What does electricity cost in your state, and does solar pay off?
Compare residential electricity prices and explore solar simple-payback estimates. US residential average: 17.3¢/kWh in 2025. Data refreshed 2026-10-21.
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10 most expensive states
| State ↕ | 2025 residential ¢/kWh ↕ |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | 40.59 |
| California | 32.54 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46 |
| Connecticut | 29.38 |
| Maine | 27.78 |
| New York | 26.39 |
| Alaska | 26.09 |
| New Hampshire | 24.56 |
| Vermont | 22.92 |
10 least expensive states
| State ↕ | 2025 residential ¢/kWh ↕ |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | 11.81 |
| Idaho | 11.82 |
| Nebraska | 12.34 |
| Louisiana | 12.57 |
| Arkansas | 12.84 |
| Montana | 12.98 |
| Utah | 13.07 |
| Washington | 13.11 |
| Oklahoma | 13.12 |
| Nevada | 13.15 |
Annual residential average prices, 2025; includes DC. Your utility tariff may differ. Sources and methods.
Guides
- How to read your electric billHow to read an electric bill: usage, fixed charges, supply and delivery, and comparing billing periods.
- Net metering basicsHow net metering and net billing credit exported solar power, and what to ask your utility.
- Solar payback explainedWhat a simple solar payback estimate includes, what it leaves out, and how to test the assumptions.
- Solar without the federal tax credit in 2026Solar after the federal 25D credit ended: comparing quotes before incentives and checking state programs.
- What is a kilowatt-hour?What a kilowatt-hour is, how it differs from power, and where to find it on your bill.