EIA: Residential Electricity Prices Rose in 45 States Through May

Residential electricity prices rose in 45 states and the District of Columbia over the year ending in May 2026, according to preliminary U.S. Energy Information Administration data released July 23.

The national average residential electricity price reached 18.44 cents per kilowatt-hour in May 2026, up from 17.37 cents in May 2025. Six states recorded year-over-year declines, showing that the national increase did not affect every market in the same way.

Rates varied widely by region

State and regional differences remained large. Among states, Hawaii had the highest residential rate at 52.00 cents per kilowatt-hour, followed by California at 33.25 cents. Idaho had the lowest rate at 12.35 cents.

EIA’s census-division data also show the spread across the country. The average residential rate was 28.14 cents per kilowatt-hour in New England, 25.10 cents in the Middle Atlantic, 20.76 cents in the East North Central division and 14.62 cents in the Mountain division. The Pacific Contiguous division averaged 26.06 cents, while the Pacific Noncontiguous division, which includes Alaska and Hawaii, averaged 42.13 cents.

Not every region moved higher. New England’s average fell from 29.21 cents in May 2025 to 28.14 cents in May 2026. The Mountain division rose only slightly, from 14.49 cents to 14.62 cents. By contrast, the Middle Atlantic division increased from 22.43 cents to 25.10 cents.

A higher rate does not equal the same bill increase

The EIA figures are average prices, not typical monthly bills. As explained in the agency’s electricity glossary, the average revenue per kilowatt-hour is calculated by dividing total utility revenue by total electricity sales for a sector and geographic area.

For an individual household, the amount owed also depends on electricity use. Air-conditioning demand, home size, insulation, appliance efficiency, weather, electric heating and utility billing structures can all change a monthly bill. A household using fewer kilowatt-hours may see a smaller dollar increase than another household facing the same rate change.

The state comparisons also should not be read as direct comparisons of household spending. Hawaii’s 52.00-cent rate is a state-level average price for residential electricity, not a claim that every Hawaiian household pays the same rate or has the highest monthly bill.

What could happen this summer

EIA’s July Short-Term Energy Outlook provides limited forward-looking context. The agency expects wholesale electricity prices to be lower than last summer in much of the country, helped in part by natural-gas market conditions.

That outlook does not guarantee lower retail bills. EIA also identifies heat waves as a potential temporary risk because heavier cooling demand can push wholesale prices higher than forecast. Retail rates can respond differently because they also reflect utility costs, infrastructure, regulation and other factors, as the agency explains in its electricity prices explainer.

EIA’s next major Electric Power Monthly release is scheduled for August 26, 2026. That update will provide another opportunity to see whether the May pattern continues, changes or is revised.

Sources

• EIA Electric Power Monthly residential price table