Electricity Rates by State
- The average U.S. residential electricity rate is 18.34¢/kWh as of September 2026, up 5.0% year-over-year.
- Rates range from 13.11 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) in Nevada to 52.72 cents per kWh in Hawaii.
- U.S. electricity rates have risen 23% since 2022, adding roughly $440/year to the average household electric bill.
Check electric rates in your area
| State | Residential | Commercial | Avg Bill/mo | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40 | 14.67 | $182 | +2.1% |
| Alaska | 28.21 | 23.42 | $160 | +5.0% |
| Arizona | 15.18 | 12.47 | $151 | −0.3% |
| Arkansas | 14.12 | 11.54 | $150 | +5.6% |
| California | 34.74 | 27.33 | $190 | +3.4% |
| Colorado | 17.13 | 14.19 | $121 | +6.8% |
| Connecticut | 24.32 | 19.62 | $170 | −10.6% |
| Delaware | 19.29 | 14.40 | $171 | +6.2% |
| District of Columbia | 24.39 | 23.38 | $168 | +7.4% |
| Florida | 15.10 | 11.47 | $165 | −1.6% |
| Georgia | 16.36 | 11.91 | $171 | +2.5% |
| Hawaii | 52.72 | 48.05 | $268 | +28.7% |
| Idaho | 14.37 | 9.92 | $136 | +19.1% |
| Illinois | 19.89 | 14.53 | $138 | +8.7% |
| Indiana | 17.51 | 14.15 | $162 | +6.3% |
| Iowa | 15.93 | 12.79 | $149 | +3.9% |
| Kansas | 15.71 | 12.27 | $148 | +4.5% |
| Kentucky | 14.26 | 12.40 | $152 | +6.4% |
| Louisiana | 13.49 | 11.64 | $157 | +5.9% |
| Maine | 29.59 | 22.24 | $169 | +5.2% |
| Maryland | 21.84 | 16.84 | $168 | +13.2% |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | 24.52 | $172 | −2.4% |
| Michigan | 22.99 | 16.63 | $160 | +10.4% |
| Minnesota | 17.52 | 13.68 | $140 | +2.3% |
| Mississippi | 14.88 | 13.83 | $167 | +5.8% |
| Missouri | 16.22 | 12.71 | $172 | +1.9% |
| Montana | 15.14 | 13.48 | $126 | +2.2% |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | 8.82 | $131 | +0.8% |
| Nevada | 13.11 | 9.83 | $120 | +6.9% |
| New Hampshire | 27.01 | 21.22 | $172 | +14.9% |
| New Jersey | 24.95 | 18.47 | $167 | +0.3% |
| New Mexico | 15.06 | 10.82 | $108 | +2.6% |
| New York | 29.49 | 23.56 | $174 | +11.1% |
| North Carolina | 14.74 | 10.51 | $145 | +10.2% |
| North Dakota | 14.12 | 8.02 | $150 | +3.0% |
| Ohio | 19.19 | 13.77 | $159 | +9.7% |
| Oklahoma | 14.33 | 9.90 | $144 | +5.1% |
| Oregon | 16.32 | 10.59 | $128 | +3.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 21.73 | 13.33 | $165 | +10.4% |
| Rhode Island | 29.23 | 22.70 | $167 | +8.9% |
| South Carolina | 15.55 | 11.62 | $167 | +5.1% |
| South Dakota | 15.36 | 11.35 | $149 | +8.0% |
| Tennessee | 14.07 | 13.94 | $158 | +1.8% |
| Texas | 15.94 | 8.66 | $173 | +4.5% |
| Utah | 13.37 | 10.99 | $96 | +2.1% |
| Vermont | 24.44 | 21.22 | $136 | +6.3% |
| Virginia | 17.22 | 10.99 | $162 | +13.1% |
| Washington | 14.91 | 11.77 | $132 | +15.0% |
| West Virginia | 15.45 | 11.09 | $148 | −2.3% |
| Wisconsin | 19.56 | 14.05 | $143 | +5.6% |
| Wyoming | 15.24 | 10.01 | $128 | +2.4% |
| U.S. Average | 18.34 | 14.19 | $166 | +5.0% |
Electricity Rate Map
Residential electricity prices in cents per kWh — September 2026
Rate Categories
Which States Have the Most Expensive Electricity?
Hawaii has the most expensive electricity at 52.72¢/kWh — 187% above the national average. Six of the ten priciest states are in New England, where aging grids and imported natural gas keep rates high.
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Avg Bill/mo | vs. U.S. Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $268 | +187% |
| California | 34.74 | $190 | +89% |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $172 | +61% |
| Maine | 29.59 | $169 | +61% |
| New York | 29.49 | $174 | +61% |
Which States Have the Cheapest Electricity?
Nevada has the cheapest residential electricity at 13.11¢/kWh — 29% below the national average. Hydropower, wind, and low population density keep western and South Central states affordable.
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Avg Bill/mo | vs. U.S. Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 13.11 | $120 | −29% |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $131 | −28% |
| Utah | 13.37 | $96 | −27% |
| Louisiana | 13.49 | $157 | −26% |
| Tennessee | 14.07 | $158 | −23% |
For commercial rates, the ranking shifts: North Dakota (8.02¢) is cheapest, followed by Texas (8.66¢) and Nebraska (8.82¢). Texas’s deregulated ERCOT market, with 100+ retail providers, drives commercial pricing especially low.
Which States Had the Biggest Electricity Rate Changes?
Hawaii saw the largest residential rate increase at +28.7% year-over-year, followed by Idaho (+19.1%) and Washington (+15.0%). Connecticut was the biggest decliner at −10.6%, driven by falling wholesale energy costs. Nationally, residential rates rose 5.0% over the past year.
Biggest Increases
| Hawaii | +28.7% |
| Idaho | +19.1% |
| Washington | +15.0% |
| New Hampshire | +14.9% |
| Maryland | +13.2% |
| Virginia | +13.1% |
| New York | +11.1% |
Biggest Decreases
| Connecticut | −10.6% |
| Massachusetts | −2.4% |
| West Virginia | −2.3% |
| Florida | −1.6% |
| Arizona | −0.3% |
Only 5 of 51 states saw rate decreases year-over-year.
In deregulated states, consumers can often offset rate increases by switching to a competitive plan. In regulated states, rate changes are set by the state public utility commission and applied uniformly.
How Do Electricity Rates Compare by Region?
The South Central region is cheapest at 14.47¢/kWh; the Northeast is most expensive at 25.49¢/kWh — 39% above the national average. As of September 2026, the five U.S. regions rank from cheapest to most expensive. Regional differences are driven by fuel sources, infrastructure age, and regulatory structure.
Northeast
25.49¢/kWhAging grids, imported natural gas, and renewable mandates make this the priciest region. Most states here are deregulated, so consumers can shop for lower rates.
West
20.42¢/kWhSkewed by Hawaii, California, and Alaska. Remove those three and the remaining states average just 14.98¢, well below national. Pacific Northwest hydro and desert solar keep most western states affordable.
Midwest
17.27¢/kWhWind energy and low population density keep Great Plains states cheap. Ohio and Illinois are deregulated, letting consumers shop for better rates.
Southeast
15.40¢/kWhCheap natural gas, nuclear baseload, and TVA hydro keep rates low. All ten states are regulated — no provider choice, but generally stable, predictable pricing.
South Central
14.47¢/kWhThe cheapest region in the U.S., driven by abundant natural gas. Texas is the only deregulated state here, with 100+ retail providers competing for customers.
Electricity Rates by City
In deregulated states, rates vary by city. Compare rates for 300+ cities across the largest competitive markets.
About This Data
Rates on this page reflect a blended average of utility-reported revenue per kilowatt-hour and live competitive market pricing. For states with fully competitive retail markets, we supplement published utility data with real-time plan pricing from retail providers — the same data that powers our city-level rate pages across 300+ markets.
Deregulated market claims are verified against state public utility commission filings, including the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the Pennsylvania PUC, the Illinois Commerce Commission, and the New York Public Service Commission. Rates are updated monthly; city-level competitive data refreshes four times daily. See our Trust & Licensing page for editorial standards and regulatory credentials.
FAQ
What is the average electricity rate in the US?
The average U.S. electricity rate is 18.34¢/kWh for residential customers and 14.19¢/kWh for commercial customers as of September 2026. Rates range from 13.11¢/kWh in Nevada to 52.72¢/kWh in Hawaii. The national average has risen 5.0% year-over-year. See the full state-by-state rate table above for every state’s current residential and commercial rates.
What state has the cheapest electricity?
Nevada has the cheapest residential electricity at 13.11¢/kWh, 29% below the national average. It is followed by Nebraska (13.25¢), Utah (13.37¢), Louisiana (13.49¢), and Tennessee (14.07¢). For commercial rates, North Dakota is cheapest at 8.02¢/kWh. Low rates in these states are driven by hydroelectric power, wind energy, abundant natural gas, and low population density. See the top 5 cheapest states.
What state has the most expensive electricity?
Hawaii has the most expensive electricity at 52.72¢/kWh, 187% above the national average. It imports petroleum for most power generation. California (34.74¢), Massachusetts (29.61¢), Maine (29.59¢), and New York (29.49¢) round out the top five.
Six of the ten most expensive states are in New England. Aging grid infrastructure and reliance on imported natural gas drive costs higher across the region. See the top 5 most expensive states.
Why is my electric bill so high?
High electric bills are typically caused by above-average rates in your state, seasonal usage spikes (AC in summer, heating in winter), inefficient appliances, or being on your utility’s default rate instead of a competitive plan. In deregulated states, switching providers can save 15–30%.
Check your cost per kWh on your bill and compare it to your state’s average in the rate table above. See average electric bills by state for a full cost breakdown. If you’re paying more, you may be overpaying.
Can I choose my electricity provider?
Yes, if you live in a deregulated state. 18 states plus D.C. have some form of retail electricity choice: Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, plus limited or capped markets in Michigan, Virginia, California, Oregon, and Nevada.
Customers in deregulated markets save 15–30% on average by comparing plans. Your utility still delivers the power and handles outages. Only the generation company changes.
Why are electricity rates going up?
U.S. electricity rates have risen 5.0% year-over-year. Key drivers include:
- Rising natural gas prices
- Grid modernization and weather-hardening investments
- Increased demand from data centers and electric vehicles
- Renewable energy transition costs
Hawaii (+28.7%), Idaho (+19.1%), and Washington (+15.0%) saw the steepest increases. Connecticut (−10.6%) was the biggest decliner.