Electricity cost in District of Columbia
Short answer: Homes in the District of Columbia pay an average of 25.21¢ per kWh for electricity (July 2026). That is 38% above the U.S. average of 18.31¢ and ranks number 9 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive. The average home here uses 639 kWh a month, which costs about $161.09 at that price.
District of Columbia electricity cost calculator
Start typing an appliance and pick it from the list, or describe it in a sentence. You can skip this and fill in the boxes yourself.
The calculator starts with a 1,500-watt space heater and the District of Columbia average price. Change the wattage and hours for your own appliance.
Uses 360.0 kWh per month. The starting price is the District of Columbia average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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Add each appliance you use to estimate this part of your bill. The list is kept only in this browser.
| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
District of Columbia at a glance
The District of Columbia has 318,780 residential electricity customers. In 2024 the average home used 639 kWh a month, 26% less than the U.S. average of 863 kWh and the 11th lowest in the country. The average monthly bill was $113.23, the 12th lowest, against a national average of $142.26.
A high price per kWh but low use: homes here pay more for each unit of electricity and get by on fewer of them. The result is an average bill 20% below the national average.
What appliances cost to run in District of Columbia
Typical wattage and use for each appliance, at the District of Columbia average price of 25.21¢ per kWh, next to the same use at the U.S. average. Follow a link for the appliance's own calculator.
| Appliance | Typical use | Per month in District of Columbia | Per month, U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric furnace | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $680.67 | $494.37 |
| Central air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $211.76 | $153.80 |
| Heat pump | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $181.51 | $131.83 |
| Electric water heater | 3 hours a day, 30 days a month | $102.10 | $74.16 |
| Space heater | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $90.76 | $65.92 |
| Pool pump | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $90.76 | $65.92 |
| Baseboard heater | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $90.76 | $65.92 |
| Electric car charger | 1.5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $81.68 | $59.32 |
| Portable air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $72.60 | $52.73 |
| Window air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $54.45 | $39.55 |
| Dehumidifier | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | $45.38 | $32.96 |
| Hot tub | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $45.38 | $32.96 |
| Electric fireplace | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $45.38 | $32.96 |
| Clothes dryer | 60 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $16.39 | $11.90 |
| Gaming PC | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $12.10 | $8.79 |
| Electric stove | 45 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $11.47 | $8.33 |
| Electric oven | 60 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $10.05 | $7.30 |
| Air purifier | 24 hours a day, 30 days a month | $9.08 | $6.59 |
| Refrigerator | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $9.08 | $6.59 |
| Desktop computer | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $6.81 | $4.94 |
| Dishwasher | 120 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $6.55 | $4.76 |
| Chest freezer | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $6.05 | $4.39 |
| Electric blanket | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $6.05 | $4.39 |
| Mini fridge | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $4.84 | $3.52 |
| Ceiling fan | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | $4.54 | $3.30 |
| Game console | 3 hours a day, 30 days a month | $4.54 | $3.30 |
| Box fan | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $4.54 | $3.30 |
| TV | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.78 | $2.75 |
| Humidifier | 10 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.03 | $2.20 |
| Air fryer | 20 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $2.73 | $1.98 |
| Laptop | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.72 | $1.98 |
| Slow cooker | 360 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $2.62 | $1.90 |
| Electric pressure cooker | 45 minutes per use, 3 times a week | $2.46 | $1.79 |
| Electric kettle | 4 minutes per use, 21 times a week | $2.29 | $1.67 |
| Hair dryer | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $2.29 | $1.67 |
| Washing machine | 45 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $2.05 | $1.49 |
| Microwave | 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week | $1.91 | $1.39 |
| Wi-Fi router | 24 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.82 | $1.32 |
| String of Christmas lights | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.82 | $1.32 |
| Toaster oven | 20 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $1.75 | $1.27 |
| Coffee maker | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $1.27 | $0.93 |
| Rice cooker | 30 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $1.09 | $0.79 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 30 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $1.09 | $0.79 |
| Clothes iron | 20 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $0.87 | $0.63 |
| LED light bulb | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $0.38 | $0.27 |
| Toaster | 3 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $0.34 | $0.25 |
What a monthly bill looks like
The table shows what different amounts of electricity cost at the latest District of Columbia price. Fixed monthly charges are already included in the average price, so a real bill for a small user is usually a little higher than shown and a large user's a little lower.
| Monthly use | Roughly | In District of Columbia | At the U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | A small apartment or a home with gas heat | $126.05 | $91.55 |
| 639 kWh | The average home in the District of Columbia (2024) | $161.09 | $117.00 |
| 863 kWh | The average U.S. home (2024) | $217.56 | $158.02 |
| 1,500 kWh | A large or all-electric home | $378.15 | $274.65 |
| 2,000 kWh | An all-electric home in its peak month | $504.20 | $366.20 |
Where the electricity in District of Columbia comes from
The largest source of the electricity generated in the District of Columbia in 2024 was natural gas, according to the Energy Information Administration's state profile. Gas-fired plants respond quickly to demand, and in much of the country the price of natural gas largely sets the wholesale price of electricity. When gas is cheap, bills tend to ease; when it spikes, electricity follows within months.
Power plants here generated 0.2 million MWh in 2024, less than the 10.1 million MWh sold to customers, so part of the electricity used is brought in from neighboring states.
How the climate shapes bills
The District of Columbia has both a real winter and a hot, humid summer, so homes run heating and cooling in different seasons. Electricity use usually peaks in July and August, with a second, smaller peak in winter for homes with electric heat or heat pumps.
That is why the same price per kWh can produce very different bills in two homes: the price tells you what each kWh costs, and the weather and your heating and cooling equipment decide how many you use. To see the effect of one appliance, compare a window air conditioner, a space heater and a heat pump in the table above.
Can you choose your electricity supplier?
Yes. The District of Columbia is one of the places where households can choose the company that supplies their electricity, while the local utility still delivers it. If you have signed up with a supplier, the price on your bill can be noticeably higher or lower than the state average shown here. Check the supply rate on your latest bill and type it into the calculator. The Energy Information Administration counts 13 states and the District of Columbia with active residential retail choice programs, plus Texas, where choosing a retail provider is mandatory in most of the state.
District of Columbia compared with nearby states
Average residential prices for July 2026, with the rank among the 50 states and D.C. and the cost of 900 kWh. The full table covers every state, and our guide explains why prices differ so much between states.
| State | Price per kWh | Rank | Cost of 900 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | 9 | $226.89 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | 15 | $192.69 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | 20 | $157.95 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | 19 | $166.32 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | 14 | $195.48 |
| U.S. average | 18.31¢ | – | $164.79 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average electricity rate in the District of Columbia?
The average residential price in the District of Columbia was 25.21 cents per kWh in July 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is 38% above the U.S. average of 18.31 cents and ranks number 9 of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), where 1 is the most expensive.
How much is the average electric bill in the District of Columbia?
The average home in the District of Columbia used 639 kWh a month in 2024 and paid $113.23, according to the EIA; the U.S. average was 863 kWh and $142.26. At the latest price of 25.21 cents per kWh, 639 kWh costs $161.09.
How much electricity does a home in the District of Columbia use?
639 kWh a month on average in 2024, which is 26% less than the U.S. average of 863 kWh and the 11th lowest of the 50 states and D.C.
What uses the most electricity in a home in the District of Columbia?
Heating and cooling together, since homes here need both in different seasons, followed by water heating, the clothes dryer and the refrigerator.
How do I find my exact price per kWh?
Take the total amount due on your electric bill and divide it by the kWh used that month. That gives the price you actually paid, including delivery charges and fees. Type it into the price box of the calculator instead of the state average.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Average monthly residential bill by state, 2024
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: State Electricity Profiles, 2024
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Residential retail electric choice
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.