Last reviewed: September 2026 · By the HVAC Brief Editorial Team · Our sourcing and editorial standards
US residential electricity averaged 18.31 cents per kilowatt hour in July 2026, up 4.9% on a year earlier, and prices rose in 45 of 51 jurisdictions. Year to date the increase is 6.9%. The gas counterpart is our natural gas price tracker, and the two together set the heat pump versus gas comparison.
The spread is wide: 48.00 cents in Hawaii against 12.72 in Louisiana. For anyone sizing or replacing a cooling system, the price per kilowatt hour sets the running cost as much as the efficiency rating does.
This tracker records residential electricity prices by state from EIA’s Electric Power Monthly, updated each month. It replaces our earlier single-month report, and the June 2026 edition’s figures are superseded by the July release below.
The national number
The average residential price in July 2026 was 18.31 cents per kilowatt hour, against 17.45 cents in July 2025, a rise of 4.9%. Across January to July the average was 18.19 cents against 17.01 cents in the same months of 2025, up 6.9%.
Prices were higher than a year earlier in 45 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and lower in 6.
Where prices rose most
| State | July 2026 | July 2025 | Change | Year to date change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | 39.36¢ | +22.0% | +12.7% |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | 22.79¢ | +16.7% | +15.2% |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | 27.98¢ | +15.8% | +9.2% |
| New York | 29.90¢ | 26.22¢ | +14.0% | +13.0% |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | 18.83¢ | +13.7% | +13.6% |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | 13.37¢ | +13.4% | +9.0% |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | 20.55¢ | +12.2% | +8.8% |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | 17.38¢ | +11.9% | +13.0% |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | 12.28¢ | +11.8% | +12.0% |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | 17.22¢ | +11.6% | +10.7% |
The largest increases cluster in the Northeast and in Hawaii, where prices track imported fuel costs. Connecticut recorded the largest fall, -12.5%, one of only 6 jurisdictions where prices went down.
| State | July 2026 | July 2025 | Change | Year to date change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | 27.60¢ | -12.5% | -7.7% |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | 13.12¢ | -3.0% | +5.9% |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | 13.45¢ | -2.5% | +3.4% |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | 14.64¢ | -1.9% | +7.8% |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | 15.11¢ | -0.5% | +1.8% |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | 25.32¢ | -0.5% | +8.7% |
The most and least expensive states
| State | July 2026 | July 2025 | Change | Year to date change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | 39.36¢ | +22.0% | +12.7% |
| California | 33.61¢ | 32.66¢ | +2.9% | +2.5% |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | 27.98¢ | +15.8% | +9.2% |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | 30.07¢ | +1.4% | -0.3% |
| New York | 29.90¢ | 26.22¢ | +14.0% | +13.0% |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | 27.30¢ | +5.6% | +5.0% |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | 26.18¢ | +8.1% | -1.1% |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | 22.79¢ | +16.7% | +15.2% |
| State | July 2026 | July 2025 | Change | Year to date change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | 13.12¢ | -3.0% | +5.9% |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | 12.39¢ | +3.1% | +2.6% |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | 13.45¢ | -2.5% | +3.4% |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | 13.31¢ | +0.8% | +7.4% |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | 13.21¢ | +3.8% | +4.9% |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | 12.28¢ | +11.8% | +12.0% |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | 12.84¢ | +7.3% | +7.2% |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | 13.13¢ | +5.2% | +8.8% |
Electricity in Hawaii costs 3.8 times what it costs in Louisiana. That ratio feeds directly into the economics of heat pumps against fossil fuel heating, which is why our cost of heat by fuel analysis uses state prices rather than a national average.
Every state
| State | July 2026 | July 2025 | Change | Year to date change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | 15.93¢ | +3.0% | +3.6% |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | 27.30¢ | +5.6% | +5.0% |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | 15.34¢ | +0.3% | +0.9% |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | 13.26¢ | +8.1% | +8.0% |
| California | 33.61¢ | 32.66¢ | +2.9% | +2.5% |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | 15.99¢ | +6.3% | +8.0% |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | 27.60¢ | -12.5% | -7.7% |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | 16.58¢ | +11.5% | +6.6% |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | 23.04¢ | +9.4% | +17.8% |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | 15.11¢ | -0.5% | +1.8% |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | 15.56¢ | +4.6% | +4.5% |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | 39.36¢ | +22.0% | +12.7% |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | 12.28¢ | +11.8% | +12.0% |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | 17.22¢ | +11.6% | +10.7% |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | 16.18¢ | +3.4% | +7.4% |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | 15.31¢ | +4.4% | +5.0% |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | 14.46¢ | +5.6% | +6.2% |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | 13.13¢ | +5.2% | +8.8% |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | 13.12¢ | -3.0% | +5.9% |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | 27.98¢ | +15.8% | +9.2% |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | 18.83¢ | +13.7% | +13.6% |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | 30.07¢ | +1.4% | -0.3% |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | 20.55¢ | +12.2% | +8.8% |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | 16.92¢ | +3.1% | +4.2% |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | 13.58¢ | +7.1% | +9.1% |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | 15.56¢ | +3.4% | +5.9% |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | 14.27¢ | +5.0% | +11.3% |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | 12.84¢ | +7.3% | +7.2% |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | 12.39¢ | +3.1% | +2.6% |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | 22.79¢ | +16.7% | +15.2% |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | 25.32¢ | -0.5% | +8.7% |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | 15.80¢ | +1.8% | +2.8% |
| New York | 29.90¢ | 26.22¢ | +14.0% | +13.0% |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | 13.37¢ | +13.4% | +9.0% |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | 13.31¢ | +0.8% | +7.4% |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | 17.38¢ | +11.9% | +13.0% |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | 13.52¢ | +6.1% | +7.8% |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | 15.61¢ | +2.3% | +1.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | 19.51¢ | +11.3% | +12.5% |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | 26.18¢ | +8.1% | -1.1% |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | 14.70¢ | +5.2% | +7.6% |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | 14.52¢ | +5.9% | +10.3% |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | 13.21¢ | +3.8% | +4.9% |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | 15.36¢ | +3.4% | +5.7% |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | 13.45¢ | -2.5% | +3.4% |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | 22.14¢ | +7.3% | +6.6% |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | 15.78¢ | +11.2% | +13.1% |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | 13.45¢ | +9.4% | +13.0% |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | 15.43¢ | +2.3% | +0.8% |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | 18.25¢ | +4.4% | +5.4% |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | 14.64¢ | -1.9% | +7.8% |
Weather drives how much electricity a household uses; price drives what each unit costs. Both moved against households in 2026: our cooling degree day index shows the summer running well above normal.
Frequently asked questions
How much did residential electricity cost in the US in July 2026?
18.31 cents per kilowatt hour on average, up 4.9% from 17.45 cents in July 2025, according to EIA’s Electric Power Monthly. EIA marks the most recent months as preliminary.
Are electricity prices rising in every state?
In most of them. Residential prices were higher in July 2026 than a year earlier in 45 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and lower in 6.
Which state has the most expensive electricity?
Hawaii at 48.00 cents per kilowatt hour in July 2026, followed by California (33.61 cents) and Maine (32.41 cents).
Which state has the cheapest electricity?
Louisiana at 12.72 cents per kilowatt hour, then Nevada (12.77 cents) and Utah (13.12 cents).
Where did electricity prices rise most?
Hawaii (+22.0%), New Hampshire (+16.7%) and Maine (+15.8%), comparing July 2026 with July 2025. Connecticut fell furthest, -12.5%.
What does this mean for running air conditioning?
At the July 2026 national average, 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity cost about $183, against $174 a year earlier. In Hawaii the same 1,000 kilowatt hours cost about $480; in Louisiana, about $127. Actual usage depends on the home, the system and the weather.
Why look at year-to-date as well as one month?
Because a single month moves with fuel costs and billing timing. Year to date through July, the national average was 18.19 cents against 17.01 cents, up 6.9%, which is a steadier read of the trend than any one month.
How often is this updated?
Monthly, when EIA releases the Electric Power Monthly, usually late in the month for data two months earlier. Recent months are revised in later releases.
Methodology and limitations
- Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (average price by state, July 2026 and July 2025) and Table 5.6.B (year to date through July 2026 and 2025), residential sector, cents per kilowatt hour.
- EIA marks recent months preliminary. Figures are revised in later releases and this tracker is refreshed with each.
- Average price is revenue divided by sales for the sector, so it includes fixed and volumetric charges averaged over kilowatt hours. It is not the marginal rate on any tariff.
- Percentage changes are computed here from EIA’s published prices.
- The running-cost example uses a fixed 1,000 kilowatt hours purely to show how price alone changes a bill. It is not an estimate of any household’s air conditioning use.
- Prices are state averages across utilities and rate classes; local utility rates can differ substantially.
- This page replaces the earlier June 2026 edition. Its address has changed; the previous address redirects here.
Sources
- US Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A.
- US Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B.
The HVAC Brief is an independent trade publication. We do not sell equipment, take manufacturer advertising, or accept payment for placement in our research. Corrections welcome.
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