Free US Electricity Rate by State

Look up the average residential electricity rate for any US state and estimate your monthly bill. Includes national rank and comparison to the US average.

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US residential average is ~886 kWh/month. Check your utility bill for your actual usage.

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What is this calculator for?

You just moved from Idaho to Connecticut and your first electric bill is 3x what you paid before. Or you're researching whether solar is worth it and you need to know your state's typical electricity rate. The electricity rate lookup shows current residential rates by state, plus the major variables affecting your specific rate.

US residential electricity rates vary dramatically by state, driven by: fuel source mix (hydroelectric-heavy WA cheap, oil-burning HI expensive), grid infrastructure age, regulatory environment, transmission costs to your area, customer base density. National average residential rate as of 2024-25: $0.166 per kWh. Range: Hawaii $0.42 (highest), Washington and Louisiana $0.11-0.12 (lowest of contiguous states), California $0.30-0.35, New York and Massachusetts $0.22-0.28, Texas $0.13-0.16 (deregulated, varies by plan).

This calculator shows residential rates by state, time-of-use variations where applicable, and net metering policies for solar customers. Use it for budgeting, energy efficiency ROI analysis, and decisions about where to live.

How to use this calculator

Select your state. The calculator returns the EIA-reported average residential rate for that state in the most recent 12 months, plus context about rate range across utilities within the state.

Optionally select your utility (where data is available). Rates vary substantially across utilities within the same state — California has PG&E (highest), SCE (mid), SDG&E (lowest of the big three), plus various municipal utilities (often cheaper). Texas is deregulated — customers pick from dozens of retail electric providers with varying rates and contract structures.

Indicate your rate type: flat rate (same per kWh all day, most common for residential), tiered rate (rate increases with monthly usage — common in California and a few others), time-of-use (rate varies by hour — increasingly common), critical peak pricing (extreme rates during grid emergencies — opt-in in some areas).

The calculator outputs typical monthly bill at average usage (877 kWh national average) plus your usage if entered. It also shows your state's net metering policy (relevant for solar — pays back at full retail rate, wholesale rate, or some combination).

Understanding your results

The calculator returns your state's average residential rate, typical monthly bill at average usage, and contextual information.

2024-25 average residential rates by region:

Northeast: $0.20-0.30/kWh (CT, MA, NY, NH, RI, VT highest tier). Higher due to limited fuel diversity, expensive natural gas pipeline infrastructure, aged grid, regulated markets.

Mid-Atlantic: $0.13-0.20/kWh (PA, NJ, DE, MD, DC). Mix of deregulated and regulated; coal and natural gas dominant.

Southeast: $0.11-0.17/kWh (NC, SC, FL, GA, AL, TN, MS, AR, LA). Natural gas and nuclear-heavy, regulated markets, generally lower rates.

Midwest: $0.11-0.17/kWh (OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, MN, IA, MO, KS, NE, ND, SD). Mix of coal, natural gas, wind, and nuclear; regulated markets typically lower rates.

Texas: $0.13-0.20/kWh (deregulated; varies widely by provider and plan, with promotional rates as low as $0.10 and worst-case rates $0.25+).

Mountain West: $0.10-0.14/kWh (CO, NM, UT, WY, ID, MT). Hydroelectric (in some) and natural gas; regulated markets.

Pacific Northwest: $0.10-0.12/kWh (WA, OR). Hydroelectric heavy — cheapest rates in contiguous US.

California: $0.25-0.40/kWh (rates rising rapidly; mid-2020s among most expensive in US). High infrastructure costs, wildfire-related grid hardening, regulatory mandates.

Hawaii: $0.40-0.45/kWh (highest in US). Oil-fired generation, limited grid; solar uptake among highest in US for the same reason.

Alaska: $0.20-0.40/kWh, variable. Remote grids; some communities much higher than others.

The time-of-use breakdown. Time-of-use (TOU) plans charge dramatically different rates by hour. Typical California PG&E TOU: $0.50/kWh during 4-9 PM peak vs $0.30/kWh other hours. New York Con Ed TOU: peak $0.32 vs off-peak $0.13. Households who can shift major loads (laundry, dishwasher, EV charging) to off-peak hours save 20-40% on bills under TOU plans. Households that can't (work-from-home, high evening AC usage): TOU costs more than flat rate.

A worked example

The Park family is relocating. They're comparing electricity costs in three potential cities:

City 1: Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Power residential rate: $0.143/kWh. Their estimated usage: 1,100 kWh/month (3-person household, electric water heater, central AC for hot summers, mild winters). Monthly bill: $157 + $20 fixed/taxes = $177.

City 2: Hartford, Connecticut. Eversource residential rate: $0.275/kWh. Same usage: 1,100 kWh/month (heating shifts to mix of electric and gas, AC less needed but heating loads larger in winter — net usage similar). Monthly bill: $302 + $25 fees = $327.

City 3: Seattle, Washington. Seattle City Light residential rate: $0.111/kWh tiered (cheaper for first 480 kWh, higher above). Estimated usage: 800 kWh/month (rare AC need in Seattle, electric heating offset by mild climate). Monthly bill: $89 + $10 fees = $99.

Annual electricity cost: Atlanta $2,124; Hartford $3,924; Seattle $1,188. Hartford is $2,000+/year more than Seattle for electricity alone. Over 10 years: $20,000 difference. The electricity-cost differential matters for relocation decisions — particularly for high-usage households with electric heating and cooling.

The Park family's actual decision factors heavily on job opportunities and proximity to family, not just utility costs. But electricity cost is a real variable affecting their long-term housing budget. If they did move to Hartford, energy efficiency investments (heat pump replacing oil heat if applicable, LED lighting, insulation) would have faster payback than in Atlanta or Seattle.

Solar consideration: at $0.275/kWh in Hartford, a $20,000 solar PV system producing 8,000 kWh/year would offset $2,200/year of electricity — payback in ~9 years before incentives. In Seattle at $0.111/kWh, same system would offset $888/year — payback 22 years, much less attractive. Solar payback math is dominated by the local electricity rate; high-rate states justify solar even when solar resource (sunshine) is mediocre.

Related resources

For broader monthly bill projection, see Electric Bill Calculator. For water-heating costs (often a major share of electric bill), the Water Heater Calculator. For relocation decisions considering total cost of living, the Cost of Living Comparison. The US Energy Information Administration electricity data publishes monthly residential rates for every state and utility; DSIRE tracks solar incentives and net metering policies for every US state.

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Frequently asked questions

Why does electricity cost vary so much by state?

Three big drivers: (1) Generation mix — states with abundant hydro (Washington, Oregon) or coal (Wyoming, West Virginia) tend to be cheaper than states with imported natural gas or oil-based generation. (2) Transmission distance — Hawaii imports nearly all its fuel oil, driving the highest rates in the country. (3) Regulatory structure — deregulated retail markets (Texas, Pennsylvania) let consumers shop for plans; vertically-integrated utilities (Florida, much of the South) set rates through state commissions.

What is a kWh and how is my bill calculated?

A kilowatt-hour is the standard billing unit — 1 kWh = using 1,000 watts for one hour. Your bill = kWh used × cents-per-kWh rate, plus monthly fixed charges (delivery fee, customer charge, taxes). Different tariffs may use tiered rates (the first 500 kWh at one rate, the next 500 at a higher rate) or time-of-use rates (different rates by hour of day).

What's the average electric bill in the US?

About $135–145/month nationally as of 2024, based on the average 886 kWh/month at the national average rate. State averages range from about $90 in low-rate, low-use states (Utah, Idaho) to over $230 in high-rate, high-AC states (Hawaii, Connecticut). Climate and home size drive consumption; rate is the per-unit cost.

How can I lower my electric bill?

Five highest-leverage moves: (1) Adjust thermostat 2–3°F closer to the outside temperature — each degree is ~3% savings on HVAC. (2) Switch incandescent bulbs to LED — pays back in months. (3) Air-dry laundry when possible. (4) Use programmable or smart thermostats to avoid heating/cooling an empty house. (5) Weatherstripping and attic insulation deliver multi-year ROI.

Do renewable energy plans cost more?

It varies. In deregulated markets, 100%-renewable plans often cost 1–3¢/kWh more than standard plans. In states with renewable portfolio standards, the cost is baked into the default rate, so renewable-specific plans are often comparable. Community solar subscriptions usually deliver a 5–10% discount versus the utility default in exchange for committing to a multi-year plan.

Why are electricity rates so different by state?

Multiple factors. (1) Generation fuel mix — coal and natural gas relatively cheap; nuclear and renewables have high upfront costs amortized over long lifetimes; oil expensive (Hawaii's problem). (2) Hydroelectric availability — Pacific Northwest's cheap rates come from federal Bonneville Power dams. (3) Grid infrastructure age — older grids in Northeast cost more to maintain. (4) Population density and transmission — sparsely populated areas have higher per-customer infrastructure costs. (5) Regulatory environment — deregulated markets (Texas) tend to have more rate volatility; regulated markets (most Southeast) have more stable but middle-tier rates. (6) Climate-related grid hardening — California rates are rising rapidly due to wildfire mitigation requirements. (7) Policy mandates — renewable portfolio standards in some states drive rates up modestly.

Can I choose my electricity provider?

Depends on the state. Deregulated states (TX, OH, PA, NJ, MD, IL, CT, MA, NY, DE, DC, NH, RI, ME): yes, customers can choose from dozens of retail electric providers competing on price and contract terms. Regulated states (most others): no, you're served by the monopoly utility in your service area. In deregulated states, rate-shopping can save 10-25% on electricity costs. Beware: promotional rates expire (often after 12 months) and 'variable rate' contracts can spike dramatically. Always read contract terms; stick with fixed-rate 12-24 month contracts; shop again at expiration.

What is time-of-use (TOU) pricing?

Rates that vary by hour of day. Typical structure: peak hours (3-8 PM weekdays) charge highest rate ($0.30-0.50/kWh in TOU markets); off-peak (overnight, weekends) charge lowest ($0.08-0.20/kWh); shoulder periods in between. Designed to reduce peak demand on the grid by incentivizing customers to shift load. TOU saves money for households that can shift major loads (laundry, dishwasher, EV charging) to off-peak. TOU costs more for households with heavy peak-hour use (work-from-home with AC, evening cooking). Many states are gradually mandating TOU as default; opt-out usually available. Examine your usage patterns before opting in — your utility's app often shows hourly usage data.

What's net metering and how does it affect solar payback?

Net metering is the policy that determines how solar customers get credit for excess electricity sent back to the grid. Full retail rate net metering (best for solar customers): excess solar generation credited at the same rate you'd pay for that kWh — effectively bidirectional billing. Reduced/tiered net metering: excess credited at wholesale rate or lower retail tier — typical 50-70% of full retail. Some states limit net metering: California recently moved from NEM 2.0 (full retail) to NEM 3.0 (much less generous for new solar installations after April 2023). Full retail net metering produces typical solar payback of 6-9 years; reduced net metering pushes payback to 9-14 years; minimal net metering can make solar uneconomic. Check your state's current policy at DSIREUSA.org.

Will electricity rates keep rising?

Generally yes, particularly in some regions. Drivers: (1) Grid investment needs (US grid is aging; major upgrades required). (2) Renewable transition costs (front-loaded infrastructure investment recouped through rates). (3) Wildfire mitigation in fire-prone areas (CA rates rising fast for this reason). (4) Inflation generally. (5) EV and electrification driving grid demand. (6) Natural gas price volatility. Some offsets: solar and wind cheaper than coal/gas in most regions for new generation, eventually flowing to lower rates. EIA projections show residential rates rising 2-4% annually nominally over 2024-2030. Faster in CA and Northeast; slower in regions with abundant cheap natural gas or hydropower. Plan retirement and long-term housing budgets for continued rate increases.

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