Why electricity prices differ by state
Home electricity costs several times more in some states than in others. The data shows how large the gap is and how it has moved since 2015.
The gap
In 2025 Hawaii paid 40.59 cents per kWh and North Dakota 11.81, a ratio of 3.4 to 1. The U.S. average was 17.30, up 37% on 12.65 in 2015. 33 of the 51 areas (50 states and DC) rose by less than the U.S. average over those ten years.
U.S. average home price, 2015 to 2025, 2015 to 2025: 11 rows
| Year | U.S. home |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 12.65 |
| 2016 | 12.55 |
| 2017 | 12.89 |
| 2018 | 12.87 |
| 2019 | 13.01 |
| 2020 | 13.15 |
| 2021 | 13.66 |
| 2022 | 15.04 |
| 2023 | 16.00 |
| 2024 | 16.48 |
| 2025 | 17.30 |
11 rows from EIA retail sales.
CSVHighest home prices, 2025
| State | Home ¢/kWh | Business ¢/kWh | Industry ¢/kWh | Home since 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 40.59 | 36.37 | 31.46 | +37% |
| California | 32.54 | 26.36 | 21.62 | +92% |
| Massachusetts | 30.48 | 23.08 | 19.35 | +54% |
| Rhode Island | 29.46 | 23.46 | 21.74 | +53% |
| Connecticut | 29.38 | 23.11 | 18.35 | +40% |
| Maine | 27.78 | 20.96 | 15.50 | +78% |
| New York | 26.39 | 21.07 | 9.55 | +42% |
| Alaska | 26.09 | 22.32 | 20.03 | +32% |
Source: EIA retail sales, 2025; change against EIA annual 2015. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 51 rows.
Lowest home prices, 2025
| State | Home ¢/kWh | Business ¢/kWh | Industry ¢/kWh | Home since 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 11.81 | 7.40 | 7.50 | +23% |
| Idaho | 11.82 | 9.25 | 7.98 | +19% |
| Nebraska | 12.34 | 8.79 | 8.00 | +16% |
| Louisiana | 12.57 | 11.20 | 6.23 | +35% |
| Arkansas | 12.84 | 10.76 | 6.71 | +31% |
| Montana | 12.98 | 11.88 | 7.02 | +19% |
| Utah | 13.07 | 10.04 | 8.43 | +20% |
| Washington | 13.11 | 10.95 | 6.88 | +44% |
Source: EIA retail sales, 2025; change against EIA annual 2015. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 51 rows.
Fastest rises since 2015
| State | Home 2015 | Home 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 16.99 | 32.54 | +92% |
| Maine | 15.61 | 27.78 | +78% |
| District of Columbia | 12.99 | 21.94 | +69% |
| Massachusetts | 19.83 | 30.48 | +54% |
| West Virginia | 10.08 | 15.41 | +53% |
| Rhode Island | 19.29 | 29.46 | +53% |
| Washington | 9.09 | 13.11 | +44% |
| Oregon | 10.66 | 15.37 | +44% |
Source: EIA annual retail sales, 2015 and 2025. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 8 rows.
Why prices differ
Typical reasons are the fuel and plants that supply a state, how far power travels, the cost of poles and wires, state taxes and programs, weather that sets demand, and whether customers buy energy from competing suppliers. The tables show the result, not the share of each cause, because EIA does not split price by cause.
Two pieces can be checked in our data. Generation mix by state is on the generation layer built from EIA-923 and EIA-860, and the share of homes served by a supplier is on the TDU page. Neither alone explains a price, and we do not claim they do.
How to read a price gap
A home price is revenue over kWh. In states with choice, some utilities report only delivery revenue for part of their customers, which can lower their average. Compare states on the same year and read the business and industry columns too: they show whether the whole price level is high or only the home price.
Key facts and where they come from
| Fact | Value | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. home price 2025 | 17.30 cents per kWh | EIA retail sales, 2025 | 2025 annual |
| U.S. home price 2015 | 12.65 cents per kWh | EIA annual retail sales | 2015 annual |
| U.S. change 2015 to 2025 | +37% | Computed | 2015-2025 |
| Highest state: Hawaii | 40.59 cents | EIA retail sales, 2025 | 2025 annual |
| Lowest state: North Dakota | 11.81 cents | EIA retail sales, 2025 | 2025 annual |
| Ratio highest to lowest | 3.4 to 1 | Computed | 2025 |
| Fastest rise: California | +92% | EIA annual retail sales | 2015-2025 |
| States where business pays less than homes | 51 of 51 | EIA annual retail sales | 2024 annual |
| EIA outlook, U.S. home price 2026 | 18.23 cents | EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook | latest in data |
| EIA outlook, U.S. home price 2027 | 18.62 cents | EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook | latest in data |
Related guides
Questions
Which state pays the most for electricity?
Hawaii: 40.59 cents per kWh for homes in 2025.
Which state pays the least?
North Dakota: 11.81 cents in 2025.
How big is the gap?
3.4 times between the highest and lowest state in 2025.
Which state's price rose most since 2015?
California: +92% for homes.
Do businesses pay less than homes?
In most states yes: business is below home price in 51 of 51 states in 2024.
What was the U.S. average in 2025?
17.30 cents per kWh for homes, +37% on 2015.
Does EIA expect more increases?
EIA's outlook has the U.S. home price at 18.23 cents in 2026 and 18.62 in 2027. It is a national forecast.
Why is Hawaii so expensive?
This site has no cause-by-state data: no data. The table shows the price only.
Is a higher price a higher bill?
Not always. Bills also depend on use; see the energy burden and seasons pages.