Guide · Updated November 2026 · Data: EIA Form 861 2025 and EIA-861M

What Is the Average Electric Bill in the U.S.?

The average U.S. household paid $150.68 per month for electricity in 2025, according to EIA Form 861 data covering every electric utility in the country. That average household used 874 kWh per month and paid an average realized price of 17.23¢ per kWh.

An average, though, hides an enormous spread. The state with the lowest average residential bill, New Mexico, averaged $95 a month, while Hawaii averaged $208 - roughly double. Two things drive the gap: how much electricity a home uses (air conditioning, electric heat, home size) and the price per kWh the local utility's customers pay.

Price is only half the story

Hawaii has the highest average residential price in the country at 40.40¢ per kWh - island generation and imported fuel are expensive - yet its average bill of $208 is not the nation's highest, because mild weather keeps usage low at 515 kWh a month. The cheapest average price belongs to North Dakota at 11.82¢ per kWh, helped by large-scale hydro power. Hot, humid states often pair middling prices with the highest bills because summer air conditioning pushes usage well past 1,100 kWh a month.

How your bill is built

Your monthly bill is not simply usage times a single rate. Most utilities charge a fixed monthly customer charge (often $5-$20) that you pay even if you use nothing, an energy charge per kWh that may vary by tier or season, and a stack of riders - fuel adjustments, transmission, storm recovery, energy-efficiency programs - plus taxes. That is why this site reports each utility's average realized rate: total residential revenue divided by total residential sales. It captures what customers actually paid per kWh, all charges included. The companion guide explains the difference between an average realized rate and a tariff rate.

Check your own utility

Find your utility in the directory to see its average realized residential rate and the estimated average bill for its customers in 2025, or compare average prices and bills for all 50 states. If your bill is far above your utility's average, usage - not price - is usually the reason; see how to lower your electric bill.

Keep exploring

Electricity rates by state · Utility rankings · Utility directory · All guides