Graph and download economic data for Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in U.S. City Average (APU000072610) from Nov 1978 to May 2025 about electricity, energy, retail, price, and USA.

The retail price for electricity in the United States stood at an average of ***** U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in 2024. This is the highest figure reported in the indicated period. Nevertheless, the U.S. still has one of the lowest electricity prices worldwide. As a major producer of primary energy, energy prices are lower than in countries that are more reliant on imports or impose higher taxes. Regional variations and sector disparities The impact of rising electricity costs across U.S. states is not uniform. Hawaii stands out with the highest household electricity price, reaching a staggering ***** U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour in September 2024. This stark contrast is primarily due to Hawaii's heavy reliance on imported oil for power generation. On the other hand, states like Utah benefit from lower rates, with prices around **** U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. Regarding U.S. prices by sector, residential customers have borne the brunt of price increases, paying an average of ***** U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023, significantly more than commercial and industrial sectors. Factors driving price increases Several factors contribute to the upward trend in electricity prices. The integration of renewable energy sources, investments in smart grid technologies, and rising peak demand all play a role. Additionally, the global energy crisis of 2022 and natural disasters affecting power infrastructure have put pressure on the electric utility industry. The close connection between U.S. electricity prices and natural gas markets also influences rates, as domestic prices are affected by higher-paying international markets. Looking ahead, projections suggest a continued increase in electricity prices, with residential rates expected to grow by *** percent in 2024, driven by factors such as increased demand and the ongoing effects of climate change.

Hawaii is the state with the highest household electricity price in the United States. In September 2024, the average retail price of electricity for Hawaiian residences amounted to 41.27 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. California followed in second, with 30.221 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. Meanwhile, Utah registered the lowest price in the period, at around 11.4 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. Why is electricity so expensive in Hawaii? Fossil fuels, and specifically oil, account for approximately 80 percent of Hawaii’s electricity mix, so the electricity price in this state can be roughly brought down to the price of oil in the country. Oil was by far the most expensive fossil fuel used for electricity generation in the country. As Hawaii depends on oil imports, the cost of transportation and infrastructure must be added to the oil price. Electricity prices worldwide The U.S. retail price for electricity increased almost every year since 1990. In 2023, it stood at 12.7 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour, almost double the charge put on electricity back in 1990. However, household electricity prices are around 25 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour lower in the U.S. when compared to European countries reliant on energy imports, such as Germany and Italy.

A table listing the average electricity rates (kWh) of all 50 U.S. states as of March 2025.

Ireland, Italy, and Germany had some of the highest household electricity prices worldwide, as of March 2025. At the time, Irish households were charged around 0.45 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, while in Italy, the price stood at 0.43 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. By comparison, in Russia, residents paid almost 10 times less. What is behind electricity prices? Electricity prices vary widely across the world and sometimes even within a country itself, depending on factors like infrastructure, geography, and politically determined taxes and levies. For example, in Denmark, Belgium, and Sweden, taxes constitute a significant portion of residential end-user electricity prices. Reliance on fossil fuel imports Meanwhile, thanks to their great crude oil and natural gas production output, countries like Iran, Qatar, and Russia enjoy some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world. Here, the average household pays less than 0.1 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, countries heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports for electricity generation are more vulnerable to market price fluctuations.

Graph and download economic data for Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX (CBSA) (APUS37B72610) from Nov 1978 to Dec 2024 about Houston, electricity, energy, urban, retail, TX, price, and USA.

The average retail price of electricity for households has risen steadily in the United States, reaching a peak of around 15.98 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023. In the U.S., electricity prices tend to reflect base overnight costs for power plants, their maintenance, fuel costs, and the operation of power grids. How electricity rates differ across states in the U.S. The price of electricity varies widely across states. Hawaii has continuously had one of the highest rates and Washington one of the lowest. In Hawaii, the power sector is largely reliant on petroleum and diesel generators. Crude oil is a comparatively expensive fuel and prices tend to be volatile, driving up overall electricity prices. Meanwhile, electricity prices are low in states which use hydropower as the main source of electricity, as Washington. In the U.S., costs of electricity are greatly shaped by the primary power source used per state. Maintaining the power grid In addition to primary fuel purchases, the costs required to operate and maintain transmission and distribution systems also impact the prices that a household pays. In 2022, power utilities reported a peak in grid operating expenses, with transmission-related costs reaching 15.9 billion U.S. dollars and almost six billion U.S. dollars invested in distribution networks.

Graph and download economic data for Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the Midwest Census Region - Urban (APU020072610) from Nov 1978 to May 2025 about electricity, energy, retail, price, and USA.

United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in U.S. City Average was 0.18100 Index in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in U.S. City Average reached a record high of 0.18100 in March of 2025 and a record low of 0.04600 in December of 1978. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in U.S. City Average - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on May of 2025.

Industrial consumers of electricity in the United States paid an average of 8.06 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023. This figure marked a decrease compared to the previous year, when prices peaked at 8.3 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour.

Retail residential electricity prices in the United States have mostly risen over the last decades. In 2023, prices registered a year-over-year growth of 6.3 percent, the highest growth registered since the beginning of the century. Residential prices are projected to continue to grow by two percent in 2024. Drivers of electricity price growth The price of electricity is partially dependent on the various energy sources used for generation, such as coal, gas, oil, renewable energy, or nuclear. In the U.S., electricity prices are highly connected to natural gas prices. As the commodity is exposed to international markets that pay a higher rate, U.S. prices are also expected to rise, as it has been witnessed during the energy crisis in 2022. Electricity demand is also expected to increase, especially in regions that will likely require more heating or cooling as climate change impacts progress, driving up electricity prices. Which states pay the most for electricity? Electricity prices can vary greatly depending on both state and region. Hawaii has the highest electricity prices in the U.S., at roughly 43 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour as of May 2023, due to the high costs of crude oil used to fuel the state’s electricity. In comparison, Idaho has one of the lowest retail rates. Much of the state’s energy is generated from hydroelectricity, which requires virtually no fuel. In addition, construction costs can be spread out over decades.

United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in Size Class A was 0.20300 Index in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in Size Class A reached a record high of 0.20300 in April of 2025 and a record low of 0.07700 in April of 1988. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in Size Class A - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on May of 2025.

Electricity prices for industries in the United States increased over the past few years, peaking in summer 2022. Industrial electricity prices amounted to **** U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour in May 2024, up from **** U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour the previous month. The average retail electricity price for industrial consumers in the United States stood at **** U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (CBSA) (APUS49A72610) from Nov 1978 to Dec 2024 about Los Angeles, electricity, energy, urban, CA, retail, price, and USA.

United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the East North Central Census Division was 0.16200 Index in December of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the East North Central Census Division reached a record high of 0.17100 in May of 2024 and a record low of 0.13100 in December of 2019. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the East North Central Census Division - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on May of 2025.

In the first half of 2024, the average electricity price for households in France peaked at 27.76 euro cents per kilowatt-hour because of an increase in power taxes and levies. Since 2010, the electricity prices for household consumption have been continuously increasing from 12.83 euro cents per kilowatt-hour. Residential energy consumption in France The residential energy consumption in France mainly comprised electricity and renewable energy, although gas still covered a relevant share of the residential energy mix. The price of this fossil fuel for households was also increasing and amounted to 0.12 euros per kilowatt-hour by the end of the year. The development of renewable energy sources in France Although nuclear power still accounted for the most important part of electricity production in France, the second-leading electricity source was hydropower. Furthermore, the production capacity of electricity from solar power has been steadily and significantly increasing from 808 megawatts in 2010 to almost 23 gigawatts in 2024.

United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the West South Central Census Division was 0.15600 Index in December of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the West South Central Census Division reached a record high of 0.18200 in August of 2022 and a record low of 0.11200 in March of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the West South Central Census Division - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Amongst the different sources of renewable electricity generation, concentrating solar power and offshore wind were the most expensive in 2023, with an average cost of **** and *** cents per kilowatt-hour, respectively. In contrast, onshore wind electricity generation cost an average of *** cents per kilowatt-hour that year.

Graph and download economic data for Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the Northeast Census Region - Urban (APU010072610) from Nov 1978 to May 2025 about electricity, energy, retail, price, and USA.

United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the Northeast Census Region - Urban was 0.24400 Index in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the Northeast Census Region - Urban reached a record high of 0.24600 in February of 2025 and a record low of 0.06200 in November of 1978. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the Northeast Census Region - Urban - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on May of 2025.