Most Expensive States for Electricity: Highest Rates Ranked

First

40.40 cents

Hawaii

Last

11.82 cents

North Dakota

US average

17.23 cents

2025

The top ten at a glance

1. Hawaii40.40 cents
2. California31.35 cents
3. Massachusetts30.41 cents
4. Rhode Island29.48 cents
5. Connecticut29.31 cents
6. Maine27.69 cents
7. New York26.39 cents
8. Alaska26.11 cents
9. New Hampshire24.53 cents
10. Vermont22.79 cents

The first three are Hawaii (40.40 cents), California (31.35 cents), Massachusetts (30.41 cents).

All 51 ranked

Average price by state, 2025, ranked highest first
Rank	State	Average price	Use	Bill	Price change since 2020
1	Hawaii	40.40 cents	515 kWh	$207.89	+33.4%
2	California	31.35 cents	494 kWh	$154.73	+53.3%
3	Massachusetts	30.41 cents	596 kWh	$181.08	+38.4%
4	Rhode Island	29.48 cents	562 kWh	$165.62	+33.9%
5	Connecticut	29.31 cents	704 kWh	$206.46	+29.0%
6	Maine	27.69 cents	533 kWh	$147.67	+64.7%
7	New York	26.39 cents	586 kWh	$154.75	+43.7%
8	Alaska	26.11 cents	564 kWh	$147.18	+15.7%
9	New Hampshire	24.53 cents	640 kWh	$156.94	+28.8%
10	Vermont	22.79 cents	592 kWh	$134.78	+16.6%
11	New Jersey	22.48 cents	670 kWh	$150.59	+40.3%
12	District of Columbia	21.92 cents	639 kWh	$140.05	+73.5%
13	Michigan	20.03 cents	635 kWh	$127.17	+23.2%
14	Maryland	19.53 cents	945 kWh	$184.42	+50.1%
15	Pennsylvania	19.29 cents	839 kWh	$161.90	+42.0%
16	Wisconsin	18.08 cents	667 kWh	$120.60	+26.3%
17	Illinois	17.67 cents	717 kWh	$126.59	+35.5%
18	Delaware	17.15 cents	920 kWh	$157.80	+36.5%
19	Ohio	16.90 cents	874 kWh	$147.74	+37.6%
20	Alabama	16.09 cents	1,145 kWh	$184.31	+28.0%
21	Indiana	15.96 cents	938 kWh	$149.72	+24.5%
22	Minnesota	15.83 cents	744 kWh	$117.67	+20.2%
23	Colorado	15.69 cents	658 kWh	$103.30	+27.0%
24	Oregon	15.46 cents	866 kWh	$133.89	+38.5%
25	Texas	15.40 cents	1,110 kWh	$170.95	+31.4%
26	West Virginia	15.39 cents	1,073 kWh	$165.13	+30.4%
27	Virginia	15.28 cents	1,067 kWh	$163.05	+27.1%
28	Arizona	15.26 cents	1,030 kWh	$157.15	+24.3%
29	Florida	15.21 cents	1,103 kWh	$167.86	+35.0%
30	South Carolina	15.12 cents	1,067 kWh	$161.21	+18.2%
31	New Mexico	14.85 cents	638 kWh	$94.65	+14.8%
32	Georgia	14.74 cents	1,077 kWh	$158.70	+22.7%
33	Kansas	14.44 cents	876 kWh	$126.42	+12.3%
34	Mississippi	14.03 cents	1,184 kWh	$166.05	+25.6%
35	North Carolina	14.00 cents	1,044 kWh	$146.14	+23.0%
36	Iowa	13.62 cents	861 kWh	$117.30	+9.4%
37	Wyoming	13.37 cents	835 kWh	$111.59	+20.3%
38	South Dakota	13.32 cents	984 kWh	$131.10	+13.4%
39	Missouri	13.30 cents	1,038 kWh	$137.97	+18.5%
40	Nevada	13.26 cents	868 kWh	$115.07	+16.9%
41	Tennessee	13.22 cents	1,180 kWh	$156.03	+22.9%
42	Oklahoma	13.21 cents	1,064 kWh	$140.52	+30.5%
43	Washington	13.17 cents	945 kWh	$124.41	+33.4%
44	Kentucky	13.13 cents	1,094 kWh	$143.72	+20.9%
45	Utah	13.02 cents	761 kWh	$99.06	+24.7%
46	Montana	12.99 cents	853 kWh	$110.80	+15.6%
47	Arkansas	12.87 cents	1,076 kWh	$138.42	+23.6%
48	Louisiana	12.52 cents	1,225 kWh	$153.32	+29.5%
49	Nebraska	12.05 cents	973 kWh	$117.23	+11.6%
50	Idaho	11.83 cents	933 kWh	$110.36	+18.9%
51	North Dakota	11.82 cents	1,070 kWh	$126.40	+13.2%

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data). Cents per kWh.

What the gap means in dollars and minutes

Take a home that uses the US average of 874 kWh a month. At Hawaii's average price of 40.40 cents it would pay about $353.17 a month for that energy, and at North Dakota's 11.82 cents about $103.30. That is a gap of $249.87 a month, or $2,998 a year, from price alone. The middle of the ranking is West Virginia at 15.39 cents, about $134.54 for the same use. Real bills also differ because homes in different places use different amounts.

What sits behind the order

A state's price per kWh reflects what it costs to generate and deliver power there, how much fuel it imports, the taxes and policy costs it adds, and how its utilities are owned. EIA lists fuel costs, power plant costs, transmission and distribution costs, weather and regulation among the factors, and names Hawaii's reliance on imported petroleum as the main reason for its price. See why bills are going up.

Average traits of the ten places at each end of the most expensive states for electricity ranking
Group	Price	Use	Bill	Investor-owned share	Public and co-op share
Top ten of this ranking	28.85 cents	578 kWh	$165.71	80%	18%
Bottom ten of this ranking	12.66 cents	999 kWh	$126.42	59%	41%

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data). Simple averages of the ten places in each group, not weighted by size. Ownership shares are the percent of residential customers served by each type of utility. A pattern in a group is not proof of a cause.

How the ranking is built

The ranking uses the final 2025 EIA-861 data that the rest of Kilowatt Atlas uses. Average price is the revenue utilities and suppliers collect from residential customers divided by the kilowatt-hours sold, so it includes fixed charges. Average use is residential kWh per customer per month, and the bill is price times use. Places tie only if their values match exactly. Read the full methodology.

Statewide averages are not your bill

A state average hides large differences between utilities, home types and plans. Your own price and use decide your bill. See whether your bill is normal.

More rankings

About this ranking

Which state is first in this ranking?

Hawaii ranks first with 40.40 cents, and North Dakota ranks last with 11.82 cents.

Where does the data come from?

From EIA Form EIA-861 final 2025 data, released October 7, 2026. Price is residential revenue divided by sales, and bill is price times use.

How often is this ranking updated?

When EIA publishes new final data, once a year. The ranking shows 2025 data until then.

Does a higher rank mean a better state?

No. A rank describes one number. Prices, bills, use and reliability each reflect different things, and a place with a high bill may also have high use or a hot or cold climate.

Most Expensive States for Electricity: All 51 Places Ranked