Many Americans dread having to pay their electricity bills, especially in the summer. Keeping the lights on, phones charged, and air conditioning running is an expensive but necessary cost. In most states, people pay over $111 a month for electricity. In some states, the average bill is less than $80, but in others it is more than $140.
With most goods or services, prices tend to increase with demand, but that is not always the case with necessities — and today electricity is a necessity. Despite this, behavior seems to be affected by price, as people tend to use more electricity in state where electricity prices are lower and less electricity in states where prices are higher. Many of the places with the highest usage are states with the lowest costs of living.
But there are a number of other components that can alter one’s electric bill. Fuel type, power plants, transmission and distribution systems, weather, and regulations can all play a major role in influencing energy prices, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on the price of electricity in cents per kilowatt hour by state, using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, to determine the states where you will pay the most in electric bills.
States can get their power from a variety of sources, like coal, hydroelectric dams, natural gas, nuclear, and petroleum. A decline in natural gas prices, for example, can then help lower electricity bills in states that use natural gas for a large share of their power source.
An electricity bill does not just include the price of power itself, but also accounts for the costs of building, maintaining, and operating power plants and the electricity grid. In some states, this is less expensive, leading to lower prices.
The electricity systems in America and their usage are heavily dependent on weather. Some states can use natural resources such as hydroelectric power and wind to power turbines. And in some states with extreme temperatures people often use increased amounts of energy to make their homes more comfortable, and this can drive up prices. Electricity is often regulated by state governments to ensure that people are not priced out of this basic necessity, especially in the states that get the hottest in the summer.
Click here to see the states where you will pay the most in electric bills.
Click here to see our methodology.
50. Washington
> Average price of electricity: 8.93 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,023 kWh per customer (17th most)
> Average monthly bill: $91.33 (9th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: hydroelectric
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49. Oregon
> Average price of electricity: 9.20 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 969 kWh per customer (21st most)
> Average monthly bill: $89.14 (7th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: hydroelectric
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48. Idaho
> Average price of electricity: 9.34 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,000 kWh per customer (18th most)
> Average monthly bill: $93.41 (16th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: hydroelectric
47. Louisiana
> Average price of electricity: 9.72 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,187 kWh per customer (the most)
> Average monthly bill: $115.35 (20th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
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46. North Dakota
> Average price of electricity: 10.06 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,063 kWh per customer (9th most)
> Average monthly bill: $106.92 (24th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
45. Arkansas
> Average price of electricity: 10.35 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,028 kWh per customer (15th most)
> Average monthly bill: $106.38 (23rd lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
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44. Utah
> Average price of electricity: 10.45 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 745 kWh per customer (17th least)
> Average monthly bill: $77.87 (2nd lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
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43. Texas
> Average price of electricity: 10.64 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,112 kWh per customer (5th most)
> Average monthly bill: $118.27 (16th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
42. Nevada
> Average price of electricity: 10.69 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 854 kWh per customer (21st least)
> Average monthly bill: $91.23 (8th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
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41. Tennessee
> Average price of electricity: 10.84 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,150 kWh per customer (2nd most)
> Average monthly bill: $124.69 (13th highest)
> Largest electricity source: nuclear
40. Montana
> Average price of electricity: 11.06 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 865 kWh per customer (25th least)
> Average monthly bill: $95.71 (17th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
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39. Kentucky
> Average price of electricity: 11.18 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,052 kWh per customer (11th most)
> Average monthly bill: $117.59 (17th highest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
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38. Mississippi
> Average price of electricity: 11.26 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,132 kWh per customer (4th most)
> Average monthly bill: $127.38 (11th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
37. Nebraska
> Average price of electricity: 11.36 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 957 kWh per customer (22nd most)
> Average monthly bill: $108.74 (25th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
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36. Oklahoma
> Average price of electricity: 11.46 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,039 kWh per customer (13th most)
> Average monthly bill: $119.14 (15th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
35. South Dakota
> Average price of electricity: 11.63 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 978 kWh per customer (20th most)
> Average monthly bill: $113.69 (23rd highest)
> Largest electricity source: hydroelectric
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34. Arizona
> Average price of electricity: 11.68 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,033 kWh per customer (14th most)
> Average monthly bill: $120.58 (14th highest)
> Largest electricity source: nuclear
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33. Missouri
> Average price of electricity: 11.69 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 994 kWh per customer (19th most)
> Average monthly bill: $116.14 (19th highest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
32. Alabama
> Average price of electricity: 11.75 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,136 kWh per customer (3rd most)
> Average monthly bill: $133.46 (5th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
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31. Virginia
> Average price of electricity: 11.83 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,078 kWh per customer (8th most)
> Average monthly bill: $127.59 (10th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
30. Florida
> Average price of electricity: 12.03 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,089 kWh per customer (6th most)
> Average monthly bill: $131.03 (6th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
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29. Iowa
> Average price of electricity: 12.07 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 831 kWh per customer (20th least)
> Average monthly bill: $100.30 (19th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
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28. Georgia
> Average price of electricity: 12.11 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,062 kWh per customer (10th most)
> Average monthly bill: $128.67 (8th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
27. Maryland
> Average price of electricity: 12.20 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 939 kWh per customer (23rd most)
> Average monthly bill: $114.54 (22nd highest)
> Largest electricity source: nuclear
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26. Minnesota
> Average price of electricity: 12.22 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 749 kWh per customer (18th least)
> Average monthly bill: $91.51 (10th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
25. North Carolina
> Average price of electricity: 12.32 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,042 kWh per customer (12th most)
> Average monthly bill: $128.41 (9th highest)
> Largest electricity source: nuclear
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24. Indiana
> Average price of electricity: 12.40 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 928 kWh per customer (24th most)
> Average monthly bill: $115.01 (21st highest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
23. Wyoming
> Average price of electricity: 12.41 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 854 kWh per customer (23rd least)
> Average monthly bill: $105.93 (22nd lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
22. West Virginia
> Average price of electricity: 12.61 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,026 kWh per customer (16th most)
> Average monthly bill: $129.39 (7th highest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
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21. Ohio
> Average price of electricity: 12.94 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 854 kWh per customer (22nd least)
> Average monthly bill: $110.42 (25th highest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
20. New York
> Average price of electricity: 13.02 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 573 kWh per customer (5th least)
> Average monthly bill: $74.68 (the lowest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
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19. Wisconsin
> Average price of electricity: 13.04 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 660 kWh per customer (13th least)
> Average monthly bill: $86.05 (3rd lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
18. Kansas
> Average price of electricity: 13.09 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 861 kWh per customer (24th least)
> Average monthly bill: $112.77 (24th highest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
17. South Carolina
> Average price of electricity: 13.31 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 1,082 kWh per customer (7th most)
> Average monthly bill: $144.00 (2nd highest)
> Largest electricity source: nuclear
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16. Pennsylvania
> Average price of electricity: 13.50 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 776 kWh per customer (19th least)
> Average monthly bill: $104.70 (21st lowest)
> Largest electricity source: nuclear
15. Colorado
> Average price of electricity: 13.55 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 678 kWh per customer (16th least)
> Average monthly bill: $91.85 (13th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
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14. Illinois
> Average price of electricity: 13.71 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 670 kWh per customer (15th least)
> Average monthly bill: $91.84 (12th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: nuclear
13. Delaware
> Average price of electricity: 13.97 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 912 kWh per customer (25th most)
> Average monthly bill: $127.36 (12th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
12. New Mexico
> Average price of electricity: 14.40 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 615 kWh per customer (10th least)
> Average monthly bill: $88.48 (6th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
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11. Michigan
> Average price of electricity: 14.64 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 633 kWh per customer (11th least)
> Average monthly bill: $92.59 (14th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: coal
10. New Jersey
> Average price of electricity: 15.16 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 642 kWh per customer (12th least)
> Average monthly bill: $97.38 (18th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
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9. Massachusetts
> Average price of electricity: 15.18 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 576 kWh per customer (6th least)
> Average monthly bill: $87.44 (4th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
8. Vermont
> Average price of electricity: 16.34 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 538 kWh per customer (2nd least)
> Average monthly bill: $87.85 (5th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: hydroelectric
7. California
> Average price of electricity: 16.40 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 560 kWh per customer (4th least)
> Average monthly bill: $91.84 (11th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
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6. Maine
> Average price of electricity: 17.11 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 543 kWh per customer (3rd least)
> Average monthly bill: $92.82 (15th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: hydroelectric
5. Connecticut
> Average price of electricity: 17.66 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 665 kWh per customer (14th least)
> Average monthly bill: $117.44 (18th highest)
> Largest electricity source: nuclear
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4. New Hampshire
> Average price of electricity: 17.67 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 585 kWh per customer (8th least)
> Average monthly bill: $103.33 (20th lowest)
> Largest electricity source: nuclear
3. Rhode Island
> Average price of electricity: 23.41 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 580 kWh per customer (7th least)
> Average monthly bill: $135.88 (4th highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
2. Alaska
> Average price of electricity: 23.55 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 601 kWh per customer (9th least)
> Average monthly bill: $141.52 (3rd highest)
> Largest electricity source: natural gas
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1. Hawaii
> Average price of electricity: 31.96 cents/kWh
> Average monthly usage: 506 kWh per customer (the least)
> Average monthly bill: $161.74 (the highest)
> Largest electricity source: petroleum
Methodology:
To determine the states where residents pay the most for electricity, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2017 annual average retail price of a kilowatt hour of electricity from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which was last updated in October of 2018. Average monthly usage, monthly electricity bills, and the largest contributing electricity source to each state’s electricity generation are from the EIA. Monthly usage and monthly bill figures are for 2017. The largest source of electricity is based on power generated in 2017.
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