Average Electric Bill by State: What 900 kWh Costs

Why your real bill is different

The table is a fair way to compare states, but it is not your bill. Here is why your number may be higher or lower.

Fixed fees

EIA calculates the average price by dividing utility revenue, including taxes and fees, by kWh sold. Your own bill lists fixed monthly fees separately from per-kWh charges, so your all-in cost per kWh depends on how much you use. Check your bill to see what your utility charges.

How much you use

Your bill grows with your use. Heating, cooling, a pool pump, or charging an electric car can push you well past 900 kWh. A smaller home or mild weather can keep you under it.

Your utility and your plan

The state price is an average across many utilities. Your own utility may charge more or less. Some utilities also offer time-of-day plans. The EIA explains: "Some utilities offer their customers time-of-day pricing to encourage electricity conservation and to reduce peak demand for electricity." On those plans, when you use power matters, not just how much.

The month you look at

These examples use July prices. The EIA notes that "Extreme temperatures can increase demand for heating and cooling, and the resulting increases in electricity demand can increase fuel and electricity prices." Your use also changes with the seasons, so one month is only a snapshot.

Why prices differ so much between states

The gap between the cheapest and the most expensive state is large. According to the EIA, "Electricity prices vary by locality based on the availability of power plants and fuels, local fuel costs, and pricing regulations."

Hawaii is the clearest example. The EIA says "Prices in Hawaii are high relative to other states mainly because most of its electricity is generated with petroleum fuels that must be imported into the state." Prices also include the cost of the grid. The EIA notes that "Electricity prices generally reflect the cost to build, finance, maintain, and operate power plants and the electricity grid."

Prices also move over time. Between July 2025 and July 2026, the EIA average residential price rose in most states. It rose 22% in Hawaii, 16.7% in New Hampshire and 15.8% in Maine. A few states saw drops, including Connecticut at -12.5% and Louisiana at -3%.

How to estimate your own bill

You can make a better estimate in three steps:

1. Find your monthly kWh use on your bill or your utility's online account. A year of bills is best, because use changes with the seasons.
2. Find your price per kWh. Your bill may show more than one charge per kWh, such as supply and delivery. Add them up, or use your state's average from the table as a rough guide.
3. Multiply your kWh by your price, then add your fixed monthly fees.

If you are thinking about rooftop solar, your current bill is the starting point. Our solar calculator uses your state's price to show what a system could save. Results depend on your roof, your utility's rules for solar credits, and your installer's quote. Our methodology page explains how we do the math. Rules for solar credits, such as net metering (getting credit for power your panels send to the grid), vary by state and utility. The DSIRE database lists current programs. Also note that the 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

Bottom line

At July 2026 average prices, 900 kWh of electricity costs about $114 a month in Louisiana and about $432 in Hawaii, with every other state in between. California ($302), Maine ($292) and Massachusetts ($274) are among the highest. Louisiana ($114), Nevada ($115) and Utah ($118) are among the lowest. Treat these as examples. Your real bill depends on your utility's fixed fees and rates, your use and your plan. For a closer look at your state, open its page from the table or see all state electricity prices.