Key takeaways
- Data through July 2026 (released September 24, 2026): the U.S. average residential price was 18.19 cents per kWh for January to July, about 6.9% above the same months of 2025.
- EIA's October 2026 outlook forecasts 18.2 cents for 2026 and 18.7 cents for 2027, after 17.3 cents in 2025.
- Prices differ widely by state, and bills also depend on how much electricity you use.
The latest data
EIA's Electric Power Monthly, with data for July 2026 released September 24, 2026, shows an average U.S. residential price of 18.19 cents per kWh for January through July 2026, compared with 17.01 cents for the same months of 2025, an increase of about 6.9%[1]. For July alone, the price was 18.31 cents, up from 17.45 cents in July 2025, about 4.9%[1] (percentages are Billix calculations).
| Period | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 (annual) | 13.15 | EIA Electric Power Monthly |
| 2025 (annual) | 17.30 | EIA Electric Power Monthly |
| Jan to Jul 2025 | 17.01 | EIA Electric Power Monthly |
| Jan to Jul 2026 | 18.19 | EIA Electric Power Monthly |
| 2026 (forecast) | 18.2 | EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook, Oct 2026 |
| 2027 (forecast) | 18.7 | EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook, Oct 2026 |
From 2020 to 2025 the annual average rose from 13.15 to 17.30 cents, about 32% before inflation[1]. EIA's October 6, 2026 outlook forecasts 18.2 cents for 2026 and 18.7 cents for 2027[2].
Why prices are rising
EIA notes that wholesale power prices, which are strongly influenced by natural gas prices and weather, are only one part of residential prices; residential prices also include costs such as transmission and distribution upgrades and, in some regions, capacity market auction prices[2]. For a closer look at those two halves of the bill, see Supply vs. delivery charges.
A different measure, the BLS Consumer Price Index for electricity, rose 3.8% from August 2025 to August 2026, compared with 3.4% for all items (Billix calculation on BLS index values)[3][4]. The CPI and EIA's average price are built differently and cover different months, so their percentages will not match exactly.
What it means for a bill
National averages hide large differences between states, and your bill depends on both your price and your usage. To see what your own rate means for a month of use, try our electricity cost calculator, or walk through your statement with How to read your electric bill. EIA's next Electric Power Monthly, with August data, is scheduled for October 23, 2026[1].
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Sources
- 1.Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.3: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Checked October 13, 2026.Data for July 2026; released September 24, 2026.
- 2.Short-Term Energy Outlook: Electricity, coal, and renewables (October 2026). U.S. Energy Information Administration. Checked October 13, 2026.Released October 6, 2026.
- 3.CPI-U, Electricity, U.S. city average (series CUUR0000SEHF01). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Checked October 13, 2026.August 2025: 298.738; August 2026: 310.057.
- 4.CPI-U, All items, U.S. city average (series CUUR0000SA0). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Checked October 13, 2026.
Billix Editorial Team
Researched and written by the Billix editorial team, and checked against the primary sources listed below each article. How we research. Spot an error? Report a correction.
Educational information only. Not financial, legal or tax advice.