Average Electric Bill

Monthly reports / August 2026

Monthly report · residential electricity

Electricity prices in August 2026

Published October 28, 2026 · Updated October 28, 2026 · Data: U.S. Energy Information Administration

The average U.S. home paid 18.2¢ per kWh in August 2026, +3.4% compared with August 2025. Rates rose in 44 of 50 states and D.C. The biggest jump was in Hawaii (+22.5%), while Connecticut fell the most (-18.8%).

U.S. average rate

18.2¢/kWh

+3.4% vs Aug 2025

Average bill

$209/mo

+11.2% vs Aug 2025

Average use

1,152kWh

Per household, August 2026

States with higher rates

44of 51

Including D.C.

Biggest rate increases from a year earlier

Hawaii+22.5%
Maine+14.1%
New Hampshire+13.1%
District of Columbia+12.1%
Virginia+11.3%
Delaware+11.0%
Michigan+10.9%
Idaho+10.7%
Ohio+10.4%
Iowa+10.2%

Where rates fell

Connecticut-18.8%
California-3.8%
Utah-2.3%
Florida-2.2%
New Jersey-0.4%

Most expensive

Hawaii47.2¢
Maine32.1¢
Massachusetts30.5¢
California29.8¢
Alaska29.4¢

Cheapest

Nevada12.7¢
Louisiana12.9¢
North Dakota13.3¢
Utah13.3¢
Idaho13.4¢

Highest average bills in August 2026

Arizona$269
Hawaii$269
Texas$266
Alabama$254
Oklahoma$251

Average bill = residential revenue ÷ customers for the month. High bills come from heavy use as well as high rates.

All states, August 2026

StateRatevs Aug 2025Avg billAvg use
Alabama16.3¢+0.4%$2541,555 kWh
Alaska29.4¢+5.8%$139473 kWh
Arizona15.1¢-0.3%$2691,789 kWh
Arkansas14.4¢+7.8%$2171,510 kWh
California29.8¢-3.8%$235789 kWh
Colorado17.2¢+5.9%$167973 kWh
Connecticut24.5¢-18.8%$204834 kWh
Delaware18.7¢+11.0%$2101,121 kWh
District of Columbia26.0¢+12.1%$206791 kWh
Florida15.0¢-2.2%$2171,449 kWh
Georgia15.9¢+2.3%$2341,471 kWh
Hawaii47.2¢+22.5%$269570 kWh
Idaho13.4¢+10.7%$1371,026 kWh
Illinois19.3¢+7.2%$171886 kWh
Indiana17.0¢+5.0%$1891,110 kWh
Iowa17.1¢+10.2%$149872 kWh
Kansas15.5¢+5.6%$2041,316 kWh
Kentucky13.8¢+5.3%$1881,364 kWh
Louisiana12.9¢+2.5%$2271,763 kWh
Maine32.1¢+14.1%$157489 kWh
Maryland21.4¢+7.6%$2331,091 kWh
Massachusetts30.5¢-0.2%$236774 kWh
Michigan23.0¢+10.9%$172750 kWh
Minnesota17.2¢+1.8%$145844 kWh
Mississippi14.4¢+6.0%$2391,655 kWh
Missouri16.0¢+4.6%$2161,348 kWh
Montana15.6¢+9.0%$122784 kWh
Nebraska13.5¢+5.8%$1551,144 kWh
Nevada12.7¢+1.4%$2071,631 kWh
New Hampshire27.6¢+13.1%$202730 kWh
New Jersey24.6¢-0.4%$236960 kWh
New Mexico16.5¢+3.3%$162983 kWh
New York28.6¢+7.5%$212742 kWh
North Carolina14.9¢+2.5%$1961,310 kWh
North Dakota13.3¢+2.6%$130979 kWh
Ohio19.4¢+10.4%$1991,029 kWh
Oklahoma14.8¢+2.8%$2511,696 kWh
Oregon15.9¢+0.4%$135847 kWh
Pennsylvania21.8¢+9.2%$198911 kWh
Rhode Island28.2¢+6.2%$176625 kWh
South Carolina15.8¢+4.0%$2261,436 kWh
South Dakota15.2¢+9.0%$1601,057 kWh
Tennessee13.4¢+2.5%$2061,532 kWh
Texas15.9¢+3.3%$2661,670 kWh
Utah13.3¢-2.3%$1641,230 kWh
Vermont23.8¢+7.9%$142596 kWh
Virginia17.6¢+11.3%$2201,246 kWh
Washington14.6¢+7.2%$120819 kWh
West Virginia16.3¢+4.4%$1741,069 kWh
Wisconsin19.4¢+5.3%$148761 kWh
Wyoming14.4¢+0.7%$119821 kWh

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, monthly retail sales (Form EIA-861M). The latest months are preliminary and are revised when annual data is final. Monthly rates swing with the season, so compare a month with the same month a year earlier.

Common questions

How much did electricity prices go up in August 2026?
The U.S. average residential electricity rate was 18.2¢ per kWh in August 2026, +3.4% compared with August 2025. Rates rose in 44 of 50 states and D.C. and fell in 7. The largest increase was in Hawaii (+22.5%). Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Which state had the most expensive electricity in August 2026?
Hawaii had the highest average residential rate at 47.2¢ per kWh, followed by Maine and Massachusetts. The cheapest was Nevada at 12.7¢.
What was the average electric bill in August 2026?
The average U.S. household paid about $209 for electricity in August 2026, using 1,152 kWh, +11.2% compared with August 2025. The highest average bill was in Arizona ($269).

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