In this section
- CalculatorBill calculatorEstimate your monthly electric bill from your kWh and your state's average price, and see what each 100 kWh you cut is worth.
- GuideIncentives in 2026The federal tax credits for home efficiency, solar, EVs and EV chargers have ended. What's left: state-run HOMES and HEAR rebates, utility rebates and state programs.
- GuideTime-of-use ratesHow time-of-use (TOU) electricity plans work, who saves, and which appliances to shift: EV charging, water heating, laundry and the thermostat.
The short version
- Most expensive (August 2026): Hawaii at 47.2¢, then Maine, Massachusetts, California, Alaska, New York and Rhode Island, all above 28¢.
- Cheapest: Nevada, Louisiana, Utah, North Dakota and Idaho, all under 13.4¢.
- Biggest bills don’t always track price. Louisiana uses the most electricity per home, more than twice as much as Hawaii or California, because of air conditioning and electric heat, so cheap power can still mean a large bill.
Summer prices run higher than the yearly average in many states, because several utilities charge more per kWh in peak months.
What a kWh buys
| Thing | Energy | At 18.16¢ |
|---|---|---|
| Space heater on high for an hour | 1.5 kWh | 27¢ |
| Charging an EV 100 miles | about 32 kWh | $5.81 |
| Running a modern fridge for a day | about 1.4 kWh | 25¢ |
| An LED bulb for 100 hours | 0.9 kWh | 16¢ |
Every state
| State | Price, Aug 2026 | Avg use, 2024 | Bill at today’s price | Plug-in solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 47.2¢/kWh | 495 kWh/mo | $234/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Maine | 32.1¢/kWh | 550 kWh/mo | $177/mo | Legal now |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢/kWh | 570 kWh/mo | $174/mo | Bill moving |
| California | 29.8¢/kWh | 503 kWh/mo | $150/mo | Legal from Jan 1, 2027 |
| Alaska | 29.4¢/kWh | 578 kWh/mo | $170/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| New York | 28.6¢/kWh | 571 kWh/mo | $164/mo | Passed, awaiting governor |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢/kWh | 567 kWh/mo | $160/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢/kWh | 619 kWh/mo | $171/mo | Legal from Jan 1, 2027 |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢/kWh | 639 kWh/mo | $166/mo | Bill moving |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢/kWh | 662 kWh/mo | $163/mo | Legal from Mar 1, 2027 |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢/kWh | 695 kWh/mo | $170/mo | Legal now |
| Vermont | 23.8¢/kWh | 574 kWh/mo | $137/mo | Legal now |
| Michigan | 23.0¢/kWh | 618 kWh/mo | $142/mo | Bill moving |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢/kWh | 817 kWh/mo | $178/mo | Bill moving |
| Maryland | 21.4¢/kWh | 929 kWh/mo | $199/mo | Legal now |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢/kWh | 645 kWh/mo | $125/mo | No bill yet |
| Ohio | 19.4¢/kWh | 846 kWh/mo | $164/mo | Bill moving |
| Illinois | 19.3¢/kWh | 693 kWh/mo | $134/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Delaware | 18.7¢/kWh | 911 kWh/mo | $170/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢/kWh | 1,032 kWh/mo | $182/mo | Legal from Jan 1, 2027 |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢/kWh | 712 kWh/mo | $122/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢/kWh | 674 kWh/mo | $116/mo | Legal now |
| Iowa | 17.1¢/kWh | 832 kWh/mo | $142/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Indiana | 17.0¢/kWh | 901 kWh/mo | $153/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢/kWh | 654 kWh/mo | $108/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Alabama | 16.3¢/kWh | 1,143 kWh/mo | $187/mo | No bill yet |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢/kWh | 1,027 kWh/mo | $168/mo | No bill yet |
| Missouri | 16.0¢/kWh | 1,001 kWh/mo | $160/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Oregon | 15.9¢/kWh | 882 kWh/mo | $140/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Texas | 15.9¢/kWh | 1,096 kWh/mo | $174/mo | No bill yet |
| Georgia | 15.9¢/kWh | 1,074 kWh/mo | $171/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢/kWh | 1,050 kWh/mo | $165/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Montana | 15.6¢/kWh | 852 kWh/mo | $133/mo | No bill yet |
| Kansas | 15.5¢/kWh | 876 kWh/mo | $136/mo | No bill yet |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢/kWh | 994 kWh/mo | $151/mo | No bill yet |
| Arizona | 15.1¢/kWh | 1,075 kWh/mo | $162/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Florida | 15.0¢/kWh | 1,104 kWh/mo | $165/mo | No bill yet |
| North Carolina | 14.9¢/kWh | 1,015 kWh/mo | $152/mo | Bill moving |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢/kWh | 1,079 kWh/mo | $160/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Washington | 14.6¢/kWh | 955 kWh/mo | $140/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢/kWh | 1,156 kWh/mo | $167/mo | No bill yet |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢/kWh | 863 kWh/mo | $125/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢/kWh | 1,048 kWh/mo | $151/mo | No bill yet |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢/kWh | 1,047 kWh/mo | $144/mo | No bill yet |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢/kWh | 956 kWh/mo | $129/mo | No bill yet |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢/kWh | 1,154 kWh/mo | $155/mo | No bill yet |
| Idaho | 13.4¢/kWh | 944 kWh/mo | $126/mo | Bill stalled until 2027 |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢/kWh | 1,029 kWh/mo | $137/mo | No bill yet |
| Utah | 13.3¢/kWh | 774 kWh/mo | $103/mo | Legal now |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢/kWh | 1,202 kWh/mo | $155/mo | No bill yet |
| Nevada | 12.7¢/kWh | 930 kWh/mo | $118/mo | No bill yet |
Prices: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, August 2026 (preliminary). Use: EIA 2024 average monthly consumption per residential customer. The bill column multiplies the two, so it's an estimate, and summer prices run higher than the yearly average in many states.
Lower your rate, not just your use
- Time-of-use plans charge less at night and more in late afternoon. If you can shift EV charging, laundry and the water heater, they can cut your bill without using less. How they work.
- Retail choice. In states with deregulated electricity, including Texas and parts of the Northeast and Midwest, you can pick your supplier. Read the contract for variable rates and cancellation fees.
- Budget billing smooths payments but doesn’t lower the total.