Multiple Sources · 51 states
States With Cheapest Electricity
Electricity costs directly affect household budgets, business competitiveness, and economic development. States with the cheapest electricity benefit from abundant hydroelectric power, natural gas, or wind resources. Electricity prices are influenced by fuel costs, power plant efficiency, transmission infrastructure, and generation mix. Low prices attract energy-intensive industries like data centers and manufacturing. For households, electricity costs range from about $80/month in the cheapest states to over $200/month in the most expensive, making this a significant quality-of-life factor.
Key Findings
- 1North Dakota leads with a residential electricity price (cents/kWh) of 11.81c, followed by Idaho (11.82c) and Nebraska (12.34c).
- 2Hawaii ranks last at 40.59c, while North Dakota leads at 11.81c.
- 3The national median across all states is 15.37c (Oregon at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: North Dakota, Idaho, Nebraska, Louisiana, Arkansas, Montana, Utah, Washington, Oklahoma, Nevada.
Full Ranking: States With Cheapest Electricity
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | cents/kWh | Renewable % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 13.4 | 25.6 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 18.2 | 12.3 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 15.4 | 7 |
| 4 | Washington | 13.1 | 69.5 |
| 5 | Virginia | 15.3 | 11.4 |
| 6 | Vermont | 22.9 | 99.8 |
| 7 | Utah | 13.1 | 20.9 |
| 8 | Texas | 15.5 | 29.4 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 13.2 | 13.8 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 13.4 | 81.6 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 15 | 7.1 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 29.5 | 10 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 19.3 | 3.5 |
| 14 | Oregon | 15.4 | 61.4 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 13.1 | 42.7 |
| 16 | Ohio | 17 | 5.3 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 11.8 | 39.5 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 14 | 13.8 |
| 19 | New York | 26.4 | 30 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 15.1 | 49.4 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 22.6 | 3.8 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 24.6 | 14.9 |
| 23 | Nevada | 13.2 | 40.2 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 12.3 | 35.9 |
| 25 | Montana | 13 | 57.4 |
| 26 | Missouri | 13.5 | 12.1 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 14 | 4.3 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 15.8 | 32.6 |
| 29 | Michigan | 20 | 12 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 30.5 | 19.6 |
| 31 | Maryland | 19.5 | 10.7 |
| 32 | Maine | 27.8 | 53.8 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 12.6 | 4.1 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 13.2 | 7.1 |
| 35 | Kansas | 14.6 | 52 |
| 36 | Iowa | 13.7 | 65.5 |
| 37 | Indiana | 16.2 | 14.4 |
| 38 | Illinois | 17.7 | 15.3 |
| 39 | Idaho | 11.8 | 68.3 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 40.6 | 21.2 |
| 41 | Georgia | 14.7 | 12.5 |
| 42 | Florida | 15.2 | 8.2 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 21.9 | 46.8 |
| 44 | Delaware | 17.1 | 4.4 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 29.4 | 3.1 |
| 46 | Colorado | 15.9 | 41.3 |
| 47 | California | 32.5 | 50.8 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 12.8 | 10.2 |
| 49 | Arizona | 15.3 | 16.3 |
| 50 | Alaska | 26.1 | 28.2 |
| 51 | Alabama | 16.1 | 9 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
North Dakota has the highest residential electricity price (cents/kWh) at 11.81c, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Idaho and Nebraska round out the top three.
Hawaii has the lowest residential electricity price (cents/kWh) at 40.59c. California is second-lowest at 32.54c.
The median across all 51 states is 15.37c. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently — the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.