
Per year
$32.06
Uses 15 kWh/month at 18.3¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | 0.3¢ | $1.85 | $22.25 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 0.3¢ | $1.87 | $22.43 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 0.3¢ | $1.91 | $22.95 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 0.3¢ | $1.96 | $23.48 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 0.3¢ | $2.00 | $24.00 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 0.3¢ | $2.00 | $24.00 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 0.3¢ | $2.01 | $24.18 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 0.3¢ | $2.01 | $24.18 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 0.3¢ | $2.09 | $25.05 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.10 | $25.23 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.10 | $25.23 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 0.3¢ | $2.12 | $25.40 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 0.3¢ | $2.15 | $25.75 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 0.3¢ | $2.19 | $26.28 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 0.3¢ | $2.19 | $26.28 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 0.3¢ | $2.22 | $26.63 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 0.3¢ | $2.23 | $26.81 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.25 | $26.98 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.25 | $26.98 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 0.3¢ | $2.26 | $27.16 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 0.3¢ | $2.31 | $27.68 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 0.3¢ | $2.32 | $27.86 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 0.3¢ | $2.33 | $28.03 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 0.3¢ | $2.33 | $28.03 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 0.3¢ | $2.35 | $28.21 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 0.3¢ | $2.35 | $28.21 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 0.3¢ | $2.38 | $28.56 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.39 | $28.73 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 0.3¢ | $2.44 | $29.26 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 0.3¢ | $2.48 | $29.78 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 0.3¢ | $2.55 | $30.66 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 0.4¢ | $2.57 | $30.84 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 0.4¢ | $2.70 | $32.41 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 0.4¢ | $2.79 | $33.46 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 0.4¢ | $2.80 | $33.64 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 0.4¢ | $2.85 | $34.16 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 0.4¢ | $3.12 | $37.49 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 0.4¢ | $3.17 | $38.02 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 0.5¢ | $3.37 | $40.47 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 0.5¢ | $3.47 | $41.70 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 0.5¢ | $3.53 | $42.40 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 0.5¢ | $3.68 | $44.15 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 0.5¢ | $3.68 | $44.15 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 0.5¢ | $3.88 | $46.60 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 0.6¢ | $4.13 | $49.58 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 0.6¢ | $4.20 | $50.46 |
| New York | 29.9 | 0.6¢ | $4.36 | $52.38 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 0.6¢ | $4.45 | $53.44 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 0.6¢ | $4.73 | $56.76 |
| California | 33.6 | 0.7¢ | $4.90 | $58.87 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 1.0¢ | $7.00 | $84.10 |
How to lower the cost
- Disable instant-on standby modes — they can idle at 10–20 watts around the clock.
- Stream on a stick, not a console: the same show can use 10× less power.
- Turn down screen brightness or enable the ambient light sensor.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a cable / satellite box use?
A typical cable / satellite box draws about 20 watts in use. At 24 hours/day (always on), that works out to roughly 0.5 kWh per day, or 15 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a cable / satellite box for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 0.4¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 0.3¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 1.0¢.
How much does a cable / satellite box cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $2.67 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.85 in Louisiana up to $7.00 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a cable / satellite box use a lot of electricity?
Not really — at typical usage it's under 2% of an average home's monthly consumption. Heating, cooling, hot water, and drying are the loads that move bills.