Electricity cost in Virginia
Short answer: Homes in Virginia pay an average of 17.55¢ per kWh for electricity (July 2026). That is 4% below the U.S. average of 18.31¢ and ranks number 20 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive. The average home here uses 1,032 kWh a month, which costs about $181.12 at that price.
Virginia 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 Virginia average price. Change the wattage and hours for your own appliance.
Uses 360.0 kWh per month. The starting price is the Virginia average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
My list
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 |
Virginia at a glance
Virginia has 3,654,481 residential electricity customers. In 2024 the average home used 1,032 kWh a month, 20% more than the U.S. average of 863 kWh and the 13th highest in the country. The average monthly bill was $148.77, the 16th highest, against a national average of $142.26.
A low price per kWh but heavy use: electricity is cheaper than average here, yet homes use more of it than most. The result is an average bill 5% above the national average.
What appliances cost to run in Virginia
Typical wattage and use for each appliance, at the Virginia average price of 17.55¢ 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 Virginia | Per month, U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric furnace | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $473.85 | $494.37 |
| Central air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $147.42 | $153.80 |
| Heat pump | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $126.36 | $131.83 |
| Electric water heater | 3 hours a day, 30 days a month | $71.08 | $74.16 |
| Space heater | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $63.18 | $65.92 |
| Pool pump | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $63.18 | $65.92 |
| Baseboard heater | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $63.18 | $65.92 |
| Electric car charger | 1.5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $56.86 | $59.32 |
| Portable air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $50.54 | $52.73 |
| Window air conditioner | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $37.91 | $39.55 |
| Dehumidifier | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | $31.59 | $32.96 |
| Hot tub | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $31.59 | $32.96 |
| Electric fireplace | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $31.59 | $32.96 |
| Clothes dryer | 60 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $11.41 | $11.90 |
| Gaming PC | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | $8.42 | $8.79 |
| Electric stove | 45 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $7.99 | $8.33 |
| Electric oven | 60 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $7.00 | $7.30 |
| Air purifier | 24 hours a day, 30 days a month | $6.32 | $6.59 |
| Refrigerator | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $6.32 | $6.59 |
| Desktop computer | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $4.74 | $4.94 |
| Dishwasher | 120 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $4.56 | $4.76 |
| Chest freezer | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $4.21 | $4.39 |
| Electric blanket | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $4.21 | $4.39 |
| Mini fridge | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.37 | $3.52 |
| Ceiling fan | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.16 | $3.30 |
| Game console | 3 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.16 | $3.30 |
| Box fan | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | $3.16 | $3.30 |
| TV | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.63 | $2.75 |
| Humidifier | 10 hours a day, 30 days a month | $2.11 | $2.20 |
| Air fryer | 20 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $1.90 | $1.98 |
| Laptop | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.90 | $1.98 |
| Slow cooker | 360 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $1.83 | $1.90 |
| Electric pressure cooker | 45 minutes per use, 3 times a week | $1.71 | $1.79 |
| Electric kettle | 4 minutes per use, 21 times a week | $1.60 | $1.67 |
| Hair dryer | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $1.60 | $1.67 |
| Washing machine | 45 minutes per use, 5 times a week | $1.43 | $1.49 |
| Microwave | 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week | $1.33 | $1.39 |
| Wi-Fi router | 24 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.26 | $1.32 |
| String of Christmas lights | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | $1.26 | $1.32 |
| Toaster oven | 20 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $1.22 | $1.27 |
| Coffee maker | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $0.89 | $0.93 |
| Rice cooker | 30 minutes per use, 4 times a week | $0.76 | $0.79 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 30 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $0.76 | $0.79 |
| Clothes iron | 20 minutes per use, 2 times a week | $0.61 | $0.63 |
| LED light bulb | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | $0.26 | $0.27 |
| Toaster | 3 minutes per use, 7 times a week | $0.24 | $0.25 |
What a monthly bill looks like
The table shows what different amounts of electricity cost at the latest Virginia 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 Virginia | At the U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | A small apartment or a home with gas heat | $87.75 | $91.55 |
| 863 kWh | The average U.S. home (2024) | $151.46 | $158.02 |
| 1,032 kWh | The average home in Virginia (2024) | $181.12 | $188.96 |
| 1,500 kWh | A large or all-electric home | $263.25 | $274.65 |
| 2,000 kWh | An all-electric home in its peak month | $351.00 | $366.20 |
Where the electricity in Virginia comes from
The largest source of the electricity generated in Virginia 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 102.7 million MWh in 2024, less than the 138.0 million MWh sold to customers, so part of the electricity used is brought in from neighboring states.
How the climate shapes bills
Virginia 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?
For most households, no. Virginia has a limited form of retail choice that is mostly available to businesses, according to the Energy Information Administration. Households generally buy their electricity from the utility that serves their address, at prices approved by regulators. Prices still differ between utilities and rate plans, so check the price per kWh on your own bill and type it into the calculator.
Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | 20 | $157.95 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | 15 | $192.69 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | 36 | $136.44 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | 31 | $142.02 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | 47 | $123.39 |
| U.S. average | 18.31¢ | – | $164.79 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average electricity rate in Virginia?
The average residential price in Virginia was 17.55 cents per kWh in July 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is 4% below the U.S. average of 18.31 cents and ranks number 20 of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), where 1 is the most expensive.
How much is the average electric bill in Virginia?
The average home in Virginia used 1,032 kWh a month in 2024 and paid $148.77, according to the EIA; the U.S. average was 863 kWh and $142.26. At the latest price of 17.55 cents per kWh, 1,032 kWh costs $181.12.
How much electricity does a home in Virginia use?
1,032 kWh a month on average in 2024, which is 20% more than the U.S. average of 863 kWh and the 13th highest of the 50 states and D.C.
What uses the most electricity in a home in Virginia?
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.