Average Electric Bill

Rates by state / District of Columbia

Residential electricity · updated July 2026

Average electric bill in District of Columbia

The average District of Columbia home paid 24.2¢ per kWh and about $153 a month over the 12 months to July 2026, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That rate is 34% above the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 10th highest of 50 states and D.C.

Average rate

24.2¢/kWh

12 months to Jul 2026. Latest month 25.2¢.

Average bill

$153/mo

Average use × average rate

Average use

630kWh/mo

Per residential customer

1-year change

+21.9%

5 years: +88.4%

District of Columbia electric bills by month

What the average residential customer actually paid each month: total residential revenue ÷ customers. Source: EIA.

MonthAvg useAvg rateAvg bill
July 2026827 kWh25.2¢$209
June 2026594 kWh24.4¢$145
May 2026502 kWh25.4¢$128
April 2026467 kWh25.4¢$119
March 2026666 kWh25.0¢$166
February 2026711 kWh24.0¢$170
January 2026793 kWh23.7¢$188
December 2025760 kWh23.9¢$182
November 2025477 kWh22.7¢$108
October 2025483 kWh23.9¢$115
September 2025547 kWh23.7¢$129
August 2025737 kWh23.2¢$171

Typical bill by home size in District of Columbia

Monthly use of typical homes, all household sizes, priced at District of Columbia's average rate of 24.2¢. Source: EIA RECS 2020 and EIA retail sales.

Home sizeTypical useMost homesTypical bill
Under 1,000 sq ft500 kWh310–796 kWh$121
1,000–1,499 sq ft770 kWh536–1,086 kWh$186
1,500–1,999 sq ft932 kWh650–1,311 kWh$226
2,000–2,999 sq ft1,117 kWh813–1,552 kWh$270
3,000+ sq ft1,398 kWh1,014–1,931 kWh$338

Summer and winter months run higher than these yearly averages. Check your own bill to compare a specific month.

What uses the most electricity in District of Columbia homes

Average yearly use by purpose for District of Columbia homes, priced at 24.2¢ per kWh. Source: EIA RECS 2020 (221 surveyed homes).

UsekWh / yr≈ $ / mo
Air conditioning1,551 (22%)$31
Everything else plugged in1,103 (16%)$22
Water heating1,048 (15%)$21
Space heating880 (13%)$18
Refrigerators and freezers678 (10%)$14
Lighting627 (9%)$13
TVs and electronics392 (6%)$8
Washer and dryer282 (4%)$6
Cooking and dishwasher264 (4%)$5
Fans and dehumidifiers162 (2%)$3
Pool and hot tub27 (0%)$1

Why is my electric bill so high?

Monthly rate, last 5 years

101520253020222023202420252026¢/kWh
District of ColumbiaU.S. average

Monthly prices swing with the season because fixed charges are spread over fewer or more kWh.

How much electricity District of Columbia homes use

4006008001,0001,20020222023202420252026kWh
kWh per home per month

Electricity rates by utility in District of Columbia

Average residential revenue per kWh in 2025, largest 25 of 31 by customers. Source: EIA-861.

UtilityCustomersRateAvg use / mo1-yr change
Potomac Electric Power Co324,76320.8¢638 kWh+25.3%
CleanChoice Energy, Inc.5,48334.4¢*574 kWh+28.4%
MPower Energy NJ LLC3,77326.7¢*565 kWh+9.6%
SmartEnergy Holdings, LLC3,37028.0¢*621 kWh+20.6%
WGL Energy Services, Inc.2,78523.7¢*602 kWh+27.1%
Palmco Power DC, LLC2,59130.9¢*437 kWh+11.6%
Constellation NewEnergy, Inc1,47920.4¢*707 kWh+16.1%
SunSea Energy, LLC1,30737.9¢*397 kWh+19.1%
Nordic Energy Services, LLC85624.1¢*458 kWh+15.6%
IDT Energy, Inc.78824.7¢*540 kWh+13.2%
Horizon Power and Light, LLC78023.0¢*535 kWh-0.8%
Inspire Energy Holdings, LLC57126.1¢*705 kWh+21.0%
XOOM Energy Washington DC, LLC56725.0¢*599 kWh+13.9%
Direct Energy Services47521.1¢*912 kWh+9.3%
Think Energy, LLC44621.0¢*1,125 kWh+27.8%
Median Energy Corp.42025.2¢*555 kWh+13.8%
Major Energy Electric Services38725.7¢*643 kWh+22.0%
Park Power LLC35425.6¢*472 kWh+2.7%
RPA Energy, Inc.34130.1¢*506 kWh-3.5%
Reliant Energy Northeast LLC30925.2¢*639 kWh+14.3%
Titan Gas LLC28524.4¢*643 kWh+3.0%
Clearview Electric Inc.27328.8¢*634 kWh+4.2%
Atlantic Energy LLC26735.3¢*459 kWh+19.1%
Ambit Energy Holdings, LLC20922.7¢*611 kWh+12.2%
Stream Energy Columbia, LLC17325.2¢*604 kWh+12.9%

* Energy supplier: rate adds the state's average delivery charge, so it's an estimate.

All 31 utilities in District of Columbia

District of Columbia electricity: common questions

What is the average electric bill in District of Columbia?
The average District of Columbia household pays about $153 a month for electricity, based on 630 kWh of use at 24.2¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration data).
How much does electricity cost per kWh in District of Columbia?
Residential electricity in District of Columbia averaged 24.2¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026, and 25.2¢ in July 2026 alone. That is 34% above the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 10th highest of the 50 states and D.C. These averages spread fixed service charges and surcharges over each kWh. Sales taxes added to bills may not be included.
When are electric bills highest in District of Columbia?
In the last 12 months, the average District of Columbia bill peaked in July 2026 at $209 and was lowest in November 2025 at $108.
How much electricity does a 1,500–1,999 sq ft home use in District of Columbia?
A typical District of Columbia home of 1,500–1,999 square feet uses about 932 kWh a month, and most use between 650 and 1,311 kWh. At the state's average rate that is roughly $226 a month. Based on EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS 2020).
Are electricity rates going up in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia's average residential rate changed +21.9% compared with the previous 12 months and +88.4% over five years.
What uses the most electricity in District of Columbia homes?
In a typical District of Columbia home, air conditioning uses the most electricity (about 1,551 kWh a year, 22% of the total), followed by everything else plugged in (16%) and water heating (15%). Homes heated with electricity use about 7,363 kWh a year, compared with 6,783 kWh for homes heated another way. Source: EIA RECS 2020.
How do I know if my District of Columbia electric bill is too high?
Compare two things: how many kWh you used against similar homes, and what you paid per kWh against the state average. The free bill check on AverageElectricBill.com does both from the numbers on your bill, adjusting for the month and your home's size.

States with similar rates

Is your District of Columbia bill normal?

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