Independent rate reference - not affiliated with any utility or energy supplier. Data: EIA Electric Power Monthly, April 2026.Full disclaimer
ElectricityRatePerKWh

EIA Electric Power Monthly - Updated April 2026

Electricity Rate per kWh in 2026

US average residential, updated monthly from EIA

17.65c/kWh

U.S. AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL - April 2026

Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A. Last verified April 2026.

Cheapest
11.33¢
AR
Most Exp.
42.97¢
HI
Avg Bill
$163
/month

US avg: 17.65c/kWh - lowest: Idaho/ND 11.64c - highest: Hawaii 42.97c - Updated April 2026

Bill Calculator
US Average
$169/month
17.65c/kWh x 900 kWh + $10 fixed = $168.85
Full calculator with TOU and commercial modes ->
51
States + DC Covered
13
Major Utilities
18 + DC
Deregulated States
Apr 2026
Data Updated

Rate by Sector - April 2026

US averages from EIA Electric Power Monthly. Commercial and industrial rates are lower per kWh but bills can be much larger due to volume and demand charges.

Residential
17.65c/kWh
903 kWh avg/month
Commercial
14.12c/kWh
Business + offices
Industrial
8.54c/kWh
Large facilities
TOU Peak (CA)
45-65c/kWh
4pm-9pm on PG&E

Electricity Rates by State (2026)

Click any state for detail including utility breakdown, deregulation status, and bill estimate. April 2026 EIA data. Full heatmap + rankings ->

All 51 States ->

Hover or tap a state to see its electricity rate. Click to view full detail.

AR11.3¢ID11.6¢ND11.6¢WY12.1¢OK12.2¢UT12.2¢SD12.4¢LA12.4¢WA12.9¢KY13.0¢NE13.1¢TN13.1¢MT13.2¢OR13.2¢MS13.5¢NC13.5¢IA13.7¢MO13.9¢WV14.1¢AL14.1¢GA14.3¢KS14.3¢OH14.5¢AZ14.6¢VA14.7¢IN14.7¢SC14.9¢NV14.9¢TX15.1¢MN15.1¢NM15.5¢CO15.8¢PA16.3¢FL16.4¢IL16.4¢DE16.5¢DC17.2¢WI17.3¢MD17.7¢NJ18.3¢MI18.9¢AK24.1¢NY24.4¢VT25.1¢NH26.5¢CT28.9¢ME29.6¢RI31.3¢MA31.5¢CA32.5¢HI43.0¢
Low
HighSorted cheapest to most expensive
5 Cheapest States
Arkansas11.33¢
Idaho11.64¢
North Dakota11.64¢
Wyoming12.14¢
Oklahoma12.17¢
5 Most Expensive States
Hawaii42.97¢
California32.47¢
Massachusetts31.51¢
Rhode Island31.30¢
Maine29.55¢

Major US Electric Utilities (2026)

Top utilities by residential customer count. Rates from most recent tariff filings. All 13 utilities ->

California
PG&E
35.12¢/kWh
TOU - 5.5M customers
Detail ->
California
SCE
31.87¢/kWh
TOU - 5.1M customers
Detail ->
California
SDG&E
40.23¢/kWh
TOU - 1.5M customers
Detail ->
New York
ConEd
26.87¢/kWh
SEASONAL - 3.4M customers
Detail ->
New York
National Grid
22.14¢/kWh
FLAT - 3.6M customers
Detail ->
Massachusetts
Eversource Energy
28.97¢/kWh
SEASONAL - 3.7M customers
Detail ->
North Carolina
Duke Energy
13.47¢/kWh
SEASONAL - 7.9M customers
Detail ->
Florida
FPL
16.41¢/kWh
SEASONAL - 5.7M customers
Detail ->

Time-of-Use Rates: 4pm-9pm Costs 2-3x More

California mandated TOU as the default rate plan for new residential customers since 2024. On PG&E's E-TOU-C plan, peak rates run $0.45-$0.65/kWh while off-peak (midnight-3pm) falls to $0.20-$0.25/kWh.

24-Hour Rate Guide (PG&E E-TOU-C)
Off-peak 12am-3pm (~22c) Partial 3-4pm / 9pm-12am Peak 4-9pm (~58c)

EV owners charging after 9pm save $20-50/month. Run your dishwasher and dryer after 9pm. Pre-cool your home before 4pm.

Full TOU guide with calculator ->

US Electricity Rate History (2020-2026)

13.20c
2020
13.72c
2021
14.92c
2022
15.98c
2023
16.77c
2024
17.20c
2025
17.65c
2026

Rates rose 21% from 2022 to 2026 (14.92c to 17.65c). EIA forecasts continued 3-5%/year through 2027. Full history and forecast ->

Why Rates Rose 5.4% in 2026
  • 1. Natural gas prices stayed elevated as the marginal generation fuel
  • 2. Data center + EV demand grew 6%+, pulling capacity prices higher
  • 3. Grid modernization rate cases at PG&E, ConEd, Eversource, Dominion
Full explainer: bill components + state variation ->
Deregulated States

Can You Shop for a Better Rate?

18 states plus DC allow you to choose your electricity supplier. Texas has 100+ providers on PowerToChoose.org. Pennsylvania and Ohio offer official comparison portals. Savings of 10-20% are common in deregulated markets.

TXPAOHILNJNYMACTMDRINHMEDEMIVADC
See the Deregulated States Map ->
Solar Break-Even

Is Solar Worth It in Your State?

The federal 30% ITC expired 31 December 2025. 2026 solar payback math is different - no credit on residential rooftop. In high-rate states (CA, MA, HI, NY), payback runs 6-9 years. In low-rate states (ND, LA, ID), 12-15+ years.

6-9 yr
CA/MA/HI
9-12 yr
NY/CT/NJ
12-15+ yr
ND/ID/LA
Full 2026 solar payback by state ->

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average electricity rate per kWh in the US in 2026?+
The US average residential electricity rate is 17.65 cents per kilowatt-hour (c/kWh) as of April 2026, according to the EIA Electric Power Monthly. This is up from 14.92c/kWh in 2022 - a 21% rise in four years. The US average commercial rate is 14.12c/kWh and industrial is 8.54c/kWh. Rates vary significantly by state: from 11.64c in North Dakota to 42.97c in Hawaii.
Which state has the cheapest electricity per kWh?+
North Dakota has the cheapest electricity at 11.64c/kWh as of April 2026, followed closely by Idaho (11.64c), Louisiana (12.44c), Utah (12.23c), Wyoming (12.14c), and South Dakota (12.37c). The lowest-rate states share common traits: abundant hydroelectric power (Pacific Northwest), cheap natural gas (Gulf Coast), wind power (Plains states), and low transmission costs from low population density.
Why is electricity so expensive in Hawaii?+
Hawaii pays 42.97c/kWh - more than 2.4 times the US average - because each Hawaiian island operates as an isolated grid with no mainland power connection. Hawaii Electric (HECO) burns imported petroleum to generate roughly 80% of the state's electricity. The logistics of shipping fuel oil across the Pacific adds $0.15-$0.25/kWh in fuel cost alone. Combined with HECO's rate-base recovery for infrastructure on multiple islands and the 2026 rate case increases, Hawaii stands alone as the most expensive electricity in the US by a wide margin.
What is a time-of-use (TOU) electricity rate?+
A time-of-use rate charges different prices depending on when you use electricity. Peak hours (typically 4pm-9pm when demand is highest) cost more - PG&E's E-TOU-C peak rate runs $0.45-$0.65/kWh. Off-peak hours (overnight and midday when solar production is abundant) are cheaper at $0.20-$0.25/kWh on PG&E. California has made TOU the default rate plan for new residential customers. EV owners who charge overnight can save $20-50/month by shifting usage to off-peak hours.
Can I shop for a better electricity rate?+
Yes - if you live in one of the 18 deregulated states plus DC. Texas has mandatory retail choice with 100+ providers on PowerToChoose.org. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and several other states allow you to choose your electricity supplier. The local utility still delivers the power; only the generation charge is competitive. In Texas, fixed-rate plans from 11-13c/kWh are available. In regulated states (California, Florida, most of the South), you cannot switch suppliers but can optimize through TOU plans or solar.
How do I calculate my electricity bill?+
Your electricity bill has three main components: (1) Energy charge: your monthly kWh times the per-kWh rate. At the US average of 17.65c/kWh with 903 kWh typical usage, that is $159.38. (2) Fixed customer charge: typically $5-$15/month regardless of usage. (3) Taxes and riders: state and local taxes plus utility surcharges (typically 5-15% total). Use our bill calculator at /bill-calculator for a state-specific estimate with current EIA rates.
Why are electricity rates rising in 2026?+
US electricity rates rose 5.4% year-over-year through February 2026. Three main drivers: (1) Natural gas prices stayed elevated as the primary marginal generation fuel through winter 2025-2026. (2) Data center and EV load grew 6%+ year-over-year in PJM and ERCOT regions, pushing capacity prices higher. (3) Major utilities filed multi-billion-dollar rate cases for grid modernization - PG&E, ConEd, Eversource, and Dominion all received rate increases for storm hardening, undergrounding, and battery storage. The EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook (April 2026) projects continued 3-5% annual increases through 2027.
What is the average monthly electric bill in the US?+
The US average residential electric bill is $163/month as of April 2026, based on 903 kWh average monthly consumption at 17.65c/kWh plus approximately $10 in fixed charges. State bills range from $99/month in Utah (low usage, moderate rate) to $219/month in Hawaii (lower usage but extremely high rate). Hot southern states like Texas ($174) and Florida ($182) have higher-than-average bills due to air conditioning load.

How We Got These Numbers

National and state averages: EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A - Average Retail Price of Electricity by State and Sector. Published monthly. Last verified: April 2026.

Utility rates: Individual utility tariff schedules (PG&E E-TOU-C, SCE TOU-D, SDG&E TOU-DR1, ConEd SC-1, National Grid NY/MA, Eversource MA/CT/NH, Duke Energy, FPL, Georgia Power, Dominion Energy, Xcel Energy, ComEd, HECO). Last verified April 2026.

Deregulated state information: State public utility commission websites and the National Conference of State Legislatures electric choice status tracker.

TOU rates: CPUC-approved tariff schedules filed by PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E. NY PSC filings for ConEd. MA DPU filings for Eversource.