Average Electric Bill by State — Full 2026 Data

Last updated September 25, 2026 · EIA data through July 2026

When I started building Billora Hub, I kept running into the same problem: finding a clear, up-to-date answer to “how much is the average electric bill in my state?” was surprisingly hard. Most sites buried the data or showed outdated numbers. So I pulled the data straight from the EIA and put it all in one place. Below is the complete picture for 2026, plus the calculator to get a number specific to your home.

Average Electric Bills by State — Full Table (2026 EIA Data)

The table below shows estimated monthly electricity costs for a 2-bedroom home with 2 residents, ranked from cheapest to most expensive. Rates are sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) residential electricity data.

The national average sits around $185/mo per month for this home profile. Your actual bill will vary based on your appliances, local climate, and usage habits — use the electricity bill calculator below to get a number tailored to your setup.

Which States Have the Highest Electric Bills?

Hawaii is in a category of its own. At around 48.0¢/kWh per kWh, Hawaiian residents pay more than twice the national average rate — a direct result of the state’s near-total dependence on imported oil for electricity generation. For a 2-bedroom home, that translates to roughly $484/mo per month.

Connecticut and Massachusetts follow as the most expensive mainland states, both driven by limited pipeline capacity for natural gas, high labor costs for grid maintenance, and aging infrastructure. California rounds out the top tier — aggressive renewable energy mandates have increased generation costs, even as the state leads the nation in solar capacity.

New York sits mid-to-high depending on the region. Downstate New York (NYC metro) pays significantly more than upstate, though EIA state averages blend both. Texas, despite its reputation as an energy state, sits close to the national average — the ERCOT grid’s deregulated market creates price volatility but keeps average residential rates competitive.

Which States Have the Lowest Electric Bills?

Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas consistently rank among the cheapest states. Louisiana benefits from abundant natural gas reserves and a local energy surplus — residential rates commonly fall below 11¢/kWh. For a 2-bedroom household, that means a monthly bill around $128/mo.

Oklahoma’s low rates stem from a strong mix of natural gas, coal, and rapidly expanding wind power. The state now generates more than 40% of its electricity from wind, which has pushed wholesale prices down. Idaho and Wyoming benefit similarly — hydroelectric power from the Columbia River basin provides cheap, reliable baseload generation across the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West.

Washington State deserves a special mention. With hydroelectric dams covering a large portion of its electricity mix, Washington offers some of the most stable and affordable residential rates in the country — a sharp contrast to its Pacific Coast neighbor California.

Why Do Electricity Costs Vary So Much by State?

The difference between Hawaii’s 48.0¢/kWh and Louisiana’s 12.7¢/kWh is not a rounding error — it reflects fundamental differences in how each state generates and delivers electricity. Five factors explain most of the variation:

Fuel mix. States relying on cheap natural gas or hydro (Louisiana, Oklahoma, Washington) keep rates low. States dependent on imported oil (Hawaii) or constrained gas pipelines (New England) pay more. Coal states occupy a middle range, though coal’s share of the U.S. mix has declined sharply since 2010.

Renewable mandates and transition costs. States with aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standards — California, Massachusetts, New York — carry higher costs during the transition period. Solar and wind add capital costs upfront, even when they reduce fuel costs long-term. Those costs are passed to ratepayers through rate cases approved by state utility commissions.

Grid infrastructure and maintenance. Dense urban grids (Northeast corridor) require more investment per customer than sparse rural grids. Aging transmission lines, storm hardening after extreme weather events, and grid modernization programs all show up in the rate base — and ultimately in monthly bills.

Climate and consumption patterns. High cooling loads in Texas and Florida increase summer demand and push up average consumption. High heating loads in the Northeast do the opposite in winter. The EIA publishes average consumption by state alongside rate data — the two together determine actual bill amounts.

State regulation vs. deregulation. Deregulated states (Texas, Illinois, parts of New York and Pennsylvania) allow retail competition, which can lower rates for customers who shop around — but also creates volatility. Fully regulated states offer more predictability, though not always lower prices.

What Does This Mean for Your Bill?

State averages are a useful benchmark, not a precise forecast. A single-occupant studio in Seattle will pay dramatically less than a family of four in a large Arizona home — even within the same state. The EIA data used in the table above represents residential averages across all household types.

To get a more accurate estimate, the electricity bill calculator on this site adjusts for home size and number of residents. It uses the same EIA rate data, with usage estimates scaled by household profile. The result is a much tighter estimate than a statewide average.

FAQ

What is the average electric bill in the US per month?

For a 2-bedroom home with 2 residents, the national average runs around $185/mo per month based on current EIA data. The EIA’s own residential consumption reports put average household usage at approximately 900 kWh/month nationwide.

Which state has the cheapest electricity?

Louisiana and Oklahoma consistently rank at the top. Louisiana’s residential rate typically falls below 11¢/kWh, driven by abundant local natural gas supply and low transmission costs. Oklahoma’s expanding wind fleet has similarly pushed rates down in recent years.

Which state has the most expensive electricity?

Hawaii is by far the most expensive state, with rates often above 38¢/kWh. Among continental states, Connecticut and Massachusetts carry the highest rates, frequently exceeding 25¢/kWh. Both states face structural constraints that keep electricity costs elevated relative to the national average.

Why is my electric bill higher than the state average?

State averages blend all household sizes. If you have a larger home, more residents, or high-draw appliances (electric water heater, EV charger, older HVAC), your bill will run above average. Seasonal spikes — high AC use in summer or electric heat in winter — also push individual bills well above the annual average.

How often does EIA electricity rate data update?

The EIA publishes residential electricity rate data monthly, typically with a 1–2 month lag. This site’s calculator and tables update automatically once per month when new EIA data is released. The data period shown in the calculator reflects the most recent available month.

Is the data in this table the same as what the electricity bill calculator uses?

Yes. Both this table and the calculator pull from the same local database, which is updated monthly from the EIA’s residential electricity price series. Shortcode values and calculator results will always reflect the same underlying data snapshot.

Final Thoughts

I built this as the resource I wished existed when I first tried to compare electricity costs across states — one place, real government data, no signup walls. The table above gives you the full picture; the calculator lets you adjust for your specific home. I update the data monthly as new EIA numbers come in. If you have a question the FAQ didn’t answer, the calculator comparison feature covers most state-to-state scenarios directly.