Electricity-price source
Our state electricity-price pages use residential electricity data published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). We use monthly average residential electricity prices for each state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. average. We retain recent monthly history so state pages can show trends and year-over-year comparisons.
What the state price means
The state figure is an average delivered residential price expressed in cents per kilowatt-hour. It is useful for broad comparisons and quick estimates, but it is not the same thing as a specific customer's tariff.
How frequently data are updated
Our automated data pipeline checks EIA data on a recurring basis and regenerates the state pages when updated values are available. EIA data can be revised after initial publication, so historical values on this site may also change after a refresh.
State rankings and national comparisons
State and DC rankings are calculated from the same latest monthly EIA residential-price dataset, ordered from highest average price to lowest. Percentage comparisons use the EIA U.S. residential average for the same month.
Year-over-year changes
Year-over-year change compares the latest available monthly state average with the same calendar month one year earlier. If the matching prior-year month is unavailable, we do not display a percentage change.
Utility/provider data source
Our utility-level pages use finalized annual Form EIA-861 detailed data. The provider dataset is separate from the newer monthly state dataset described above. We automatically check for the newest finalized EIA-861 package and do not treat an early-release or placeholder file as final annual data.
How a provider average price is calculated
For a provider and state, average residential price is calculated from the residential revenue and electricity sales reported to EIA for the same service type. Revenue reported in thousands of dollars is converted to cents and divided by reported megawatt-hours. The result is an annual historical average in cents per kilowatt-hour; it is not a current tariff, signup offer, or quote for a particular address.
Bundled, energy-only, and delivery-only service
EIA-861 distinguishes bundled service from energy-only and delivery-only service. We keep those categories separate. Our first public utility cohort requires bundled residential service so the headline is not merely one component of a deregulated-market bill. Energy-only and delivery-only providers remain excluded from the first publication cohort.
Utility-page publication criteria
The underlying utility reference layer is broader than the set of pages we ask search engines and advertisers to treat as public editorial content. A provider/state record must first pass baseline data-quality rules: bundled residential service, an observed rather than entirely imputed headline record, at least 100,000 reported residential customers, at least one EIA county service-territory record, and an average price within basic sanity bounds.
Passing those rules does not automatically make a page indexable. We maintain an explicit curated provider/state allowlist for public search and advertising. As of October 8, 2026, the curated cohort contains 28 provider/state pages. Other qualifying provider pages and utility-by-state directories remain accessible as reference pages but are marked noindex, omitted from the sitemap, and do not carry AdSense code.
Multi-state utilities
When the same EIA utility ID operates in more than one state, we create state-specific provider pages and use the residential data reported for that state. We do not blend separate state markets into one consumer-facing rate.
Provider comparisons within a state
When shown, a provider's state position is calculated only among observed bundled residential provider records in that state with at least 1,000 reported residential customers. The ranking runs from the lowest annual average price to the highest. It is descriptive historical context, not a ranking of utility quality or a recommendation.
Service-territory counties
County names come from EIA-861 service-territory data. A listed county indicates that the utility reported distribution equipment or service territory there; it does not mean that every address in the county is served by that utility. Retail energy providers may have customers without owning a county-based distribution territory.
Observed and imputed data
EIA identifies some detailed records as observed and some as imputed. The curated public utility cohort requires an observed headline record. The broader reference layer can preserve source information without implying that every available record has received the same publication review.
Provider averages versus current tariffs
A provider's annual EIA average can differ materially from today's tariff because tariffs change and because individual bills can include fixed charges, riders, taxes, credits, demand charges, time-of-use periods, usage tiers, or other terms. Where a utility page links its historical average into a calculator, the rate remains editable and is labeled as a historical input.
Basic appliance calculation
For appliances, estimated energy use is calculated as watts ÷ 1,000 × hours used. Estimated cost is then energy use in kilowatt-hours × the electricity price.
EV charging calculation
The EV calculator estimates battery energy from miles driven ÷ vehicle efficiency. It then adjusts for charging losses by dividing by the charging-efficiency assumption before multiplying by the electricity price.
EV versus gasoline calculation
EV energy cost is calculated using the method above. Gasoline cost is estimated as miles driven ÷ miles per gallon × gasoline price. The comparison covers energy or fuel cost only, not maintenance, insurance, depreciation, financing, taxes, charging equipment, or other ownership costs.
EV charging-time calculation
Charging time is estimated from battery energy needed ÷ effective charging power. Effective charging power is the entered charging power multiplied by the charging-efficiency assumption. Real charging can take longer because power may taper or be limited by the vehicle, battery temperature, voltage, or thermal management.
Electricity bill estimate
The bill calculator multiplies monthly kilowatt-hours by the entered electricity price. It estimates the energy portion of a bill and does not separately model fixed charges, taxes, credits, demand charges, or special tariffs.
Use your own rate when possible
For a personal estimate, the electricity price from your own utility bill or rate plan will usually be more relevant than a statewide average.
Source acknowledgment
Electricity-price data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. State monthly data come from EIA electricity sales data; utility/provider data come from finalized Form EIA-861 detailed files. EIA data are presented as a source and do not imply EIA endorsement of this website.