Cheapest electricity
Lowest residential rates
- #1Washington10.15¢/kWh | $98/mo
- #2Utah10.85¢/kWh | $92/mo
- #3Idaho10.92¢/kWh | $102/mo
- #4Wyoming11.12¢/kWh | $102/mo
- #5North Dakota11.65¢/kWh | $118/mo
Utility Costs by State 2026
Electricity, natural gas, and water bills for all 50 states. The variation is dramatic: Hawaii households pay nearly double the national utility cost. Pacific Northwest hydropower states pay the least.
All 50 states
Utility costs by state
| State | Utilities index | Electric bill | Electric rate | Gas bill | Water bill | Total / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 70.4 | $102 | 10.92¢/kWh | $58 | $42 | $202 |
| Louisiana | 71.5 | $135 | 11.92¢/kWh | $62 | $38 | $235 |
| Tennessee | 72.1 | $138 | 12.52¢/kWh | $68 | $40 | $246 |
| Montana | 72.3 | $98 | 11.85¢/kWh | $72 | $42 | $212 |
| North Dakota | 73.7 | $118 | 11.65¢/kWh | $88 | $38 | $244 |
| Oklahoma | 73.9 | $135 | 12.10¢/kWh | $72 | $38 | $245 |
| Arkansas | 74.7 | $130 | 12.36¢/kWh | $72 | $38 | $240 |
| Kentucky | 75.3 | $142 | 12.25¢/kWh | $85 | $38 | $265 |
| Nebraska | 75.6 | $118 | 12.38¢/kWh | $78 | $42 | $238 |
| New Mexico | 77.9 | $108 | 14.12¢/kWh | $62 | $42 | $212 |
| Mississippi | 78.4 | $145 | 12.48¢/kWh | $65 | $35 | $245 |
| Wyoming | 78.4 | $102 | 11.12¢/kWh | $72 | $38 | $212 |
| Utah | 78.7 | $92 | 10.85¢/kWh | $62 | $40 | $194 |
| Missouri | 79.4 | $128 | 13.12¢/kWh | $78 | $40 | $246 |
| South Dakota | 79.7 | $128 | 13.15¢/kWh | $82 | $40 | $250 |
| Iowa | 83.3 | $125 | 14.02¢/kWh | $82 | $40 | $247 |
| Alabama | 84.6 | $166 | 14.45¢/kWh | $85 | $42 | $293 |
| Colorado | 85.0 | $108 | 14.56¢/kWh | $68 | $48 | $224 |
| Illinois | 85.0 | $118 | 14.72¢/kWh | $82 | $45 | $245 |
| Indiana | 85.5 | $138 | 14.18¢/kWh | $78 | $38 | $254 |
| Texas | 87.5 | $148 | 13.45¢/kWh | $58 | $45 | $251 |
| South Carolina | 88.3 | $158 | 14.35¢/kWh | $68 | $42 | $268 |
| Kansas | 88.4 | $132 | 14.15¢/kWh | $78 | $42 | $252 |
| North Carolina | 88.6 | $132 | 12.58¢/kWh | $72 | $42 | $246 |
| Wisconsin | 89.9 | $118 | 15.42¢/kWh | $88 | $45 | $251 |
| Florida | 90.1 | $155 | 14.32¢/kWh | $42 | $52 | $249 |
| Nevada | 90.5 | $125 | 12.65¢/kWh | $52 | $45 | $222 |
| Minnesota | 90.8 | $118 | 14.50¢/kWh | $92 | $45 | $255 |
| Virginia | 92.2 | $138 | 13.52¢/kWh | $78 | $48 | $264 |
| West Virginia | 92.2 | $142 | 12.82¢/kWh | $78 | $35 | $255 |
| Arizona | 92.3 | $148 | 13.62¢/kWh | $68 | $52 | $268 |
| Georgia | 92.8 | $142 | 13.25¢/kWh | $68 | $45 | $255 |
| Washington | 92.9 | $98 | 10.15¢/kWh | $62 | $52 | $212 |
| Ohio | 95.8 | $132 | 14.55¢/kWh | $88 | $42 | $262 |
| Michigan | 100.2 | $135 | 17.82¢/kWh | $95 | $48 | $278 |
| Delaware | 103.8 | $135 | 14.08¢/kWh | $82 | $48 | $265 |
| Oregon | 107.0 | $108 | 11.85¢/kWh | $62 | $52 | $222 |
| Pennsylvania | 109.3 | $148 | 16.85¢/kWh | $92 | $52 | $292 |
| Maryland | 110.9 | $152 | 15.25¢/kWh | $88 | $58 | $298 |
| New Jersey | 114.2 | $148 | 17.52¢/kWh | $92 | $62 | $302 |
| Alaska | 119.0 | $194 | 24.21¢/kWh | $112 | $68 | $374 |
| Vermont | 125.8 | $135 | 20.25¢/kWh | $118 | $55 | $308 |
| New Hampshire | 133.7 | $155 | 22.45¢/kWh | $105 | $55 | $315 |
| New York | 134.4 | $142 | 20.62¢/kWh | $98 | $62 | $302 |
| Maine | 135.2 | $145 | 21.85¢/kWh | $115 | $55 | $315 |
| Connecticut | 146.5 | $198 | 25.63¢/kWh | $108 | $62 | $368 |
| Rhode Island | 146.7 | $168 | 24.12¢/kWh | $108 | $58 | $334 |
| Massachusetts | 152.1 | $185 | 28.58¢/kWh | $118 | $65 | $368 |
| California | 158.9 | $178 | 27.10¢/kWh | $62 | $72 | $312 |
| Hawaii | 190.2 | $248 | 42.10¢/kWh | $45 | $85 | $378 |
Sources: EIA monthly average residential electricity, AGA gas data, US EPA water and sewer surveys.
Most expensive electricity
Highest residential rates
- #1Hawaii42.10¢/kWh | $248/mo
- #2Massachusetts28.58¢/kWh | $185/mo
- #3California27.10¢/kWh | $178/mo
- #4Connecticut25.63¢/kWh | $198/mo
- #5Alaska24.21¢/kWh | $194/mo
Frequently Asked
Utility costs, answered
Why is Hawaii's electricity so expensive?
Hawaii imports nearly all of its energy fuel - mostly oil for power generation - and the islands' separate grids prevent wholesale electricity trading. Average residential rate is around 42 cents per kWh, more than 2.5x the US average. The islands are pivoting hard to solar and storage, but residential bills still average $248/month against a national average around $135.
What's the cheapest state for utilities?
Idaho on the BEA services utilities parity, 70.4 against a US reading of 98.4. Pacific Northwest hydropower keeps Washington and Oregon's electricity rates around 10-12 cents per kWh, the lowest in the country. The Mountain West (Idaho, Utah, Wyoming) also benefits from low industrial rates and renewables.
Do northern states actually pay more for utilities?
Net of climate, yes - but it's offset by lower air-conditioning costs in summer. Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut have the highest combined heating + electricity bills in the country. Florida, Arizona, and Texas have higher cooling costs but lower heating; their net utility bills end up close to the national average.
How much do utilities cost per month?
The average US household pays around $135 for electricity, $80 for natural gas (in winter months), $50 for water and sewer, plus $60-100 for internet. That's $325-365/month total. Hawaii households pay closer to $475/month. West Virginia and Idaho average closer to $260/month.
Does renewable energy lower consumer prices?
Sometimes. States with high wind penetration (Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma) have wholesale prices that have dropped, but residential rates are insulated by transmission and distribution costs. California and New York have the highest renewable mandates AND high consumer prices - because grid investment is being recovered through rates. Texas, paradoxically, has the cheapest wind power AND high consumer rates because of grid distress events.