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.

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 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.

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.

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)

Annual data on the average price of retail electricity to consumers. Data organized by U.S. state and by provider, i.e., total electric industry, full-service providers, restructured retail service providers, energy-only providers, and delivery-only service. Annual time series extend back to 1990. Based on Form EIA-861 data.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Electricity in Size Class A (CUURA000SEHF01) from Dec 1986 to May 2025 about electricity, urban, consumer, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

This dataset, compiled by NREL using data from ABB, the Velocity Suite (http://energymarketintel.com/) and the U.S. Energy Information Administration dataset 861 (http://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/), provides average residential, commercial and industrial electricity rates with likely zip codes for both investor owned utilities (IOU) and non-investor owned utilities. Note: the files include average rates for each utility (not average rates per zip code), but not the detailed rate structure data found in the OpenEI U.S. Utility Rate Database (https://openei.org/apps/USURDB/).

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.

All electricity.

Average consumer prices are calculated for household fuel, motor fuel, and food items from prices collected for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Average prices are best used to measure the price level in a particular month, not to measure price change over time. It is more appropriate to use CPI index values for the particular item categories to measure price change.

Prices, except for electricity, are collected monthly by BLS representatives in the 75 urban areas priced for the CPI. Electricity prices are collected for the BLS for the same 75 areas on a monthly basis by the Department of Energy using mail questionnaires. All fuel prices include applicable Federal, State, and local taxes; prices for natural gas and electricity also include fuel and purchased gas adjustments.

For more information, please visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/factsheets/average-prices.htm).

Graph and download economic data for Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in the West North Central Census Division (APU024072610) from Jan 2018 to Dec 2024 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.

United States Electricity: Average Retail Price: EIA: Residential data was reported at 13.300 0.01 USD/kWh in Aug 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.130 0.01 USD/kWh for Jul 2018. United States Electricity: Average Retail Price: EIA: Residential data is updated monthly, averaging 8.590 0.01 USD/kWh from Jul 1976 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 434 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.300 0.01 USD/kWh in Aug 2018 and a record low of 3.600 0.01 USD/kWh in Jan 1977. United States Electricity: Average Retail Price: EIA: Residential data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.P002: Energy Price.

Comprehensive historical data and future forecasts for Electricity prices in United States, crucial for market analysis and strategic planning.

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.

United States EIA Forecast: Electricity Price: Retail: Commercial Sector data was reported at 10.525 0.01 USD/kWh in Dec 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.693 0.01 USD/kWh for Nov 2019. United States EIA Forecast: Electricity Price: Retail: Commercial Sector data is updated monthly, averaging 10.623 0.01 USD/kWh from Mar 2016 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 46 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.168 0.01 USD/kWh in Sep 2019 and a record low of 9.844 0.01 USD/kWh in Jan 2017. United States EIA Forecast: Electricity Price: Retail: Commercial Sector data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.P003: Energy Price: Forecast: Energy Information Administration.

The Utility Rate Database (URDB) is a free storehouse of rate structure information from utilities in the United States. Here, you can search for your utilities and rates to find out exactly how you are charged for your electric energy usage. Understanding this information can help reduce your bill, for example, by running your appliances during off-peak hours (times during the day when electricity prices are less expensive) and help you make more informed decisions regarding your energy usage.

Rates are also extremely important to the energy analysis community for accurately determining the value and economics of distributed generation such as solar and wind power. In the past, collecting rates has been an effort duplicated across many institutions. Rate collection can be tedious and slow, however, with the introduction of the URDB, OpenEI aims to change how analysis of rates is performed. The URDB allows anyone to access these rates in a computer-readable format for use in their tools and models. OpenEI provides an API for software to automatically download the appropriate rates, thereby allowing detailed economic analysis to be done without ever having to directly handle complex rate structures. Essentially, rate collection and processing that used to take weeks or months can now be done in seconds!

NREL’s System Advisor Model (formerly Solar Advisor Model or SAM), currently has the ability to communicate with the OpenEI URDB over the internet. SAM can download any rate from the URDB directly into the program, thereby enabling users to conduct detailed studies on various power systems ranging in size from a small residential rooftop solar system to large utility scale installations. Other applications available at NREL, such as OpenPV and IMBY, will also utilize the URDB data.

Upcoming features include better support for entering net metering parameters, maps to summarize the data, geolocation capabilities, and hundreds of additional rates!

United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Electricity in U.S. City Average was 280.04000 Index 1982-84=100 in July of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Electricity in U.S. City Average reached a record high of 280.04000 in July of 2024 and a record low of 101.90000 in January of 1984. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Electricity in U.S. City Average - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (CBSA) (APUS35A72610) from Nov 1978 to Dec 2024 about DC, Washington, electricity, MD, energy, WV, VA, urban, retail, price, and USA.