Average Monthly Electricity Bill by State (2026)
EIA Electric Power Monthly data, April 2026. Residential averages only. Bills = rate × kWh usage + fixed charges.
US avg bill
$163
per month, 2026
US avg usage
903
kWh/month
Highest bill
$215
Hawaii
Lowest bill
$103
Wyoming
What Makes Up Your $163 Average Bill
Most people think their bill is just rate × kWh. It isn't. Multiple components add up to the final number.
Component% of bill$ (US avg)
Energy (kWh) charge
17.65c × 903 kWh
65%
$106
Fixed customer charge
Monthly meter charge
6%
$10
Distribution/delivery
Grid maintenance
15%
$24
Taxes & fees
State/local taxes
8%
$14
Program surcharges
Renewable, efficiency programs
6%
$9
Total average bill
100%
$163
Note on deregulated states:In deregulated markets (TX, PA, NY, IL, etc.), the energy charge and distribution charge appear as separate line items from different companies. The rate you “shop” is only the energy supply portion — typically 60-65% of your total bill. Distribution and fixed charges remain with the local utility regardless.
Average Electricity Bill by State, Ranked Highest to Lowest
Monthly residential bills. Usage in kWh also shown — high bills come from high usage, not always high rates.
| State | Avg Bill | Rate (c/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $219 | 42.97 |
| Connecticut | $205 | 28.94 |
| Massachusetts | $198 | 31.51 |
| Maryland | $183 | 17.74 |
| Florida | $182 | 16.41 |
| California | $177 | 32.47 |
| Rhode Island | $174 | 31.30 |
| Texas | $174 | 15.07 |
| South Carolina | $171 | 14.92 |
| Tennessee | $168 | 13.14 |
| Alabama | $167 | 14.14 |
| New Hampshire | $167 | 26.47 |
| Virginia | $167 | 14.67 |
| Maine | $160 | 29.55 |
| Mississippi | $156 | 13.47 |
| West Virginia | $156 | 14.12 |
| Louisiana | $153 | 12.44 |
| Georgia | $150 | 14.27 |
| Missouri | $150 | 13.89 |
| North Carolina | $150 | 13.47 |
| Arizona | $147 | 14.61 |
| New York | $147 | 24.38 |
| Delaware | $146 | 16.47 |
| Alaska | $145 | 24.09 |
| Pennsylvania | $145 | 16.27 |
| Kentucky | $143 | 13.04 |
| Indiana | $138 | 14.71 |
| Vermont | $138 | 25.14 |
| Nevada | $137 | 14.94 |
| Oklahoma | $135 | 12.17 |
| South Dakota | $133 | 12.37 |
| District of Columbia | $133 | 17.23 |
| Kansas | $130 | 14.34 |
| Ohio | $129 | 14.47 |
| Nebraska | $128 | 13.12 |
| New Jersey | $127 | 18.27 |
| North Dakota | $127 | 11.64 |
| Michigan | $125 | 18.94 |
| Washington | $125 | 12.87 |
| Arkansas | $124 | 11.33 |
| Oregon | $121 | 13.24 |
| Iowa | $120 | 13.71 |
| Illinois | $117 | 16.43 |
| Minnesota | $117 | 15.09 |
| Montana | $114 | 13.23 |
| Wisconsin | $113 | 17.32 |
| Colorado | $109 | 15.82 |
| Idaho | $109 | 11.64 |
| New Mexico | $103 | 15.47 |
| Wyoming | $103 | 12.14 |
| Utah | $99 | 12.23 |
Why Usage Varies More Than Rates Between States
The states with the highest bills are not always the ones with the highest rates. Air conditioning climate drives usage.
Highest average usage (kWh/month)
1
Tennessee1,282 kWh
2
Louisiana1,228 kWh
3
Alabama1,180 kWh
4
Mississippi1,159 kWh
5
Texas1,156 kWh
6
South Carolina1,148 kWh
7
Virginia1,142 kWh
8
North Carolina1,112 kWh
Lowest average usage (kWh/month)
1
Hawaii510 kWh
2
Maine540 kWh
3
California545 kWh
4
Vermont548 kWh
5
Rhode Island557 kWh
6
Alaska603 kWh
7
New York604 kWh
8
Massachusetts629 kWh
The air conditioning effect
Hot-humid South
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina average 1,100-1,200 kWh/month. AC runs 5-7 months/year, often all day. Central AC in a typical home uses 3,000-5,000 kWh per summer.
Moderate South/West
Texas, Arizona, Georgia average 900-1,100 kWh/month. High AC but also higher baseline energy-efficiency standards in newer housing stock.
Cool Northeast/Pacific Northwest
Vermont, Maine, Oregon, Washington average 550-750 kWh/month. Mild summers mean minimal AC. Electric heat is rare; most heating is gas or oil. Higher rates but much lower bills.
How the Average Bill Has Changed Since 2000
Bills have nearly doubled in 26 years, driven mostly by rate increases. Usage has been roughly flat since 2010 due to appliance efficiency gains offsetting bigger homes and more devices.
$84
2000
$95
2005
$114
2010
$124
2015
$129
2020
$134
2021
$145
2022
$154
2023
$161
2024
$165
2025
$169
2026
Estimated bill = historical rate × 903 kWh + $10 fixed charge (2026 methodology applied uniformly for comparability). Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly.
5 Ways to Cut Your Bill Below the $163 Average
01
$20-50/mo
Switch to a TOU rate plan
Time-of-use pricing lets you avoid peak hour rates (4x higher on some CA utilities). Run laundry, dishwasher, and EV charging after 9pm. Most utilities offer free enrollment.
02
$15-30/mo
Install a smart thermostat
Nest, Ecobee, or Honeywell T6 Pro learn your schedule and cut HVAC runtime by 10-15%. HVAC is typically 45-50% of a home's electricity. Payback under 12 months.
03
$10-40/mo
Shop your supply rate (deregulated only)
In TX, PA, NY, IL, OH, and 16 other deregulated states, your energy supply rate is negotiable. Fixed-rate contracts 2-4c/kWh below the utility default rate are available. Use your state's official comparison site.
04
$10-25/mo
LED lighting retrofit
Replacing 30 incandescent bulbs (60W each) with LED (8W each) saves 1,560 watts of capacity. At typical usage patterns, that's $15-25/month. Upfront cost: $60-90. Payback: 4-6 months.
05
$20-60/mo
Pool pump timer or VS pump
If you have a pool, the pump is likely your largest single appliance at 1.0-1.5 kW continuous. A variable-speed pump set to run at low speed 18+ hours vs. high speed 8 hours cuts pump energy 70%.
06
$15-35/mo
Weatherization and air sealing
Air leaks through attic hatches, recessed lights, and rim joists account for 20-30% of HVAC energy loss. DIY weatherstripping + caulk costs $50-150 and has a payback of 2-3 months.
Related Tools
Bill Calculator
Calculate your exact bill by state and kWh usage in residential, commercial, or TOU mode.
Rates by State
Residential, commercial, and industrial rates for all 51 jurisdictions with heatmap.
Shop Providers
In a deregulated state? Shopping your supply rate is the fastest one-time bill reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average monthly electricity bill in the US in 2026?+
The US average residential electricity bill is $163/month in 2026, based on EIA Electric Power Monthly data for April 2026. This is up from $155 in 2024 and $132 in 2020, reflecting a 4.1% average annual rate increase over the past five years. The average American household uses 903 kWh/month at an average rate of 17.65 cents/kWh, plus a fixed customer charge of approximately $10/month.
Which state has the highest average electricity bill?+
Hawaii has the highest average rate at 41.55 cents/kWh, but South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas tend to have the highest total bills due to high usage (1,000+ kWh/month for air conditioning). Louisiana averages $114/month despite 11.68c/kWh rates because usage is high. Bills are driven by rate × usage, not rate alone.
Why do electricity bills vary so much by state?+
Three factors drive bill differences between states: (1) Rate per kWh varies 3.5x from Louisiana (11.68c) to Hawaii (41.55c), driven by fuel mix, grid infrastructure, and regulation. (2) Usage varies 2x from Vermont and Hawaii (600 kWh/month) to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi (1,100-1,200 kWh/month), driven mainly by air conditioning and heating climate. (3) Fixed charges vary from $5 to $25/month depending on utility.
What is included in an electricity bill?+
A residential electricity bill typically includes: (1) Energy charge: rate per kWh × your usage — usually 60-70% of the bill. (2) Fixed customer/meter charge: $5-$25/month regardless of usage. (3) Distribution/delivery charge: sometimes broken out separately from the energy rate, especially in deregulated states. (4) State and local taxes: 0-15% depending on state. (5) Program surcharges: renewable energy, low-income assistance, efficiency programs — usually 1-5% added to the bill.
How can I lower my average electricity bill?+
The fastest interventions: (1) Time-of-use rate plan — shift 30% of usage to off-peak and save $20-50/month if on a TOU plan. (2) Smart thermostat — reduces HVAC usage by 10-15%, which is typically 40-50% of a home's electricity. (3) LED lighting swap — replaces 60-75W incandescents with 8-10W LEDs across 30 bulbs saves $20-30/month. (4) In deregulated states — shop your electricity supply rate and cut 2-4c/kWh from your energy charge. (5) Appliance timing — run dishwasher, laundry, and EV charging at night during off-peak hours.