Rates by state / Tennessee
Residential electricity · updated July 2026
Average electric bill in Tennessee
The average Tennessee home paid 13.6¢ per kWh and about $163 a month over the 12 months to July 2026, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That rate is 25% below the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 44th highest of 50 states and D.C.
Average rate
13.6¢/kWh
12 months to Jul 2026. Latest month 13.7¢.
Average bill
$163/mo
Average use × average rate
Average use
1,198kWh/mo
Per residential customer
1-year change
+4.2%
5 years: +25.5%
Tennessee electric bills by month
What the average residential customer actually paid each month: total residential revenue ÷ customers. Source: EIA.
| Month | Avg use | Avg rate | Avg bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 1,494 kWh | 13.7¢ | $205 |
| June 2026 | 1,196 kWh | 14.1¢ | $168 |
| May 2026 | 896 kWh | 14.5¢ | $130 |
| April 2026 | 917 kWh | 14.9¢ | $137 |
| March 2026 | 986 kWh | 15.1¢ | $149 |
| February 2026 | 1,602 kWh | 12.8¢ | $205 |
| January 2026 | 1,370 kWh | 13.1¢ | $179 |
| December 2025 | 1,256 kWh | 12.9¢ | $162 |
| November 2025 | 894 kWh | 13.5¢ | $120 |
| October 2025 | 989 kWh | 13.1¢ | $129 |
| September 2025 | 1,213 kWh | 13.3¢ | $161 |
| August 2025 | 1,569 kWh | 13.0¢ | $204 |
Typical bill by home size in Tennessee
Monthly use of typical homes, all household sizes, priced at Tennessee's average rate of 13.6¢. Source: EIA RECS 2020 and EIA retail sales.
| Home size | Typical use | Most homes | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | 500 kWh | 310–796 kWh | $68 |
| 1,000–1,499 sq ft | 770 kWh | 536–1,086 kWh | $104 |
| 1,500–1,999 sq ft | 932 kWh | 650–1,311 kWh | $126 |
| 2,000–2,999 sq ft | 1,117 kWh | 813–1,552 kWh | $151 |
| 3,000+ sq ft | 1,398 kWh | 1,014–1,931 kWh | $190 |
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 Tennessee homes
Average yearly use by purpose for Tennessee homes, priced at 13.6¢ per kWh. Source: EIA RECS 2020 (505 surveyed homes).
UsekWh / yr≈ $ / mo
Air conditioning2,833 (20%)$32
Space heating2,749 (19%)$31
Water heating2,344 (16%)$26
Everything else plugged in1,917 (13%)$22
Refrigerators and freezers1,081 (8%)$12
Lighting801 (6%)$9
Washer and dryer722 (5%)$8
TVs and electronics626 (4%)$7
Cooking and dishwasher458 (3%)$5
Fans and dehumidifiers417 (3%)$5
Pool and hot tub252 (2%)$3
EV charging20 (0%)$0
- 60% of Tennessee homes heat mainly with electricity. They use about 15,173 kWh a year, against 12,763 kWh in homes heated another way.
Monthly rate, last 5 years
Monthly prices swing with the season because fixed charges are spread over fewer or more kWh.
How much electricity Tennessee homes use
Electricity rates by utility in Tennessee
Average residential revenue per kWh in 2025, largest 25 of 87 by customers. Source: EIA-861.
| Utility | Customers | Rate | Avg use / mo | 1-yr change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville Electric Service | 424,808 | 14.0¢ | 1,040 kWh | +4.2% |
| City of Memphis - (TN) | 385,015 | 13.2¢ | 1,142 kWh | +8.9% |
| Middle Tennessee E M C | 311,520 | 12.5¢ | 1,295 kWh | +6.0% |
| Knoxville Utilities Board | 196,674 | 13.8¢ | 1,109 kWh | +10.3% |
| City of Chattanooga - (TN) | 164,914 | 12.9¢ | 1,121 kWh | +4.6% |
| Volunteer Electric Coop | 105,248 | 13.1¢ | 1,210 kWh | +7.3% |
| Cumberland Elec Member Corp | 101,734 | 13.8¢ | 1,437 kWh | +5.9% |
| City of Clarksville - (TN) | 77,509 | 13.7¢ | 1,166 kWh | +7.0% |
| Johnson City - (TN) | 72,729 | 13.2¢ | 1,184 kWh | +6.5% |
| Duck River Elec Member Corp | 71,969 | 13.6¢ | 1,381 kWh | +8.7% |
| City of Lenoir - (TN) | 63,379 | 12.8¢ | 1,240 kWh | +7.3% |
| Upper Cumberland E M C | 45,862 | 13.7¢ | 1,225 kWh | +7.4% |
| Appalachian Electric Coop | 44,280 | 13.6¢ | 1,263 kWh | +5.0% |
| Southwest Tennessee E M C | 43,847 | 13.7¢ | 1,322 kWh | +6.4% |
| Kingsport Power Co | 43,364 | 12.3¢ | 1,290 kWh | -4.4% |
| Sevier County Electric System | 36,001 | 12.1¢ | 1,174 kWh | +6.4% |
| Sequachee Valley Electric Coop | 33,315 | 13.8¢ | 1,166 kWh | +6.2% |
| City of Greeneville - (TN) | 32,686 | 12.7¢ | 1,244 kWh | +6.6% |
| City of Jackson - (TN) | 32,264 | 12.6¢ | 1,089 kWh | +5.0% |
| Columbia Power System - (TN) | 32,032 | 12.7¢ | 1,110 kWh | +6.1% |
| City of Dickson | 31,000 | 13.0¢ | 1,268 kWh | +11.6% |
| Fort Loudoun Electric Coop | 30,743 | 12.8¢ | 1,368 kWh | +5.9% |
| Meriwether Lewis Electric Coop | 30,485 | 14.2¢ | 1,211 kWh | +4.1% |
| City of Bristol - (TN) | 30,081 | 11.5¢ | 1,296 kWh | +6.8% |
| Caney Fork Electric Coop, Inc | 29,863 | 13.6¢ | 1,194 kWh | +5.5% |
All 87 utilities in Tennessee
- City of Cleveland - (TN) 13.3¢
- Gibson Electric Members Corp 13.7¢
- City of Alcoa Utilities 13.0¢
- City of Clinton - (TN) 13.7¢
- Holston Electric Coop, Inc 14.0¢
- Tri-County Elec Member Corp (TN) 12.9¢
- City of Gallatin - (TN) 12.8¢
- City of Elizabethton - (TN) 12.3¢
- Powell Valley Electric Coop 12.2¢
- City of LaFollette 14.3¢
- City of Newport - (TN) 15.1¢
- Chickasaw Electric Coop, Inc 11.8¢
- Maryville Utilities 12.1¢
- City of Lawrenceburg 13.0¢
- City of Lexington - (TN) 12.8¢
- Tennessee Valley Electric Coop 13.0¢
- City of Fayetteville 12.5¢
- Pickwick Electric Coop 13.4¢
- City of Paris - (TN) 12.3¢
- City of Cookeville - (TN) 11.8¢
- City of Oak Ridge 13.4¢
- Weakley County Mun Elec Sys 12.3¢
- Plateau Electric Cooperative 14.0¢
- City of Morristown - (TN) 13.4¢
- Loudon Utilities Board 12.2¢
- City of Pulaski - (TN) 14.1¢
- Mountain Electric Coop, Inc 13.1¢
- Carroll County - (TN) 12.7¢
- City of Rockwood - (TN) 13.3¢
- Athens Utility Board 12.4¢
- City of Shelbyville - (TN) 11.9¢
- City of Dyersburg 11.7¢
- City of Harriman - (TN) 14.0¢
- Tullahoma Board-Public Utils 11.7¢
- City of Dayton - (TN) 12.6¢
- Bolivar Energy Authority 14.2¢
- Benton County 15.1¢
- Forked Deer Electric Coop, Inc 15.0¢
- City of Springfield - (TN) 12.4¢
- Town of Erwin - (TN) 13.1¢
- City of Sweetwater 12.3¢
- City of Milan - (TN) 13.0¢
- McMinnville Electric System 13.0¢
- City of Winchester - (TN) 12.5¢
- City of Union City 11.9¢
- City of Ripley - (TN) 13.2¢
- City of Lewisburg - (TN) 11.9¢
- City of Etowah 14.2¢
- City of Brownsville 12.2¢
- City of Covington - (TN) 11.8¢
- City of Mt Pleasant - (TN) 13.7¢
- City of Humboldt 12.2¢
- Tri-State Electric Member Corp 14.9¢
- City of Smithville - (TN) 12.7¢
- City of Sparta 12.5¢
- City of Trenton - (TN) 13.6¢
- City of Jellico 14.1¢
- City of Newbern 10.9¢
- French Broad Elec Member Corp 16.4¢
- South Kentucky Rural E C C 14.0¢
- Cumberland Valley Electric, Inc. 14.7¢
- Entergy Arkansas LLC 12.9¢
Tennessee electricity: common questions
- What is the average electric bill in Tennessee?
- The average Tennessee household pays about $163 a month for electricity, based on 1,198 kWh of use at 13.6¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration data).
- How much does electricity cost per kWh in Tennessee?
- Residential electricity in Tennessee averaged 13.6¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026, and 13.7¢ in July 2026 alone. That is 25% below the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 44th 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 Tennessee?
- In the last 12 months, the average Tennessee bill peaked in February 2026 at $205 and was lowest in November 2025 at $120.
- How much electricity does a 1,500–1,999 sq ft home use in Tennessee?
- A typical Tennessee 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 $126 a month. Based on EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS 2020).
- Are electricity rates going up in Tennessee?
- Tennessee's average residential rate changed +4.2% compared with the previous 12 months and +25.5% over five years.
- What uses the most electricity in Tennessee homes?
- In a typical Tennessee home, air conditioning uses the most electricity (about 2,833 kWh a year, 20% of the total), followed by space heating (19%) and water heating (16%). Homes heated with electricity use about 15,173 kWh a year, compared with 12,763 kWh for homes heated another way. Source: EIA RECS 2020.
- How do I know if my Tennessee 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.