Electricity rates by state
Short answer: The average U.S. residential electricity price is 18.31¢ per kWh (July 2026). Hawaii is the most expensive state at 48.00¢ and Louisiana the cheapest at 12.72¢.
The table shows each state's average price, its rank from most expensive (1) to least expensive (51), what 900 kWh would cost, which is close to typical monthly household use, and how far the state sits above or below the national average.
| State | Price per kWh | Rank | Cost of 900 kWh | vs. U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | 24 | $147.60 | -10% |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | 6 | $259.47 | +57% |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | 33 | $138.42 | -16% |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | 43 | $128.97 | -22% |
| California | 33.61¢ | 2 | $302.49 | +84% |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | 22 | $153.00 | -7% |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | 11 | $217.44 | +32% |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | 19 | $166.32 | +1% |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | 9 | $226.89 | +38% |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | 37 | $135.27 | -18% |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | 25 | $146.43 | -11% |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | 1 | $432.00 | +162% |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | 46 | $123.57 | -25% |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | 17 | $172.98 | +5% |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | 23 | $150.57 | -9% |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | 28 | $143.91 | -13% |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | 35 | $137.43 | -17% |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | 44 | $124.29 | -25% |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | 51 | $114.48 | -31% |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | 3 | $291.69 | +77% |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | 15 | $192.69 | +17% |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | 4 | $274.41 | +67% |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | 13 | $207.45 | +26% |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | 21 | $157.05 | -5% |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | 40 | $130.86 | -21% |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | 26 | $144.81 | -12% |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | 38 | $134.91 | -18% |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | 45 | $124.02 | -25% |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | 50 | $114.93 | -30% |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | 8 | $239.40 | +45% |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | 10 | $226.71 | +38% |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | 27 | $144.81 | -12% |
| New York | 29.90¢ | 5 | $269.10 | +63% |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | 36 | $136.44 | -17% |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | 48 | $120.69 | -27% |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | 16 | $175.05 | +6% |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | 42 | $129.15 | -22% |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | 29 | $143.73 | -13% |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | 14 | $195.48 | +19% |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | 7 | $254.61 | +55% |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | 32 | $139.23 | -16% |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | 34 | $138.33 | -16% |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | 47 | $123.39 | -25% |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | 30 | $142.92 | -13% |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | 49 | $118.08 | -28% |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | 12 | $213.75 | +30% |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | 20 | $157.95 | -4% |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | 39 | $132.39 | -20% |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | 31 | $142.02 | -14% |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | 18 | $171.54 | +4% |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | 41 | $129.24 | -22% |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, average price of electricity to residential customers, July 2026.
What the averages include
These figures are total residential revenue divided by total kWh sold. They therefore include energy supply, delivery charges and fixed monthly fees. Taxes that appear as separate lines on a bill may not be fully reflected. They are averages across every utility in the state, so a customer of a small municipal utility and a customer of a large investor-owned utility in the same state may pay quite different prices.
Why prices have been rising
Residential prices have increased in most states over the past several years. Utilities are spending heavily on replacing aging poles, wires and substations, hardening the grid against storms and wildfire, and meeting growing demand, including from large data centers. Natural gas prices also feed directly into electricity prices in much of the country, because gas-fired plants often set the wholesale price.
How to use your state's price
Take the price per kWh and multiply it by an appliance's energy use to see what it costs to run. Our electricity cost calculator does this automatically when you select your state, and each appliance page shows a ready-made table for all 50 states.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the most expensive electricity?
Hawaii, at 48.00 cents per kWh in July 2026, followed by California and Maine.
Which state has the cheapest electricity?
Louisiana, at 12.72 cents per kWh, followed by Nevada and Utah.
Why is electricity so much more expensive in some states?
The main factors are the fuel mix used for generation, the cost of maintaining and upgrading the grid, how far power must travel, and state policy. For example, Hawaii relies on imported oil, New England is at the end of constrained gas pipelines, and California carries large wildfire-related grid costs.
Is my rate the same as my state's average?
Probably not exactly. The state figure averages every utility and rate plan. Divide the total on your bill by the kWh used to find your own price.