Electricity price report, May 2026
Illinois paid 23.85 cents in May 2026, up from 18.58. The national average is 18.44 cents, +6.2% on May 2025. Highest: Hawaii at 52.00 cents. Lowest: Idaho at 12.35. Source: EIA data for May 2026, retrieved 2 Oct 2026.
Where prices changed, May 2026 against May 2025
- -13.4% to +2.7%
- +2.7% to +5.0%
- +5.0% to +7.1%
- +7.1% to +12.1%
- +12.1% to +28.4%
May 2026: darker = bigger rise.
Biggest movers in May 2026
Illinois rose most (+28.4%) and Connecticut moved least or fell most (-13.4%). 44 of 49 states are above May 2025, and 11 are up more than 10%.
| State | Change vs May 2025 | May 2026 ¢/kWh | May 2025 ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | +28.4% | 23.85 | 18.58 |
| Hawaii | +26.7% | 52.00 | 41.03 |
| District of Columbia | +24.3% | 25.40 | 20.43 |
| Virginia | +15.4% | 17.61 | 15.26 |
| Maryland | +14.6% | 21.77 | 19.00 |
| State | Change vs May 2025 | May 2026 ¢/kWh | May 2025 ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | -13.4% | 27.37 | 31.59 |
| Massachusetts | -3.6% | 28.82 | 29.90 |
| Arizona | -3.1% | 15.23 | 15.71 |
| Iowa | -0.1% | 14.14 | 14.16 |
| California | -0.1% | 33.25 | 33.29 |
The year so far: 2026 against 2025
U.S. average 18.44 cents, -2.1% on April 2026. At 736 kWh the energy bill is $136.
12 rows from EIA retail sales, monthly, residential.
CSVNine regions in May 2026
New England paid the most at 28.14 cents and Mountain the least at 14.31, sales-weighted from the state series.
| Census division | May 2026 ¢/kWh | vs April 2026 | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | 28.14 | -4.6% | -3.7% |
| Pacific | 26.66 | +0.6% | +2.9% |
| Middle Atlantic | 25.10 | +0.0% | +11.9% |
| East North Central | 20.76 | +5.0% | +13.9% |
| South Atlantic | 16.14 | -1.9% | +5.7% |
| West South Central | 15.73 | -2.4% | +5.9% |
| East South Central | 15.50 | -2.4% | +5.9% |
| West North Central | 14.75 | +0.8% | +4.4% |
| Mountain | 14.31 | -4.0% | -1.2% |
What May 2026 prices mean for your bill
- May 2026: choose a state and kWh.
May 2026: energy only (price times kWh), no fixed charges or taxes.
All 49 states, May 2026
| Alabama | 16.77 | 24 | -3.7% | +3.8% | 956 | $160 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.23 | 7 | +3.2% | +8.2% | 505 | $143 |
| Arizona | 15.23 | 31 | -1.6% | -3.1% | 1,055 | $161 |
| Arkansas | 14.36 | 40 | +1.4% | +8.9% | 796 | $114 |
| California | 33.25 | 2 | -5.7% | -0.1% | 408 | $136 |
| Connecticut | 27.37 | 8 | -15.1% | -13.4% | 534 | $146 |
| Delaware | 19.38 | 19 | +3.1% | +6.9% | 702 | $136 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40 | 10 | -0.0% | +24.3% | 502 | $128 |
| Florida | 15.17 | 32 | -1.4% | +1.3% | 1,114 | $169 |
| Georgia | 15.84 | 29 | +3.1% | +5.7% | 942 | $149 |
| Hawaii | 52.00 | 1 | +11.5% | +26.7% | 480 | $250 |
| Idaho | 12.35 | 49 | -2.8% | +4.0% | 746 | $92 |
| Illinois | 23.85 | 12 | +16.5% | +28.4% | 514 | $123 |
| Indiana | 18.15 | 20 | +1.4% | +7.4% | 713 | $129 |
| Iowa | 14.14 | 42 | +2.0% | -0.1% | 694 | $98 |
| Kansas | 15.13 | 33 | -4.1% | +2.7% | 764 | $116 |
| Kentucky | 14.98 | 35 | -0.3% | +8.2% | 854 | $128 |
| Louisiana | 14.15 | 41 | -2.0% | +6.7% | 1,017 | $144 |
| Maine | 28.63 | 6 | +0.7% | +2.6% | 504 | $144 |
| Maryland | 21.77 | 15 | -1.4% | +14.6% | 727 | $158 |
| Massachusetts | 28.82 | 5 | -2.1% | -3.6% | 474 | $137 |
| Michigan | 22.01 | 14 | +2.9% | +8.8% | 524 | $115 |
| Minnesota | 16.95 | 22 | +3.4% | +7.0% | 626 | $106 |
| Mississippi | 16.16 | 28 | -3.6% | +8.9% | 939 | $152 |
| Missouri | 13.68 | 43 | -2.4% | +5.1% | 814 | $111 |
| Montana | 14.67 | 38 | +5.5% | +13.9% | 693 | $102 |
| Nebraska | 13.59 | 46 | +2.3% | +3.3% | 790 | $107 |
| Nevada | 13.60 | 45 | -4.8% | +2.3% | 878 | $119 |
| New Hampshire | 27.33 | 9 | +0.3% | +13.8% | 498 | $136 |
| New Jersey | 23.27 | 13 | -1.1% | +13.6% | 546 | $127 |
| New York | 29.93 | 3 | +1.6% | +12.1% | 448 | $134 |
| North Carolina | 15.09 | 34 | -7.1% | +5.4% | 864 | $130 |
| North Dakota | 13.61 | 44 | +10.2% | +3.9% | 861 | $117 |
| Ohio | 19.52 | 18 | +0.2% | +14.2% | 675 | $132 |
| Oklahoma | 13.38 | 47 | +0.5% | +3.4% | 896 | $120 |
| Oregon | 16.27 | 26 | +3.1% | +2.3% | 678 | $110 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.55 | 16 | +0.4% | +11.7% | 624 | $134 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46 | 4 | +4.1% | +1.6% | 503 | $148 |
| South Carolina | 16.18 | 27 | -5.2% | +5.0% | 915 | $148 |
| South Dakota | 15.73 | 30 | +8.3% | +9.8% | 805 | $127 |
| Tennessee | 14.47 | 39 | -3.1% | +5.4% | 896 | $130 |
| Texas | 16.44 | 25 | -3.2% | +5.9% | 994 | $163 |
| Utah | 12.96 | 48 | -2.5% | +2.9% | 674 | $87 |
| Vermont | 24.89 | 11 | +1.3% | +4.8% | 482 | $120 |
| Virginia | 17.61 | 21 | +1.3% | +15.4% | 828 | $146 |
| Washington | 14.95 | 36 | +4.1% | +9.5% | 756 | $113 |
| West Virginia | 16.80 | 23 | +4.6% | +3.8% | 742 | $125 |
| Wisconsin | 19.74 | 17 | +2.8% | +4.2% | 553 | $109 |
| Wyoming | 14.80 | 37 | +0.8% | +7.1% | 709 | $105 |
Sources
| Source | Data period | Retrieved | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EIA retail sales, May 2026 | May 2026 | 1 Oct 2026 | May 2026 prices, sales, accounts |
May 2026 price = revenue over kWh for homes. Data sources.
Keep going
April 2026 | June 2026 | All monthly reports
Questions
What was the average U.S. electricity price in May 2026?
18.44 cents per kWh for homes.
Which state had the highest electricity price in May 2026?
Hawaii at 52.00 cents per kWh; the lowest was Idaho at 12.35.
How did prices change from May 2025?
The U.S. average moved +6.2%, from 17.37 to 18.44 cents. 44 of 49 states were higher.
Which state's price rose most in May 2026?
Illinois: +28.4% against May 2025, to 23.85 cents.
Which state's price fell most or rose least in May 2026?
Connecticut: -13.4% against May 2025, at 27.37 cents.
What did a typical home pay in May 2026?
About $136 for 736 kWh at 18.44 cents, energy only.
What is the median state price in May 2026?
16.44 cents across 49 states, against 18.44 cents for the U.S.
Why does May 2026 differ from the annual price?
May 2026 follows the season; the 2025 annual average was 17.30 cents.
Are the May 2026 numbers final?
EIA can revise May 2026; we retrieved it on 2 Oct 2026.