What state has the cheapest electricity?

Louisiana has the cheapest residential electricity rate at 12.72¢/kWh, with an average monthly bill of $212. The top 5 cheapest states are: Louisiana, Nevada, Utah, North Dakota, Tennessee.

What state has the most expensive electricity?

Hawaii has the most expensive residential electricity rate at 48¢/kWh, with an average monthly bill of $262. The top 5 most expensive states are: Hawaii, California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York.

How much does electricity cost per kWh?

The national average is 18.31¢/kWh for residential customers. Rates range from 12.72¢/kWh in Louisiana to 48¢/kWh in Hawaii. Commercial rates average 14.53¢/kWh, approximately 21% lower than residential.

Can I choose my electricity provider?

Yes, in 17 states and the District of Columbia with deregulated electricity markets: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and DC.

Why are electricity rates different by state?

Electricity rates vary by state due to differences in energy sources (coal, natural gas, renewables, nuclear), state regulations, transmission infrastructure costs, local demand, and whether the state has a deregulated or regulated electricity market.

Electricity Rates by State (July 2026)

Name: U.S. Electricity Rates by State
Creator: U.S. Energy Information Administration

Electricity rates vary widely from state to state, shaped by local energy sources, infrastructure, and whether the market is regulated or deregulated. Explore the table below to see how every state and the District of Columbia compares.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. Data as of July 2026.

All States & DC


#1	Louisiana	12.72¢/kWh	10.97¢/kWh	$212	-30.5%	-3.0%
#2	Nevada	12.77¢/kWh	9.72¢/kWh	$207	-30.3%	+3.1%
#3	Utah	13.12¢/kWh	10.85¢/kWh	$170	-28.3%	-2.5%
#4	North Dakota	13.41¢/kWh	8.22¢/kWh	$144	-26.8%	Stable
#5	Tennessee	13.71¢/kWh	13.43¢/kWh	$205	-25.1%	+3.8%
#6	Idaho	13.73¢/kWh	10.16¢/kWh	$153	-25.0%	+11.8%
#7	Nebraska	13.78¢/kWh	9.39¢/kWh	$172	-24.7%	+7.3%
#8	Kentucky	13.81¢/kWh	11.95¢/kWh	$193	-24.6%	+5.2%
#9	Arkansas	14.33¢/kWh	11.76¢/kWh	$202	-21.7%	+8.1%
#10	Oklahoma	14.35¢/kWh	10.32¢/kWh	$229	-21.6%	+6.1%

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Key Stats

18.31¢/kWh

National average residential rate

Cheapest State

Louisiana

12.72¢/kWh residential

$212/mo est. bill

Most Expensive State

Hawaii

48.00¢/kWh residential

$262/mo est. bill

Cheapest & Most Expensive States

5 Cheapest · Residential

1Louisiana12.72¢
2Nevada12.77¢
3Utah13.12¢
4North Dakota13.41¢
5Tennessee13.71¢

5 Cheapest · Commercial

1North Dakota8.22¢
2Texas8.47¢
3Nebraska9.39¢
4Nevada9.72¢
5Idaho10.16¢

5 Most Expensive · Residential

1Hawaii48.00¢
2California33.61¢
3Maine32.41¢
4Massachusetts30.49¢
5New York29.90¢

5 Most Expensive · Commercial

1Hawaii43.63¢
2California30.56¢
3Massachusetts24.41¢
4New York24.18¢
5District of Columbia23.88¢

Key Takeaways

Louisiana is the cheapest state at 12.72¢/kWh
Hawaii is the most expensive at 48.00¢/kWh
+4.9% national rate change over the past 12 months
18 states & DC have deregulated electricity markets
Hawaii had the largest year-over-year increase at +22.0%

Electricity Rates by Region

Gulf States-21.8%

14.32¢/kWh

LA · AR · OK · TX

South Central-20.2%

14.62¢/kWh

TN · KY · MS · AL

Mountain-19.8%

14.68¢/kWh

NV · UT · ID · WY · MT · AZ · NM · CO

Midwest-16.2%

15.34¢/kWh

ND · NE · KS · SD · IA · MO · MN

South Atlantic-2.7%

17.82¢/kWh

FL · NC · SC · WV · GA · VA · DE · MD · DC

Great Lakes+6.5%

19.50¢/kWh

IN · WI · IL · OH · MI

Mid-Atlantic+39.8%

25.60¢/kWh

PA · NJ · NY

New England+50.8%

27.62¢/kWh

VT · CT · NH · RI · MA · ME

Pacific+54.1%

28.22¢/kWh

WA · OR · AK · CA · HI

Regions follow the US Census Bureau classification, as used by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

How Electricity Rates Have Changed

The national average residential rate has increased 10% over the past 24 months, from 16.60¢ to 18.31¢/kWh.

Frequently Asked Questions

As of July 2026, the average residential electricity rate in the US is 18.31¢/kWh. The average commercial rate is 14.53¢/kWh. Rates have changed +4.9% compared to the same month last year.