How much is the electric bill for a hospital?

Asked by: Flavie Bogan  |  Last update: September 28, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (70 votes)

The average commercial electricity rate in the US is 11.33 cents per kWh (EIA November 2021). That makes the average monthly electricity bill for a hospital around $72,295.

How much power does a hospital use?

Hospitals are the third-most energy-intensive type of commercial building after food service and food sales buildings. They use an average of 193,300 BTUs of energy per square foot per year, which is the same as 1.5 gallons of gas for every square foot of space.

Do hospitals have to pay for electricity?

Utility bills constitute 1.4% of hospital operating costs on average, and hospitals in the U.S. spend approximately $8.3 billion on energy annually.

How much do hospitals spend on energy?

In 2022, the average hospital spent almost three times as much on electricity ($2.78/square foot) as natural gas ($0.98/square foot). Hospitals spent $0.46/sf on water/sewer in 2021 and $0.43/sf in 2022, compared with $0.27/sf in 2006, when GBA began collecting water/sewer data.

How much would a hospital bill cost?

The cost of a hospital stay varies, depending on the diagnosis, whether surgery was involved, and more. In 2021, the average hospital stay cost $13,262. Aside from surgery costs, the type of treatment needed while hospitalized can increase costs dramatically.

High-Cost Hospital Bills

39 related questions found

How much is a typical electric bill for a hospital?

The average commercial electricity rate in the US is 11.33 cents per kWh (EIA November 2021). That makes the average monthly electricity bill for a hospital around $72,295.

What are the 3 biggest expenses for hospitals?

Wage expenses represent about 55% - 65%. Supplies and services account for the next largest expense, followed by depreciation. Most healthcare facilities try their best not only to maintain a clean and safe environment for patients but also provide them with high quality medical equipment.

Do hospitals need electricity?

Electricity is needed to power the most basic devices – from lights and communications equipment to refrigeration, or devices that measure vital signs like heartbeat and blood pressure – and is critical for both routine and emergency procedures.

How much is a hospital water bill?

The average large hospital used 43.6 million gallons of water, which cost about $202,200 per building.

Can you refuse to pay a hospital?

And while outright refusing to pay medical bills typically isn't an option, it's possible to get your total bill significantly reduced, especially if you have an experienced legal team building your personal injury claim.

What happens if a hospital loses electricity?

When an outage occurs within a hospital, basic functions such as powered wheelchairs, fire alarms, air conditioning, water and food prep and more all will cease to function, affecting patient's care and lives. A loss of power will cause vital machines to stop working, thus threatening people's lives.

How much does it cost per day to run a hospital?

According to one source, the average cost per bed per day in the US is about $2200, so that would work out to about $160million per year for a 200 bed hospital—but that is a very crude. I think the best answer is “a lot”.

How are hospital bills so high?

There are many factors that contribute to the high cost of healthcare in the country including wasteful systems, rising drug costs, medical professional salaries, profit-driven healthcare centers, types of medical practices, and health-related pricing.

Why do hospitals use so much energy?

Business activity and climate are often correlated with energy consumption. For example, hospitals that have more full-time equivalent (FTE) workers per square foot, more staffed beds per square foot, and/or experience more cooling degree days (CDD) use more energy, on average.

Who has the highest power in a hospital?

From an Operational Perspective the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), or the Medical Director (MD) of the Facility is the highest-ranking individual in the Hospital.

Do hospitals have electric bills?

Average Hospital Electricity Costs

For example, a typical 200,000-square-foot hospital with 50 beds in the US might spend around $680,000 or $13,611 per bed annually on electricity and natural gas.

What do hospitals bill you for?

Your hospital bill will include charges for your room, food, medical supplies and services, and any tests or procedures, including X-rays.

How much electricity does a hospital use per hour?

The average daily electricity consumption varies based on factors like facility size and equipment, but the following breakdown provides insights into how hospitals typically allocate their energy: Small Hospitals: Around 5,000–15,000 kWh per day. Medium-Sized Hospitals: 15,000–30,000 kWh per day.

What generates most money for a hospital?

The most revolutionary is cardiovascular surgery, which provides the greatest income for hospitals. With the increasing need for surgical solutions to heart ailments and other cardiovascular disorders, it remains an unignorable force in the hospital business.

How much money does a hospital make in a day?

Large Urban Private Hospital (500 beds): Offering high-cost specialties and serving thousands of patients through outpatient and diagnostic services, a large hospital could earn anywhere from $1 million to $10 million daily, depending on patient volume and case mix.

Who pays for hospitals?

In 2021, fully half of state and local health and hospital expenditures ($188 billion) were funded by the federal government.

Which surgery is most expensive?

Here is our list of the 15 most expensive medical treatments/procedures in the world.
  • Bowel-to-bowel fusion.
  • Craniotomy.
  • Tracheostomy.
  • Spinal Fusion.
  • Exploratory chest surgery.
  • Aortic valve replacement.
  • Small bowel transplant.
  • Intestine transplant.

Why is my ER bill so expensive?

Why are ER bills so high? Emergency departments charge what's called a “facility fee.” It's a price you pay just for walking through the doors to seek help. These fees are coded on a scale of 1 to 5, depending on the seriousness of your medical issue.