Electricity rates by state

Average residential price per kWh in every state for August 2026, ranked from most to least expensive, with the change from a year earlier and the average bill.

Official EIA data · August 2026

U.S. average, August 2026

18.16¢/kWh

+3.4% vs a year ago

Most expensive

Hawaii

47.18¢/kWh

Cheapest

Nevada

12.72¢/kWh

¢ per kWh 12.7–14.4 14.4–15.9 15.9–17.2 17.2–24.5 24.5–47.2

Prices rose year over year in 44 of 51 states. Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, published with about a two-month lag.

Average residential electricity rate in every state

#	State	August 2026	vs year ago	Avg. bill (2024)
1	Hawaii	47.18¢	+22.5%	$212.12
2	Maine	32.11¢	+14.1%	$133.60
3	Massachusetts	30.48¢	−0.2%	$167.20
4	California	29.75¢	−3.8%	$160.86
5	Alaska	29.41¢	+5.8%	$143.54
6	New York	28.65¢	+7.5%	$139.53
7	Rhode Island	28.18¢	+6.2%	$162.40
8	New Hampshire	27.64¢	+13.1%	$144.87
9	District of Columbia	25.98¢	+12.1%	$113.23
10	New Jersey	24.61¢	−0.4%	$128.13
11	Connecticut	24.51¢	−18.8%	$199.66
12	Vermont	23.84¢	+7.9%	$125.66
13	Michigan	22.99¢	+10.9%	$119.31
14	Pennsylvania	21.77¢	+9.2%	$145.17
15	Maryland	21.40¢	+7.6%	$165.87
16	Wisconsin	19.41¢	+5.3%	$110.87
17	Ohio	19.38¢	+10.4%	$135.16
18	Illinois	19.32¢	+7.2%	$109.99
19	Delaware	18.70¢	+11.0%	$150.87
20	Virginia	17.64¢	+11.3%	$148.77
21	Minnesota	17.20¢	+1.8%	$110.06
22	Colorado	17.17¢	+5.9%	$100.57
23	Iowa	17.06¢	+10.2%	$111.54
24	Indiana	17.02¢	+5.0%	$133.06
25	New Mexico	16.51¢	+3.3%	$92.88
26	Alabama	16.33¢	+0.4%	$173.50
27	West Virginia	16.31¢	+4.4%	$154.76
28	Missouri	16.02¢	+4.6%	$129.18
29	Oregon	15.92¢	+0.4%	$129.62
30	Texas	15.91¢	+3.3%	$163.72
31	Georgia	15.90¢	+2.3%	$151.25
32	South Carolina	15.76¢	+4.0%	$149.51
33	Montana	15.57¢	+9.0%	$107.91
34	Kansas	15.47¢	+5.6%	$123.90
35	South Dakota	15.15¢	+9.0%	$127.81
36	Arizona	15.05¢	−0.3%	$160.24
37	Florida	14.99¢	−2.2%	$156.09
38	North Carolina	14.95¢	+2.5%	$143.50
39	Oklahoma	14.82¢	+2.8%	$132.05
40	Washington	14.63¢	+7.2%	$113.68
41	Mississippi	14.43¢	+6.0%	$154.83
42	Wyoming	14.43¢	+0.7%	$107.65
43	Arkansas	14.37¢	+7.8%	$129.13
44	Kentucky	13.80¢	+5.3%	$133.81
45	Nebraska	13.54¢	+5.8%	$110.28
46	Tennessee	13.42¢	+2.5%	$143.32
47	Idaho	13.37¢	+10.7%	$108.73
48	North Dakota	13.31¢	+2.6%	$118.38
49	Utah	13.31¢	−2.3%	$94.57
50	Louisiana	12.87¢	+2.5%	$140.96
51	Nevada	12.72¢	+1.4%	$139.39
	U.S. average	18.16¢	+3.4%	$142.26

To turn the kWh on your bill into dollars at any state's rate, use the kWh to dollars calculator.

Why rates differ so much between states

Fuel mix: states with cheap hydropower or natural gas (the Northwest, the Plains) tend to pay less; states that import fuel, like Hawaii, pay the most.
Grid and delivery costs: transmission, distribution, wildfire and storm hardening are a growing share of bills in some states.
Regulation and policy: each state's utility commission approves rates, and state programs add their own charges.
Season: many utilities charge more per kWh in summer, so compare the same month year over year.

Quick answers

Which state has the most expensive electricity?

Hawaii, at 47.18¢ per kWh in August 2026, followed by Maine (32.11¢) and Massachusetts (30.48¢).

Which state has the cheapest electricity?

Nevada, at 12.72¢ per kWh in August 2026, followed by Louisiana (12.87¢) and Utah (13.31¢).

What is the average cost of electricity in the U.S.?

The average U.S. residential price was 18.16¢ per kWh in August 2026 and 18.19¢ for the year to date. In 2024 the average household used 863 kWh a month and paid $142.26.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Electric Power Monthly, which publishes the average price utilities charge residential customers in each state about two months after the fact. We update this page when a new month is released.

Is the average rate what I pay per kWh?

Not exactly. It is total residential revenue divided by kWh sold, so it includes fixed monthly charges spread over usage. Your bill lists your actual energy and delivery charges.

Sources

Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Rates refreshed automatically when EIA publishes a new month.

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These are estimates. State rates are EIA averages (total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold), so they include fixed monthly charges spread across usage; your own price per kWh, time-of-use rates and taxes can differ. Real appliance use depends on the model, settings, climate and habits.