Average Electric Bill in The U.S. (2023)

As part of RubyHome's real estate statistics series, we're diving into electric bills in the U.S. including the monthly national average electricity bill, residential energy costs in each state, and the key factors that can significantly impact your monthly electricity expenses.

Whether you're conducting research, planning a move, or simply curious about energy trends, join us as we shed light on electricity costs across the nation.

• What Is the Average Electric Bill in The U.S.?
• Average Electric Bill by State
• Factors That Impact Electric Bills

Key Electric Bill Stats

• The average electricity bill in the U.S. was $137 per month in 2022.

• The average residential electricity price in the U.S. is $.16 cents per kilowatt-hour.
• Hawaii ($200), Connecticut ($176), and Alabama ($166) have the highest average monthly electric bills in the nation.
• The average electric bill for a 1-bedroom apartment comes in around 35% less than what a typical household can expect to pay.
• Two-member households typically have energy bills that are 39% higher than single-member households.

What Is the Average Electric Bill in The U.S.?

The average electricity bill in the U.S. was $137 per month in 2022. This was up 13% from $121 per month in 2021. After adjusting for inflation which reached a 40-year high of 8% in 2022, we still see an average electricity bill increase of 5%.

The rise in electricity demand in 2022 was due to a variety of factors including higher fuel costs for power plants and increased heating and cooling from more extreme temperatures than normal.

As of 2023, the average residential electricity price in the U.S. is 15.9 cents per kilowatt-hour. The first few months of 2023 saw a slight year-over-year increase in electricity bill prices, coming in 2-5% higher than the average bills in 2022.

Seasonal Energy Bill Changes

Since nearly 90% of U.S. households use air conditioning, energy consumption is at its peak in most regions during the summertime. The fall and spring tend to have the lowest demand as outdoor temperatures in many parts of the country are not vastly different from what’s comfortable inside.

During winter months costs tend to rise, but normally don’t surpass the costs of the peak summer months. It’s worth noting that around 60% of Americans use natural gas to heat their homes in the wintertime.

Average Electric Bill by State

Hawaii has the highest average monthly electricity bill at $200 per month. Connecticut ($176), Alabama ($166), South Carolina ($156), and Massachusetts ($154) rounded out the top 5.

Only in Utah ($91) and New Mexico ($98) can the average homeowner still expect to have their electricity bills come in under $100 per month.

Here’s a full list of the estimated average monthly electricity bills for all states in 2022.

Factors That Impact Electric Bills

The size of the home, number of household members, age of the home (old construction vs. newer green construction), climate, state electricity rates, and other factors can all have an impact on how much one can expect to pay for electricity every month.

Size and Type of Home

Renters catch a bit of a break as apartments have lower electricity bills as they are generally smaller than single-family homes, have fewer walls exposed to the outside, and fewer always-on devices.

The average electricity bill for a 1-bedroom apartment comes in around $89 per month, 35% less than what a typical household can expect to pay. Electricity bills average $123 for 2-bedroom apartments.

Number of People Living in the Home

Certain electricity costs such as air conditioning, the refrigerator, and freezer stay relatively constant regardless of the number of household members there are.

With other appliances such as TVs, dishwashers, and laundry machines, having more members in the household contributes to more electricity use, even if all those devices are smart home enabled.

Two-member households typically have energy bills that are 39% higher than single-member households. Going from two members to three members sees on average a further 18% increase in electricity costs.

Other Factors

Costs of electricity can vary due to changing market conditions and regulatory changes.

The age and type of home can have an impact on electricity consumption, with newer and better-insulated homes generally not needing as much.

Finally, climate and weather can have an impact on electricity consumption as heating and cooling to keep a comfortable living environment indoors can require a lot of electricity.

Conclusion

The average electricity bill in the United States varies significantly from state to state, with Hawaii, Connecticut, and Alabama having some of the highest monthly bills.

What’s more, the type of household and its size can also impact electricity costs, with two and three-member households experiencing notably higher bills compared to single-member households.

With electricity bills trending upward in recent years and outpacing inflation by 5% in 2022, we will see how this trend develops in the years to come.

Sources

U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electricity Prices)

U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electricity Bills by State)