- The average U.S. residential electric bill was $142.26 a month in 2024, for 863 kWh at 16.48¢ per kWh, according to the EIA’s final annual data.
- Prices have kept rising: the U.S. average was 18.16¢ per kWh in August 2026.
- Bills ranged from $92.88 in New Mexico to $212.12 in Hawaii.
- Use the state tool below to compare your own bill fairly: by kWh and by price, not just dollars.
What is the average electric bill in the U.S.? Different websites quote different numbers, because they use different years, sources and methods. This guide uses the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s official table, built from what utilities report, and explains why the average electric bill varies so much by state. Then you can compare your own bill in a minute.
The Average Electric Bill, by the Numbers
The EIA’s 2024 average monthly bill table covers about 143 million residential customers. Its U.S. totals:
- Average monthly use: 863 kWh
- Average price: 16.48¢ per kWh
- Average monthly bill: $142.26
That’s the latest full year of final data. Prices have moved since. The EIA’s Electric Power Monthly shows a U.S. residential average of 18.16¢ per kWh in August 2026, compared with 17.57¢ in August 2025. At 863 kWh, today’s price would mean a bill closer to $157, before seasonal swings. Treat that as a rough update, not an official figure.
Average Electric Bill by State
Pick your state to see the official 2024 average, and add your own numbers if you like.
State figures: EIA, 2024, residential customers of utilities. They measure electricity bought from the grid, so homes with rooftop solar can look lower than their real use.
Why bills differ so much between states
A bill is use times price. Hawaii has the highest price, 42.86¢ per kWh, but the lowest use, 495 kWh, so its bill is high but not 2.6 times the national bill. Louisiana is the opposite: one of the lowest prices (11.73¢) and one of the highest uses (1,202 kWh). California has a very high price (31.97¢) and the second-lowest use (503 kWh), which keeps its average bill at $160.86.
Use depends mostly on climate (air conditioning in the South), whether homes heat with electricity or gas, and home size. Price depends on local fuel costs, grid costs and state policy.
| Highest average bills (2024) | Monthly bill | kWh/month | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $212.12 | 495 | 42.86¢ |
| Connecticut | $199.66 | 695 | 28.75¢ |
| Alabama | $173.50 | 1,143 | 15.18¢ |
| Massachusetts | $167.20 | 570 | 29.35¢ |
| Maryland | $165.87 | 929 | 17.86¢ |
| Lowest average bills (2024) | Monthly bill | kWh/month | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $92.88 | 654 | 14.20¢ |
| Utah | $94.57 | 774 | 12.22¢ |
| Colorado | $100.57 | 674 | 14.92¢ |
| Wyoming | $107.65 | 863 | 12.47¢ |
| Montana | $107.91 | 852 | 12.66¢ |
Why the Average Electric Bill Keeps Rising
Two things push bills up: prices and use. On price, the August figures above show a rise of about 3% in a year at the national level, with big differences between states. On use, hotter summers, more air conditioning, electric vehicles and electric heating all add kWh. The EIA reports that air conditioning was the single largest electricity use in homes in 2020, at 19%.
Summer bills are usually the highest of the year in most of the country, so don’t compare your July bill with a yearly average. Compare July with last July.
How to Calculate Your Own Average
- Gather your last 12 bills. Most utilities let you download them.
- Add up the dollars and divide by 12: that’s your average monthly bill.
- Add up the kWh and divide by 12: that’s your average use.
- Divide total dollars by total kWh: that’s your effective price, fees included.
Our guide on how to read your electric bill explains each line if the layout is confusing.
Is Your Bill High? Two Fair Tests
- Use test: compare your kWh with your state’s average. Far above it? Look at heating, cooling, water heating and big appliances. Our guide on why an electric bill is so high has a bill detective tool.
- Price test: compare your effective price with your state’s. Far above it? Check fees, tiers and your rate plan.
Size matters too. A family of five in a large house will use more than one person in an apartment, so an above-average bill isn’t automatically a problem.
- All state and U.S. figures from the EIA’s 2024 average monthly bill table (residential), based on utility reports on form EIA-861
- Recent prices from the EIA’s Electric Power Monthly
- The chart and the comparison tool are our own, built from those tables
Averages hide a lot of variety between utilities in the same state. No company pays to appear here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average electric bill per month in the U.S.?
$142.26 in 2024, according to the EIA’s final annual data, for 863 kWh at 16.48¢ per kWh. Prices were higher in 2026.
Which state has the highest average electric bill?
Hawaii, at $212.12 a month in 2024, followed by Connecticut ($199.66) and Alabama ($173.50).
Which state has the lowest average electric bill?
New Mexico, at $92.88 a month in 2024, followed by Utah ($94.57) and Colorado ($100.57).
Why is my bill higher than the state average?
Usually because you use more kWh: a bigger home, electric heat, more people, or an EV. Check your kWh and your effective price separately.
Our Verdict
The average electric bill in the U.S. was about $142 a month in 2024, and higher prices in 2026 push that up. But the national number tells you little about your home. Compare your kWh and your price with your own state using the tool above, and you’ll know whether you have a usage problem, a price problem, or neither.
Keep reading
- Why Is My Electric Bill So High? Find the Cause With a Bill Detective and a DIY Energy Audit: find why your bill went up.
- How to Read Your Electric Bill, Line by Line (Plus Time-of-Use Rates): every line of your bill and time-of-use rates.
- Are ENERGY STAR Appliances Worth It? Savings by Appliance and a Payback Calculator: which appliances are worth replacing.