📺 TV & Entertainment
How Much Does a Cable / Satellite Box Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a cable / satellite box costs about $2.74 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
0.4¢
at 15–30 W
Per day
9.0¢
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$2.74
15 kWh
Per year
$32.94
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
9.0¢
Per month
$2.74
Per year
$32.94
Uses 15 kWh/month at 18.8¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | 0.2¢ | $1.81 | $21.72 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | 0.3¢ | $1.85 | $22.25 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | 0.3¢ | $1.94 | $23.30 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | 0.3¢ | $1.94 | $23.30 |
| Utah | 13.3 | 0.3¢ | $1.94 | $23.30 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | 0.3¢ | $2.03 | $24.35 |
| Montana | 13.9 | 0.3¢ | $2.03 | $24.35 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | 0.3¢ | $2.04 | $24.53 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | 0.3¢ | $2.07 | $24.88 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | 0.3¢ | $2.09 | $25.05 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.10 | $25.23 |
| Washington | 14.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.10 | $25.23 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | 0.3¢ | $2.12 | $25.40 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | 0.3¢ | $2.15 | $25.75 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | 0.3¢ | $2.17 | $26.10 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 0.3¢ | $2.19 | $26.28 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | 0.3¢ | $2.22 | $26.63 |
| Florida | 15.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.25 | $26.98 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.25 | $26.98 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | 0.3¢ | $2.26 | $27.16 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | 0.3¢ | $2.31 | $27.68 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | 0.3¢ | $2.31 | $27.68 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | 0.3¢ | $2.35 | $28.21 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | 0.3¢ | $2.38 | $28.56 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.39 | $28.73 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | 0.3¢ | $2.41 | $28.91 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | 0.3¢ | $2.45 | $29.43 |
| Texas | 17.0 | 0.3¢ | $2.48 | $29.78 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | 0.3¢ | $2.50 | $29.96 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.54 | $30.48 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | 0.3¢ | $2.54 | $30.48 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | 0.4¢ | $2.61 | $31.36 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | 0.4¢ | $2.74 | $32.94 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | 0.4¢ | $2.80 | $33.64 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 0.4¢ | $2.85 | $34.16 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | 0.4¢ | $2.99 | $35.92 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | 0.4¢ | $3.12 | $37.49 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | 0.4¢ | $3.14 | $37.67 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | 0.4¢ | $3.22 | $38.72 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | 0.5¢ | $3.43 | $41.17 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | 0.5¢ | $3.59 | $43.10 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 0.5¢ | $3.71 | $44.50 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | 0.5¢ | $3.97 | $47.65 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | 0.5¢ | $4.00 | $48.00 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 0.6¢ | $4.13 | $49.58 |
| Maine | 28.4 | 0.6¢ | $4.14 | $49.76 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | 0.6¢ | $4.30 | $51.68 |
| New York | 29.5 | 0.6¢ | $4.30 | $51.68 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | 0.6¢ | $4.70 | $56.41 |
| California | 35.3 | 0.7¢ | $5.15 | $61.85 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | 0.9¢ | $6.80 | $81.64 |
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 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about 0.4¢. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.2¢, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's 0.9¢.
How much does a cable / satellite box cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $2.74 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.81 in North Dakota up to $6.80 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 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.