A. O. Smith HPTS-66 2**: running cost
At 1,233 kWh/yr, the A. O. Smith HPTS-66 2**'s ENERGY STAR certification puts it more expensive than most models in its category to run against every other certified electric water heater.
That $232 is priced at 18.8¢/kWh, the average of all 51 state rates this site tracks. Your own state's rate is one click away.
Efficient, or not, for a electric water heater
The category average is 1,105 kWh/yr; this model runs 11.6% above it, ranking 362 of 596 electric water heaters tracked here for running cost. That average is drawn from all 596 electric water heaters ENERGY STAR currently certifies, not an outside number, a $24/year gap from this model at the national rate. Full sourcing is in the sourcing notes.
Right next to it on the list
A rank or two either side of the A. O. Smith HPTS-66 2**: A. O. Smith HPSN10-66H45DV 2** ($232/yr, 1,233 kWh/yr), then American HPS10266H045DV 2** ($232/yr, 1,233 kWh/yr).
Comparing A. O. Smith's own models
Ranked 28 of A. O. Smith's 61 certified electric water heaters, this sits between the HPS10-50H45DV 2** ($156/yr, the brand's cheapest) and the HPV10-80H01DV 2** ($311/yr, its priciest).
Cost over its typical lifespan
NAHB's Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components puts a typical electric water heater's service life at 11 years; run the A. O. Smith HPTS-66 2** that long and it costs about $2,550 in electricity, on top of whatever it cost to buy.
Weighing a replacement
Running above the category average, $232/year is exactly the kind of number that makes a newer, more efficient model pay for itself faster.
Compare current ENERGY STAR certified electric water heaters before buying.
If you're keeping it
A electric water heater like the A. O. Smith HPTS-66 2** is a real household expense whether or not it needs replacing yet; a protection plan is one way to budget for a repair rather than a full replacement.
Where this number comes from
Two sourced numbers, nothing modeled: ENERGY STAR's certified kWh/yr for this exact model, and EIA's published state electricity rate. At rank 362 of 596 for running cost, see the electric water heater category page for the rest of the field, or the guide to how much your state matters.