What going electric actually costs.

EV charging, heat pumps, solar — real numbers from live public data (EIA, AAA, DOE), re-verified monthly and dated on every page. No hype, no sponsored rankings.

Cost per mile, U.S. average

5.9¢EV, charged at home
VS
13.6¢28-MPG gas car
Typical driver saves ≈ $1,038 / year

EIA 18.83¢/kWh (Apr 2026) · AAA $3.81/gal (Jul 4, 2026) · 13,500 mi/yr

1 Live public sources

Every rate, price, and rebate is pulled from primary sources — EIA electricity data, AAA fuel prices, DOE and IRS guidance — not recycled blog claims.

2 Dated and shown

Each page displays when its numbers were last verified. When the federal charger credit expired on June 30, 2026, our pages said so that week.

3 Math you can check

Our calculators show their formulas and assumptions. Change any input — your state, your mileage, your quote — and see your real number.

Latest verified guides

Every guide re-checked against its sources — date shown on the badge.

Solar

Solar Payback Period by State (2026)

Solar payback is 4.3 years in Hawaii and 18.8 in Idaho after the federal credit expired. Full 51-state table using August 2026 EIA rates.

Verified Aug 22, 2026Read →
Solar

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need? (2026 Calculator + Real Usage Data)

The average U.S. home uses 10,356 kWh a year and needs about 19 panels — an 8.1 kW system. Work out your own from your bill, not your square footage.

Verified Aug 17, 2026Read →
Solar

Solar Lease vs Buy vs PPA in 2026 (After the Credit Moved)

Over 25 years a 12 kW system costs $30,720 in cash, $57,899–$79,523 leased or on a PPA, and $77,213 on a typical solar loan. Why financing can lose to leasing.

Verified Aug 14, 2026Read →
Water Heating

Heat Pump Water Heater Cost 2026: Installed Price & Payback

A heat pump water heater costs $3,200–$4,700 installed (avg $4,200) and cuts water heating from $767 to $202 a year. Payback: 5 years at the U.S. average rate.

Verified Aug 7, 2026Read →
Solar

Is Solar Worth It in 2026? Run Your Own Numbers

Solar costs about 9.5¢/kWh over 25 years. Worth it depends on what your utility charges — 4 years to pay back in Hawaii, 19 in Idaho. Calculate yours.

Verified Aug 2, 2026Read →
Solar

Solar Panel Cost in 2026 (After the Federal Credit Expired)

Home solar averages $2.60/watt — about $31,135 for a 12 kW system. With the 30% credit gone, the same system costs $9,216 more out of pocket than in 2025.

Verified Aug 2, 2026Read →
Solar

Is There a Solar Tax Credit in 2026? What Actually Happened

The 30% federal solar credit (25D) expired December 31, 2025. If you buy solar in 2026 you get nothing federally — but leases, PPAs and some state credits still pay.

Verified Aug 2, 2026Read →
Heat Pumps

Heat Pump vs Air Conditioner: Which Should You Get in 2026?

A heat pump is an AC that also heats. They cool identically and cost the same to run — the real difference is heating and about $1,000–$2,500 upfront.

Verified Aug 2, 2026Read →
Heat Pumps

What Size Heat Pump Do I Need? (2026)

Rule of thumb: 1 ton (12,000 BTU) per ~500–600 sq ft, so a 2,000 sq ft home needs 3–4 tons. But the shortcut misses by 15–50% — here's why, and the real method.

Verified Jul 11, 2026Read →
EV Charging

Cost to Charge a Tesla at Home (2026): 9 EVs Compared

Charging a Tesla Model 3 at home costs about $4.43 per 100 miles — roughly $50/month. See 2026 costs for 9 popular EVs from EPA efficiency data.

Verified Aug 2, 2026Read →
Heat Pumps

Ductless Mini-Split Cost 2026: By Zone, Size & to Run

A ductless mini-split costs $2,500–$6,000 installed for one zone in 2026, more for multi-zone. See prices by zones, BTU size, and cost to run.

Verified Aug 2, 2026Read →
EV Charging

EV Charger Rebates 2026: What's Still Available by State

The federal 30C credit is gone. We re-verified every program: which utility rebates are still open, which just closed, and what a charger costs after each.

Verified Aug 7, 2026Read →
Heat Pumps

Heat Pump Cost 2026: Installed Prices by Type

A central air-source heat pump costs $6,000–$13,000 installed in 2026. See prices by type and what changed with the federal tax credits.

Verified Jul 7, 2026Read →
Heat Pumps

Heat Pump Rebates 2026: What's Left After 25C/25D

Federal heat pump tax credits expired Dec 31, 2025. See the HEAR rebate (up to $8,000) and state programs still available in 2026.

Verified Jul 6, 2026Read →
Heat Pumps

Heat Pump vs Gas Furnace: Which Costs Less to Run?

It depends on your state. See the break-even electricity price and calculate your own heat pump vs gas furnace running cost for 2026.

Verified Aug 2, 2026Read →
Heat Pumps

Is a Heat Pump Worth It in a Cold Climate? (2026)

Yes — modern cold-climate heat pumps heat effectively to -15°F. See the Maine data and whether it's worth it for your situation.

Verified Jul 6, 2026Read →
EV Charging

How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home? All 50 States

Charging an EV at home costs $15.21 for a full charge — 5.8¢/mile vs 14.6¢ for gas, saving $1,194 a year. Verified 2026 electricity rates for all 50 states.

Verified Aug 2, 2026Read →
EV Charging

Level 2 EV Charger Installation Cost 2026

A Level 2 home EV charger costs $800–$3,000 installed in 2026. See the full cost breakdown and what drives the price up or down.

Verified Jul 5, 2026Read →