Understanding what you pay for electricity shouldn't require a degree in energy markets. Enter your ZIP code to see local utility rates, estimated monthly bills, and how your area compares to state and national averages.
Data based on U.S. Energy Information Administration releases and local utility tariffs, updated February 2026.
As of February 2026, the national average residential electricity rate sits at approximately 18.0 to 18.1 cents per kWh, according to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration. This represents a roughly 5-6% increase compared with the same period in 2025. Typical U.S. homes consume around 860-900 kWh per month, placing the average monthly bill at approximately $155-$165 before local taxes and fees.
| Metric | February 2026 Value |
|---|---|
| National average rate | ~18.05¢/kWh |
| Average monthly usage | 860-900 kWh |
| Typical monthly bill | $155-$165 |
| Year-over-year change | +5-6% |
Your ZIP code maps directly to specific utilities, delivery territories, and sometimes different municipal taxes—all of which affect your final bill. Two homes using identical amounts of electricity can see dramatically different costs based purely on location. For example, residents in ZIP 96815 (Honolulu, Hawaii) pay close to 40¢/kWh—more than double the national average—while homeowners in ZIP 70810 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) enjoy rates around 12-13¢/kWh.
Even customers in the same state can face different prices by ZIP code due to being served by different utilities (investor-owned vs. municipal vs. cooperative), living inside or outside a municipal aggregation program, or local franchise fees and utility riders that vary by city or county. In deregulated states like Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, your ZIP code also controls which retail electricity providers and energy plan options are available to you.
State averages provide useful orientation, but they can mask large ZIP-to-ZIP differences within each state. The lowest residential statewide averages are found in Louisiana, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana (all in the low-teens ¢/kWh), while the highest are in Hawaii (~40¢/kWh), California (~32¢/kWh), and Massachusetts (~31¢/kWh).
| State | Avg Rate (¢/kWh) | vs. National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.3¢ | -1.2¢ |
| Alaska | 37.6¢ | +21.1¢ |
| Arizona | 15.3¢ | -1.2¢ |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢ | -3.8¢ |
| California | 32.7¢ | +16.2¢ |
| Colorado | 15.3¢ | -1.2¢ |
| Connecticut | 28.5¢ | +12.1¢ |
| Delaware | 16.4¢ | -0.0¢ |
| District of Columbia | 16.6¢ | +0.1¢ |
| Florida | 14.4¢ | -2.0¢ |
| Georgia | 14.4¢ | -2.0¢ |
| Hawaii | 44.1¢ | +27.7¢ |
| Idaho | 11.4¢ | -5.0¢ |
| Illinois | 15.4¢ | -1.0¢ |
| Indiana | 15.0¢ | -1.4¢ |
In 14 deregulated states plus Washington, D.C., your ZIP code determines which retail electricity providers and plans you can choose from. This market structure creates real opportunities for consumers to save money. For example, Texas ZIP 76102 (Fort Worth) has plans available as low as roughly 8.5¢/kWh, and Ohio ZIPs around Columbus offer multiple competitive suppliers below utility default rates.
In these ZIP codes, customers can often save 15-30% by switching from utility default supply to a competitive fixed-rate plan, choosing an energy plan aligned with their usage patterns, or opting for time-of-use or free-nights-and-weekends offers. In fully regulated states, your ZIP code still affects which utility serves you, but you typically cannot switch the supplier portion of your bill.
Fuel mix: The proportion of electricity your local generators produce from natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydro, and renewables directly impacts costs. States with abundant hydroelectric power like Montana enjoy lower generation costs, while areas dependent on imported fuel (like Hawaii) pay premiums.
Infrastructure: Building and maintaining transmission lines, substations, and local distribution grids adds significant costs. Dense urban ZIPs where underground distribution is necessary face higher infrastructure expenses than rural areas with overhead lines.
Regulation and market structure: Whether your ZIP is in a regulated utility monopoly or a competitive retail market affects pricing dynamics. Deregulated markets often show greater price variation and more consumer options.
Weather and demand: Extreme heat or cold in certain ZIPs leads to high peak demand charges and capacity costs. Texas ZIPs regularly see cheaper off-peak hours but significantly higher summer peak prices during air conditioning season.
Local add-ons: City taxes, franchise fees, and riders supporting efficiency programs, low-income assistance, or storm-hardening projects vary by location. Coastal ZIPs in Florida face higher storm-hardening surcharges following hurricane damage.
Once you know the average cents per kWh in your ZIP code, estimating a monthly bill requires straightforward multiplication plus fixed fees and taxes.
Find your ZIP's current average residential rate. For example, 15.0¢/kWh in ZIP 76102 (Fort Worth) as of February 2026.
Estimate your monthly usage in kWh. Use 500 kWh for light usage, 1,000 kWh for average, or 2,000 kWh for heavy usage. Or check your last bill for actual consumption.
Multiply usage by rate, then add fixed charges and taxes. Add typical fixed monthly charges ($4-15) and estimated taxes (usually 5-10% of total).
1,000 kWh × 12.5¢/kWh = $125 energy cost
Plus $10 fixed fees = $135 before tax
Total estimate: ~$142-148 with taxes
800 kWh × 30¢/kWh = $240 energy cost
Plus $12 fixed fees = $252 before tax
Total estimate: ~$265-277 with taxes
You cannot move your home to a cheaper ZIP code, but you can usually lower your effective electricity cost through several practical approaches.
Concrete scenario: A household in ZIP 76102 moving from a 14¢/kWh month-to-month plan to an 8.5¢/kWh fixed plan would cut 1,000 kWh bills from approximately $140 to approximately $85 before fees—saving over $650 annually.
State and national averages primarily come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, typically on a one- to two-month reporting lag. ZIP-code estimates are derived by mapping ZIP codes to utility service territories, incorporating current posted tariffs for generation, transmission, and distribution, adding approximate local taxes and riders, and cross-referencing with competitive market prices in deregulated areas.
Some ZIP codes straddle multiple utilities or providers. In these cases, we present all utilities serving the area. Actual bills may differ based on individual plan selection, usage patterns, and specific fees not captured in averages. Energy experts recommend checking rates quarterly, as market conditions and regulatory changes can shift pricing significantly within a single year.