Average Electric Bill for a Townhouse or Attached Home Today

Source: EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE4.1. Averages cover every home of this type, including homes that heat or cook with gas, so each line is smaller than it would be for a home that uses electricity for that purpose.

Air conditioning is the largest named use at 131 kWh a month, but it is about 37% lower than in a detached house. A wall shared with a neighbor is a wall that is not exposed to the weather.

Source: EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE4.1, kWh a month per home, converted from trillion Btu.

The townhouse sits between the other two on nearly every line, and the biggest gap against a detached house is in cooling and the everything else group. Floor area explains part of that, and shared walls explain the rest.

Most townhouses have their own electric meter and their own account, so you pay for what your unit uses. Some older rowhouses and some condo buildings share a meter, or include some utilities in the fee. Check your account before you compare your bill with the numbers on this page.

If a homeowners association sets rules on exterior changes, ask before you add a heat pump unit, solar panels or a new window. Many associations have approval steps, and some utilities offer rebates that need a signed form from the association.

Source: Estimate = 705 kWh multiplied by each state's 2025 average residential price from EIA Form EIA-861. It assumes national average use for this home type. Hot or cold climates push real usage up or down.

• Insulate the attic and rim joists. In a rowhouse the roof and end walls are the main exposed surfaces.
• Check with the homeowners association before changing windows or adding outdoor equipment.
• Use a programmable or smart thermostat. Townhouses with two or three floors often have uneven temperatures, and zoning helps.