Why your electric bill changes by season
Your bill is not flat across the year. Use moves with heating and cooling, and the price moves a little. This page shows how big the swing is in each state.
Two things change
A monthly bill is kWh times price. In 2025 the U.S. average home used the most in July (a typical bill of $204) and the least in April ($119), a 71% gap. Use does most of the work: the U.S. average price moved 13% between its highest month (September, 18.08 cents) and lowest (January, 15.94 cents).
Of the 50 states and DC, 36 had their costliest month in June to September and 15 in December to March.
Typical home bill by month, 2025: 12 rows
| Month | Texas | Washington | California |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 175 | 160 | 167 |
| Feb | 156 | 157 | 145 |
| Mar | 131 | 140 | 133 |
| Apr | 129 | 113 | 129 |
| May | 159 | 103 | 130 |
| Jun | 197 | 102 | 162 |
| Jul | 229 | 117 | 187 |
| Aug | 235 | 115 | 194 |
| Sep | 207 | 103 | 202 |
| Oct | 175 | 110 | 152 |
| Nov | 131 | 124 | 134 |
| Dec | 150 | 157 | 139 |
12 rows from EIA retail sales.
CSVSix states by month
| Month | Texas | Florida | New York | Minnesota | Washington | California |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | $175 | $152 | $172 | $132 | $160 | $167 |
| Feb | $156 | $140 | $161 | $120 | $157 | $145 |
| Mar | $131 | $130 | $138 | $109 | $140 | $133 |
| Apr | $129 | $144 | $120 | $92 | $113 | $129 |
| May | $159 | $173 | $120 | $98 | $103 | $130 |
| Jun | $197 | $200 | $148 | $121 | $102 | $162 |
| Jul | $229 | $214 | $219 | $156 | $117 | $187 |
| Aug | $235 | $222 | $201 | $138 | $115 | $194 |
| Sep | $207 | $194 | $152 | $113 | $103 | $202 |
| Oct | $175 | $172 | $131 | $103 | $110 | $152 |
| Nov | $131 | $136 | $126 | $100 | $124 | $134 |
| Dec | $150 | $134 | $168 | $127 | $157 | $139 |
Source: EIA monthly retail sales 2025: average kWh per home customer in the month times the month's average price; energy only, no fixed charges or taxes. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 612 rows.
Biggest and smallest swings
New Jersey has the largest gap between its highest and lowest month, 198%. Hawaii has the smallest, 23%. A big swing means a budget plan can help: many utilities offer to average the bill across the year, but we have no data on which ones.
| State | Highest month | Typical bill | Lowest month | Typical bill | High over low |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Jul | $287 | Apr | $96 | 198% |
| Arizona | Aug | $263 | Feb | $99 | 167% |
| Missouri | Jul | $226 | Apr | $98 | 131% |
| Nevada | Aug | $183 | Nov | $83 | 121% |
| West Virginia | Jan | $252 | May | $115 | 120% |
| Oklahoma | Jul | $206 | Apr | $97 | 113% |
| Kansas | Jul | $188 | Apr | $92 | 105% |
| Utah | Jul | $150 | Apr | $74 | 102% |
| Hawaii | Aug | $223 | Feb | $181 | 23% |
| Maine | Mar | $177 | Jun | $123 | 44% |
| South Dakota | Jan | $163 | May | $112 | 46% |
| Alaska | Dec | $194 | Jun | $126 | 54% |
| Wyoming | Jan | $147 | Sep | $95 | 54% |
Source: EIA monthly retail sales 2025, same method. First eight rows are the largest swings, last five the smallest. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 51 rows.
Weather behind it
Degree days count how far the daily average temperature is below 65°F (heating) or above it (cooling), added over the period. A year with more heating degree days than normal usually means higher winter use, all else equal. NOAA's statewide figures for 2025 and the 1991-2020 normals are below.
| State | Heating degree days 2025 | Heating, 1991-2020 normal | Cooling degree days 2025 | Cooling, 1991-2020 normal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,519 | 2,035 | 3,214 | 2,648 |
| Florida | 617 | 774 | 3,893 | 3,191 |
| New York | 5,918 | 6,495 | 721 | 486 |
| Minnesota | 8,147 | 9,035 | 524 | 422 |
| Washington | 5,191 | 5,939 | 295 | 131 |
| California | 2,525 | 3,253 | 951 | 704 |
Source: NOAA NCEI nClimDiv statewide degree days, base 65°F. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 6 rows.
This site has no per-customer weather link. The table shows the weather, the monthly bills show the bills, and the two together explain most of the shape: they do not prove cause for a single home.
How to use this
Take your own bill for the highest month and the lowest. If the gap is much bigger than your state's, look for a heating or cooling load that runs more than it should: old equipment, an electric water heater, a pool pump, or a second fridge. If it is smaller, your home may be unusually efficient or uses another fuel for heat.
Key facts and where they come from
| Fact | Value | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. typical home bill, highest month | July $204 | EIA monthly retail sales | 2025 |
| U.S. typical home bill, lowest month | April $119 | EIA monthly retail sales | 2025 |
| States peaking June to September | 36 | EIA monthly retail sales | 2025 |
| States peaking December to March | 15 | EIA monthly retail sales | 2025 |
| Largest swing: New Jersey | 198% | EIA monthly retail sales | 2025 |
| Smallest swing: Hawaii | 23% | EIA monthly retail sales | 2025 |
| U.S. load peaks in summer | Afternoon, from air conditioning | EIA Today in Energy, Feb. 21, 2020 | 2015-2019 data |
| U.S. load peaks in winter | Morning and evening | EIA Today in Energy, Feb. 21, 2020 | 2015-2019 data |
| Texas heating degree days 2025 vs normal | 1,519 vs 2,035 | NOAA NCEI nClimDiv | 2025; normal 1991-2020 |
| Minnesota heating degree days 2025 vs normal | 8,147 vs 9,035 | NOAA NCEI nClimDiv | 2025; normal 1991-2020 |
| U.S. home price, highest and lowest month | 18.08 cents (Sep), 15.94 cents (Jan) | EIA monthly retail sales | 2025 |
Related guides
Questions
Why is my bill higher in summer?
Cooling. In most states use peaks June to September; in the EIA 2025 data, 36 of 51 states and DC had their costliest month in that window.
Why is my bill higher in winter?
Heating and shorter days. 15 states peaked in December to March in the 2025 data.
Which state has the biggest summer-to-winter swing?
New Jersey: highest month 198% above the lowest.
Does the price per kWh change by month?
Slightly. Use changes more. Check your tariff for seasonal rates.
What are degree days?
A measure of how far the daily average temperature is from 65°F, added over the period.
Does this include fixed charges?
No. Typical bills here are energy only, so your real bill is higher.
Can I average my bill over the year?
Many utilities offer a budget billing plan. We have no data on which ones: ask yours.
Was 2025 a normal year?
Compare the 2025 and normal degree days above. A difference of a few hundred degree days is a mild or harsh year.
Space heaters
Winter bills often include room heaters. What a space heater adds to a monthly bill, hour by hour and state by state.