Prices & Bills
Electricity prices in the US vary widely — by sector, by state, and over time. In 2024, residential customers paid an average of 16.5¢/kWh, roughly 104% more than industrial users at 8.1¢/kWh.
How have prices changed over time?
National electricity prices have risen steadily in nominal terms, shaped by recessions, policy shifts, and fuel costs. The gap between residential and industrial rates reflects differences in distribution costs and market access.
Retail Electricity Prices by Sector
US national average, cents per kilowatt-hour, annual
Sources & methodology
Average retail electricity prices vary significantly across sectors. Residential customers typically pay the highest rates due to distribution costs, while industrial users benefit from bulk pricing and direct market access. Use the state selector to compare individual states against the national average.
Prices are nominal (not adjusted for inflation). National averages are revenue-weighted across all utilities. Some state-level data may be incomplete for earlier years.
Residential customers pay roughly 104% more per kWh than industrial users — a gap that has widened over the past decade.
How do prices vary across states?
Geography matters. States with abundant hydropower like Washington enjoy rates well below the national average, while Hawaii and parts of New England pay the most. Fuel mix, regulation, and infrastructure age all play a role.
Residential Electricity Prices by State (0)
Cents per kilowatt-hour
Sources & methodology
Electricity prices vary widely across states, driven by differences in fuel mix, regulatory environment, and infrastructure costs. States with abundant hydropower (e.g., Washington) tend to have the lowest rates, while island states (Hawaii) and those with older infrastructure pay the most.
Residential prices only. Commercial and industrial rates follow different patterns. Colors use a yellow-to-red scale where yellow indicates lower prices.
Do renewables make electricity cheaper or more expensive?
The relationship between renewable energy and electricity prices is not straightforward. States with cheap hydropower tend to have both high renewable shares and low prices, but other factors — grid age, regulatory structure, and demand patterns — matter just as much.
Electricity Price vs Renewable Share by State (2024)
Each dot is a state
Sources & methodology
Is there a relationship between renewable energy adoption and electricity prices? This scatter plot shows each state's residential electricity price against its renewable generation share. The relationship is complex — states with cheap hydro tend to have both high renewables and low prices, while other factors like grid infrastructure and regulation also play major roles.
Correlation does not imply causation. States with high renewable shares include those with abundant hydropower (historically cheap) and those with newer wind/solar capacity (varying cost impact). Residential prices reflect many factors beyond generation mix.
Average Monthly Household Electricity Bill
Dollars per month
Sources & methodology
Electricity bills have risen in nominal terms but the increase is more modest after adjusting for inflation. The average US household consumes about 900 kWh per month.
Bills estimated as average residential price × 900 kWh/month. Real values adjusted to 2024 dollars using CPI-U.