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.

Germany Electricity decreased 29.73 EUR/MWh or 25.69% since the beginning of 2025, according to the latest spot benchmarks offered by sellers to buyers priced in megawatt hour (MWh). This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Germany Electricity Price.

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

In September 2024, industrial electricity prices in the European countries of Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom were among the highest in the world, at around **** U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Singapore was the Asian country with the highest electricity bill worldwide at that time. Lowest electricity prices in the world The average retail electricity price in the United States was considerably lower than in most of Europe. Iceland was the European country with one of the lowest electricity bills for enterprises that month. At the bottom of the ranking were also Russia, Iraq, Qatar, Argentina, and Libya. In these countries, commercial electricity prices amounted to less than *** U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Household electricity prices In addition, European countries had the highest household electricity prices worldwide that month, with Italy at the top of the ranking. By comparison, Iran and Ethiopia had the lowest residential electricity prices in the world.

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.

Electricity prices in the U.S. have surged due to rising demand from heatwaves and data centers, alongside investments in grid infrastructure.

The retail price for electricity in the United States stood at an average of 12.99 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 41.27 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 11.4 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 15.98 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 two percent in 2024, driven by factors such as increased demand and the ongoing effects of climate change. (201714)

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.

This dataset is restricted, for more information please contact the author. Data were collected from multiple sources:The Electricity & Co-Generation Regulatory AuthoritySaudi Electricity companyWeb news article (2015, December 28). Increase of Fuel, Electricity and Water prices. Retrieved from https://akhbaar24.argaam.com/article/detail/255091accessed on March 22, 2018.In October 1984, the government adopted a Tariff that increased with increasing consumption. The changes of Tariffs started in November 1984.Tariff approved by Council of Ministries 170 and become effective in October 2000. This Tariff remained effective for approximately ten years The residential, agricultural, mosques, and charitable societies remained unchanged till 2018In 2010, a new tariff for government, commercial, and industrial consumption came into force, this was adopted by a decision of ECRA's board, to set tariffs for non-residential consumption with an upper limit of SR0.26/kWh.In 2015, the total value of electricity consumed by the residential sector was worth about 38 billion U.S. dollars.In 2018, the Council of Ministers has approved gradual revision of energy prices in the Kingdom including changes to electricity tariffs effective from Jan. 1. 2018, the Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) announced that new prices will take effect on January 1st, 2018.source: ECRACitation: Alghamdi, Abeer. 2018. “Changes in Saudi Arabia Electricity Prices.” [dataset]. https://datasource.kapsarc.org/explore/dataset/electricity-prices-in-saudi-arabia/information/.

Italy Electricity decreased 21.69 EUR/MWh or 15.74% since the beginning of 2025, according to the latest spot benchmarks offered by sellers to buyers priced in megawatt hour (MWh). This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Italy Electricity Price.

The global energy price index stood at around 101.5 in 2024. Energy prices were on a decreasing trend that year, and forecasts suggest the price index would decrease below 80 by 2026. Price indices show the development of prices for goods or services over time relative to a base year. Commodity prices may be dependent on various factors, from supply and demand to overall economic growth. Electricity prices around the world As with overall fuel prices, electricity costs for end users are dependent on power infrastructure, technology type, domestic production, and governmental levies and taxes. Generally, electricity prices are lower in countries with great coal and gas resources, as those have historically been the main sources for electricity generation. This is one of the reasons why electricity prices are lowest in resource-rich countries such as Iran, Qatar, and Russia. Meanwhile, many European governments that have introduced renewable surcharges to support the deployment of solar and wind power and are at the same time dependent on fossil fuel imports, have the highest household electricity prices. Benchmark oil prices One of the commodities found within the energy market is oil. Oil is the main raw material for all common motor fuels, from gasoline to kerosene. In resource-poor and remote regions such as the United States' states of Alaska and Hawaii, or the European country of Cyprus, it is also one of the largest sources for electricity generation. Benchmark oil prices such as Europe’s Brent, the U.S.' WTI, or the OPEC basket are often used as indicators for the overall energy price development.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Household Energy in U.S. City Average (CUSR0000SAH21) from Jan 1967 to May 2025 about energy, urban, households, consumer, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

According to a survey conducted in April 2022, more than half of the participants believed that the increase in their electricity bills was due to government policies in Turkey. Over one-third of the respondents held energy companies responsible for the growth in electricity prices.

Indonesia Electricity: Average Price: Total data was reported at 1,123.010 IDR/kWh in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,105.110 IDR/kWh for 2017. Indonesia Electricity: Average Price: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 628.140 IDR/kWh from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2018, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,123.010 IDR/kWh in 2018 and a record low of 154.280 IDR/kWh in 1994. Indonesia Electricity: Average Price: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State Electricity Company. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Indonesia – Table ID.RBH001: Average Price: Electricity.

France Electricity decreased 4.49 EUR/MWh or 6.43% since the beginning of 2025, according to the latest spot benchmarks offered by sellers to buyers priced in megawatt hour (MWh). This dataset includes a chart with historical data for France Electricity Price.

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.

Electric power selling price index (EPSPI). Monthly data are available from January 1981. The table presents data for the most recent reference period and the last four periods. The base period for the index is (2014=100).