Residential electricity prices by state: August 2026 report
EIA's Electric Power Monthly released on October 23, 2026 shows the U.S. average residential price at 18.16¢ per kWh in August 2026, compared with 17.57¢ in August 2025 (+3.4%). Prices rose in 44 of the 50 states and DC and fell in 7. The tables below show where the changes were largest. A single month can swing with weather and fuel costs, so state pages also show the year-to-date average.
Largest increases from August 2025
| State | Change |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | +22.5% |
| Maine | +14.1% |
| New Hampshire | +13.1% |
| District of Columbia | +12.1% |
| Virginia | +11.3% |
Largest decreases from August 2025
| State | Change |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | -18.8% |
| California | -3.8% |
| Utah | -2.3% |
| Florida | -2.2% |
| New Jersey | -0.4% |
By region (census division, ¢/kWh)
| Division | August 2026 | August 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | 28.31 | 29.01 | -2.4% |
| Middle Atlantic | 25.17 | 23.73 | +6.1% |
| East North Central | 19.60 | 18.11 | +8.2% |
| West North Central | 15.92 | 15.17 | +4.9% |
| South Atlantic | 16.04 | 15.64 | +2.6% |
| East South Central | 14.47 | 13.99 | +3.4% |
| West South Central | 15.30 | 14.79 | +3.4% |
| Mountain | 14.86 | 14.57 | +2.0% |
| Pacific Contiguous | 25.59 | 25.42 | +0.7% |
| Pacific Noncontiguous | 40.79 | 34.72 | +17.5% |
Business and industry prices
Commercial customers such as shops and offices paid an average of 14.47¢ per kWh in August 2026 (versus 13.87¢ a year earlier), and industrial customers paid 9.64¢ (versus 8.98¢). In this month the residential price was higher than both.
Year to date
Averaged over the year through August 2026, the U.S. residential price was 18.19¢ per kWh, compared with 17.03¢ over the same months a year earlier (+6.8%). The year-to-date figure is less affected by a single hot or cold month than the monthly figure above.
What this means for a household
Percent changes apply to the energy part of a bill. A household that used the same kWh in both months would see its energy charges move by roughly the same percentage, before fixed charges and taxes. Use your state's page to estimate the effect at your own usage, or the step-by-step guide to work it out for a single device.
Data: EIA Electric Power Monthly Tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B, released October 23, 2026. A new report is generated automatically when EIA publishes the next month (next release November 24, 2026).