Electricity rates in District of Columbia

Average residential price, typical bill and appliance running costs in District of Columbia, from official U.S. Energy Information Administration data.

Official EIA data · August 2026

Average rate, August 2026

25.98¢

per kWh

vs U.S. average

+43.1%

U.S.: 18.16¢

vs a year ago

+12.1%

was 23.18¢

Rank (1 = priciest)

#9 of 51

50 states + DC

What your kWh cost in District of Columbia

Electricity used

kWh

Monthly kWh from your bill. 863 kWh is the 2024 U.S. household average.

Electricity rate

EIA average residential price, August 2026. Your bill shows your exact rate.

Energy cost

$166.01

639 kWh × 25.98¢ (District of Columbia average)

Per kWh: $0.2598
Per 100 kWh: $25.98
Per 1,000 kWh: $259.80

Average electric bill in District of Columbia

2024 (EIA)	District of Columbia	U.S.
Monthly use	639 kWh	863 kWh
Average price	17.71¢	16.48¢
Monthly bill	$113.23	$142.26
Residential customers	318,780	143,144,185

At the August 2026 rate, the average District of Columbia household's 639 kWh would cost about $166.01 a month.

What appliances cost to run in District of Columbia

Yearly cost at 25.98¢/kWh. Where marked, the kWh are the average for homes with that appliance in the South Atlantic region (EIA RECS 2020); the rest use the example settings on each appliance's page.

Appliance	kWh per year	Cost per year
Space heater	4,320	$1,122.34
Central air conditioner *	3,112	$808.50
Electric water heater *	2,767	$718.87
Pool pump *	2,755	$715.75
Electric car *	2,594	$673.92
Window air conditioner	2,095	$544.16
Hot tub *	1,758	$456.73
Dehumidifier *	1,211	$314.62
Light bulbs *	674	$175.11
Electric clothes dryer *	657	$170.69
Refrigerator *	652	$169.39
Chest or upright freezer *	600	$155.88
Ceiling fan *	305	$79.24
Electric oven *	295	$76.64
TV *	212	$55.08
Microwave *	106	$27.54

* Regional average from the EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey.

Where District of Columbia ranks

District of Columbia is #9 of 51 by average residential rate in August 2026 (1 = most expensive). It is highlighted on the map.

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

Rate history

Period	District of Columbia	U.S.
August 2026	25.98¢	18.16¢
August 2025	23.18¢	17.57¢
Year to date through August 2026	24.86¢	18.19¢
Same period a year earlier	21.22¢	17.03¢
2024 annual average	17.71¢	16.48¢

Nearby states (South Atlantic)

State	Rate (August 2026)	Avg. bill (2024)
Delaware	18.70¢	$150.87
Florida	14.99¢	$156.09
Georgia	15.90¢	$151.25
Maryland	21.40¢	$165.87
North Carolina	14.95¢	$143.50
South Carolina	15.76¢	$149.51
Virginia	17.64¢	$148.77
West Virginia	16.31¢	$154.76

See electricity rates in all 50 states.

Quick answers

What is the average electricity rate in District of Columbia?

The average residential price in District of Columbia was 25.98¢ per kWh in August 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is +43.1% versus the U.S. average of 18.16¢ and ranks #9 of 51 (1 = most expensive).

What is the average electric bill in District of Columbia?

In 2024, the average District of Columbia household used 639 kWh a month and paid $113.23 a month (EIA). At the August 2026 rate, the same usage would cost about $166.01.

Are electricity prices going up in District of Columbia?

The August 2026 average of 25.98¢/kWh compares with 23.18¢ a year earlier (+12.1%). For the year to date through August 2026, the average was 24.86¢, +17.2% versus the same period last year. Prices also change with the season, so compare the same month year over year.

Why is my rate different from the District of Columbia average?

The EIA average is total residential revenue divided by kWh sold in the state. Your rate depends on your utility, your plan (fixed, variable or time-of-use) and fixed monthly charges, which weigh more per kWh in low-usage months.

Sources

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

More calculators

Electricity Rates by State

Average residential price per kWh in every state, updated monthly from the EIA.

Electricity Cost Calculator

What any device costs per hour, day, month and year from its wattage.

kWh to Dollars Calculator

Turn the kWh on your bill into dollars at your state's rate.

See everything

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.