Hawaii and Connecticut Electricity Bills Double Those in New Mexico and Utah: EIA

U.S. residential customers paid an average of $144 per month for electricity in 2024, but costs varied significantly by state, according to a May 13 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Customers in Hawaii and Connecticut paid over $200 monthly, while those in New Mexico and Utah paid less than half as much. The average monthly electricity bill for residential customers in the U.S.  in 2023 totaled $138, an increase from $135 in 2022.

Electricity bills are impacted by both the volume of grid delivered electricity utilized by customers and retail electricity prices. U.S. electricity prices and consumption on average were both higher during 2024 compared to 2023. The average U.S. retail electricity price increased by 0.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) during 2024 to 16.5 cents/kWh compared to 2023. Monthly electricity usage per household averaged 865 kWh, up two percent compared to 2023.

The average monthly bill in Hawaii was $213/month during 2024, the highest across the U.S., despite the state using the least amount of volume delivered electricity on average. Electricity prices in the state are high due to petroleum fired power generation being an expensive input fuel compared with other energy sources.

The average monthly bill in Utah was $89/month during 2024, the lowest across the U.S. A number of states in the Rocky Mountain region had the lowest residential bills. States in the region usually have lower than average consumption and residential electricity prices. Natural gas and coal are important sources for power generation in the region and prices for both commodities were lower during 2024, compared to 2023.

Customers in Louisiana paid $142/month on average on their electricity bill, despite residential users utilizing more than twice as much electricity from the grid as those in California and Hawaii. Electricity prices are significantly lower in Louisiana, despite higher demand for air conditioning during the summer.