Average Monthly Electricity Bill by State (2026)
EIA Electric Power Monthly data, March 2026. Residential averages only. Bills = rate × kWh usage + fixed charges.
US avg bill
$150
per month, EIA 2025
US avg usage
869
kWh/month
Highest bill
$207
Hawaii
Lowest bill
$98
New Mexico
What Makes Up Your $150 Average Bill
Most people think their bill is just rate × kWh. It isn't. Multiple components add up to the final number.
Component% of bill$ (US avg)
Energy (kWh) charge
Generation share of the all-in rate
65%
$98
Fixed customer charge
Monthly meter charge
6%
$9
Distribution/delivery
Grid maintenance
15%
$23
Taxes & fees
State/local taxes
8%
$12
Program surcharges
Renewable, efficiency programs
6%
$9
Total average bill
100%
$150
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 | $207 | 42.23 |
| Connecticut | $204 | 30.47 |
| Alabama | $184 | 17.15 |
| Maryland | $184 | 22.20 |
| Massachusetts | $175 | 30.21 |
| Texas | $171 | 16.39 |
| Florida | $166 | 14.86 |
| Mississippi | $165 | 16.30 |
| Rhode Island | $165 | 29.91 |
| West Virginia | $165 | 16.37 |
| Pennsylvania | $163 | 20.92 |
| Virginia | $162 | 17.05 |
| Delaware | $159 | 17.64 |
| Georgia | $159 | 15.01 |
| South Carolina | $159 | 16.45 |
| Tennessee | $159 | 15.08 |
| Arizona | $156 | 15.59 |
| New Hampshire | $156 | 26.92 |
| Indiana | $154 | 17.85 |
| Louisiana | $154 | 14.16 |
| New York | $154 | 28.55 |
| California | $151 | 33.35 |
| Kentucky | $149 | 14.88 |
| Ohio | $149 | 18.78 |
| New Jersey | $148 | 23.49 |
| Maine | $147 | 28.32 |
| Alaska | $146 | 27.17 |
| North Carolina | $145 | 16.00 |
| Missouri | $142 | 13.44 |
| Oklahoma | $140 | 13.56 |
| District of Columbia | $140 | 25.00 |
| Arkansas | $137 | 13.63 |
| Vermont | $135 | 24.11 |
| South Dakota | $134 | 14.29 |
| Oregon | $133 | 14.89 |
| Kansas | $128 | 15.34 |
| Illinois | $127 | 18.86 |
| Michigan | $127 | 21.20 |
| North Dakota | $126 | 11.95 |
| Washington | $124 | 14.40 |
| Wisconsin | $120 | 18.80 |
| Nebraska | $119 | 13.10 |
| Iowa | $117 | 13.42 |
| Minnesota | $117 | 15.08 |
| Nevada | $113 | 14.17 |
| Wyoming | $113 | 13.59 |
| Montana | $110 | 13.48 |
| Idaho | $109 | 13.01 |
| Colorado | $107 | 16.74 |
| Utah | $101 | 13.17 |
| New Mexico | $98 | 14.81 |
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
Louisiana1,223 kWh
2
Tennessee1,205 kWh
3
Mississippi1,177 kWh
4
Alabama1,144 kWh
5
Kentucky1,122 kWh
6
Texas1,105 kWh
7
Florida1,089 kWh
8
Georgia1,082 kWh
Lowest average usage (kWh/month)
1
California464 kWh
2
Hawaii509 kWh
3
Maine527 kWh
4
Rhode Island559 kWh
5
Alaska559 kWh
6
Massachusetts574 kWh
7
New York584 kWh
8
Vermont589 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.
$72
2000
$82
2005
$100
2010
$110
2015
$114
2020
$119
2021
$131
2022
$139
2023
$143
2024
$150
2025
$161
2026
Estimated bill = historical rate × 869 kWh (2025 average usage applied uniformly for comparability; the EIA all-in rate already includes fixed charges). Source: EIA retail sales data.
5 Ways to Cut Your Bill Below the $150 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 $150/month, based on EIA 2025 annual data (total residential revenue divided by customer count). That is up from $142 in 2024 and $137 in 2023 on the same EIA series. The average American household uses 869 kWh/month; at the latest monthly rate of 18.56 cents/kWh (March 2026), that usage costs about $161 before taxes and rider charges.
Which state has the highest average electricity bill?+
Hawaii has the highest average rate at 42.23 cents/kWh (March 2026) and the highest bills at $207/month despite low usage. Hot southern states follow because of air-conditioning load: Louisiana averages $154/month on 1223 kWh of monthly usage even though its 14.16c/kWh rate is below the national average. 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 more than 3x from the cheapest states to Hawaii (42.23c), driven by fuel mix, grid infrastructure, and regulation. (2) Usage varies 2x from low-usage states like Hawaii and California (500-600 kWh/month) to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi (1,100-1,250 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.
