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.

In 2023, Hawaiian residents paid around 113.17 U.S. dollars per million British thermal unit for electricity, by far the highest price in the country. This was significantly more than electricity prices in California that year, which was the second most expensive U.S. state for electricity purchases. Electricity prices across economic sectors in the U.S. Residential customers in the U.S. paid the highest electricity prices compared to the other economic sectors. This commodity price in the state of Hawaii was over 25 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour above the national average of 17 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour. By comparison, the price of electricity for the industrial and the commercial sectors was considerably lower. Electricity sources in the U.S. In 2023, most of the electricity generated in the U.S. came from natural gas, with the country being a leading global producer. Due to its autonomous power sector, the U.S. experienced a relatively smaller impact on electricity prices from the 2022 energy crisis compared to other nations, particularly those in Europe. By comparison, Hawaii’s high electricity prices are a consequence of the island state’s reliance on imported oil for its power generation.

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.

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 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.

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.

United States EIA Forecast: Electricity Price: Retail: Residential Sector data was reported at 13.027 0.01 USD/kWh in Dec 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.488 0.01 USD/kWh for Nov 2019. United States EIA Forecast: Electricity Price: Retail: Residential Sector data is updated monthly, averaging 13.050 0.01 USD/kWh from Mar 2016 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 46 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.716 0.01 USD/kWh in Sep 2019 and a record low of 12.002 0.01 USD/kWh in Jan 2017. United States EIA Forecast: Electricity Price: Retail: Residential Sector data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.P003: Energy Price: Forecast: Energy Information Administration.

This dataset, compiled by NREL using data from ABB, the Velocity Suite and the U.S. Energy Information Administration dataset 861, 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.

In March 2024, industrial electricity prices in the European countries of Poland, Italy, and the United Kingdom were among the highest in the world, at over 0.40 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 0.1 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.

United States Consumer Price: Average: MW: Electricity data was reported at 0.162 USD/kWh in Jan 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.156 USD/kWh for Dec 2024. United States Consumer Price: Average: MW: Electricity data is updated monthly, averaging 0.088 USD/kWh from Nov 1978 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 554 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.167 USD/kWh in Aug 2024 and a record low of 0.047 USD/kWh in Feb 1979. United States Consumer Price: Average: MW: Electricity data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.P001: Consumer Price.

NREL has assembled a list of U.S. retail electricity tariffs and their associated demand charge rates for the Commercial and Industrial sectors. The data was obtained from the Utility Rate Database. Keep the following information in mind when interpreting the data: (1) These data were interpreted and transcribed manually from utility tariff sheets, which are often complex. It is a certainty that these data contain errors, and therefore should only be used as a reference. Actual utility tariff sheets should be consulted if an action requires this type of data. (2) These data only contains tariffs that were entered into the Utility Rate Database. Since not all tariffs are designed in a format that can be entered into the Database, this list is incomplete - it does not contain all tariffs in the United States. (3) These data may have changed since this list was developed (4) Many of the underlying tariffs have additional restrictions or requirements that are not represented here. For example, they may only be available to the agricultural sector or closed to new customers. (5) If there are multiple demand charge elements in a given tariff, the maximum demand charge is the sum of each of the elements at any point in time. Where tiers were present, the highest rate tier was assumed. The value is a maximum for the year, and may be significantly different from demand charge rates at other times in the year. Utility Rate Database: https://openei.org/wiki/Utility_Rate_Database

In 2022, industrial electricity prices were highest in the state of Hawaii, located offshore the Pacific coast of the United States. In Hawaii, electricity prices for industries amounted to 36.71 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour that year. Alaska, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts followed with roughly 18 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour each. Hawaii accounted for the highest residential electricity price in the U.S., as well.

United States Consumer Price: Average: WU: Electricity per 500 Kwh data was reported at 66.717 USD in Jun 2013. This records an increase from the previous number of 66.475 USD for May 2013. United States Consumer Price: Average: WU: Electricity per 500 Kwh data is updated monthly, averaging 46.700 USD from Nov 1978 (Median) to Jun 2013, with 415 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.717 USD in Jun 2013 and a record low of 19.570 USD in Nov 1978. United States Consumer Price: Average: WU: Electricity per 500 Kwh data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.P001: Consumer Price.

As of March 2024, Australia had the highest electricity price for households in the Asia-Pacific region, at about 0.26 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Singapore had the second-highest electricity price, with households paying around 0.24 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour.

United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Electricity in Northeast - Size Class B/C was 162.28500 Index Dec 1997=100 in July of 2021, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Electricity in Northeast - Size Class B/C reached a record high of 162.28500 in July of 2021 and a record low of 96.10000 in July of 1999. 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 Northeast - Size Class B/C - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

As of December 2023, Guatemala had the highest household electricity price among Latin American countries, with an average of 0.3 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Argentina reported the lowest rate among the countries displayed, at less than 0.05 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Electricity prices across the American continent Electricity prices vary considerably across the American continent. The Caribbean country of Jamaica accounted for the highest household electricity price on the continent, after Guatemala and Uruguay, at 0.25 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. In comparison, the residential electricity price in the United States amounted to approximately 0.16 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, like in Brazil. Global electricity prices With the energy crisis of 2022, global electricity prices boomed to unprecedented values in most countries worldwide. The wildest price spikes occurred in countries that heavily rely on fossil fuels and energy imports, like the European countries. In some cases, price caps set by governmental institutions kept domestic electricity prices under a certain threshold, such as in Brazil.

During summer 2024, New England is forecast to have the highest average residential retail electricity price in the United States, at 25.6 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour. In contrast, the average U.S. residential retail electricity price during summer 2024 is forecast to be 16 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour.

In 2022, generation was the largest component of the average electricity price in the United States, accounting for almost 62 percent. Distribution contributed with approximately one fourth of the price, while transmission had the lowest share. That year, the retail electricity price in the U.S. averaged 12.49 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour.

In 2022, commercial electricity prices amounted to 40.59 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hour in the United States' state of Hawaii. This was by far the highest electricity price in the country, followed by California with over 20 U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt-hours. The state of Hawaii accounted for the highest residential and industrial electricity price in the U.S., as well.

Alaska, Hawaii, and Connecticut were the states with the highest average monthly utility costs in the United States in 2023. Residents paid about 133.89 U.S. dollars for their electricity bills in Hawaii, while the average monthly bill for natural gas came to 164 U.S. dollars. This was significantly higher than in any other state. Bigger homes have higher utility costs Despite regional variations, single-family homes in the United States have grown bigger in size since 1975. This trend also means that, unless homeowners invest in energy savings measures, they will have to pay more for their utility costs. Which are the most affordable states to live in? According to the cost of living index, the three most affordable states to live in are Mississippi, Kansas, and Oklahoma. At the other end of the scale are Hawaii, District of Columbia, and New York. The index is based on housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services. To buy a median priced home in Kansas City, a prospective home buyer will have to earn an annual salary of about 76,000 U.S. dollars.