Energy, Maps

How Much Does Your State Pay for Electricity?

Electricity and utility rates are a considerable part of a consumer’s monthly expenses. A varity of factors determine what consumers pay for electricity. Alaska, Hawaii, and California are amongst the most expensive states for electricity. Many northern states are raising their rates – these states also tend to be cold, where consumers will end up using the heat frequently during the winter months. States like New York, Vermont, and New Jersey are all encroaching on 15 cents per kWh. Some southern and Midwestern states pay no more than 10 cents per kWh. Several states, including Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Iowa, are the cheapest energy markets in the country, with their residents paying less than 10 cents per kWh. The map below shows what states pay more – the darker the blue, the higher the price.

The state of Nebraska’s Nebraska Energy Office website maintains a list of the energy rates across all 50 states and D.C. Click here for their list. (http://www.neo.ne.gov/statshtml/204/204_2016.htm).

Understanding Regulated vs. Deregulated Energy Markets

The U.S. is divided into regulated and deregulated markets. According to Energy Smart, (https://www.energysmart.enernoc.com/regulated-and-deregulated-energy-markets-explained) consumers in deregulated markets (such as Texas or Ohio) can not only find electricity rates and plans offered by local utilities but they can sign up to a new rate and plan, as well. Consumers in regulated markets (including Nevada and Arizona) are only allowed access to centralized electricity systems provided by and controlled by the government.

What Determines the Cost of Electricity?

Electric Choice reports (https://www.electricchoice.com/electricity-prices-by-state/) that there are several primary factors that determine how much consumers pay for electricity:
• Time of use (some utilities may charge less during off-peak hours)
• Month/season of use (summer rates may be higher than winter rates in certain areas)
• State/locale of residence (there are different prices by region, as well as for regulated vs. deregulated states)
• Amount of use (consumption)
• What the specific provider or utility charges

The full list of electricity rates by state can be seen below.

Annual Average Price per Kilowatthour by State
(Lowest to Highest Rate as of 2016)
Rank	State	Average Electricity Rate for All Sectors (Cents per Kilowatthour)
1	Louisiana	7.46
2	Washington	7.68
3	Oklahoma	7.83
4	Idaho	8.08
5	Arkansas	8.13
6	Wyoming	8.19
7	Nevada	8.38
8	Kentucky	8.42
9	Texas	8.43
10	Iowa	8.55
11	Mississippi	8.67
12	Utah	8.72
13	Oregon	8.83
14	Montana	8.84
15	North Dakota	8.94
16	West Virginia	8.98
17	Nebraska	9.05
18	Virginia	9.09
19	New Mexico	9.12
20	North Carolina	9.20
21	Indiana	9.22
22	Tennessee	9.23
23	Illinois	9.38
24	Alabama	9.56
25	Georgia	9.59
26	Missouri	9.74
27	South Carolina	9.79
28	South Dakota	9.83
28	Colorado	9.83
29	Ohio	9.84
30	Florida	9.91
31	Minnesota	9.99
32	Pennsylvania	10.19
	National Average	10.27
33	Arizona	10.33
34	Kansas	10.49
35	Wisconsin	10.67
36	Michigan	11.05
37	Delaware	11.09
38	District of Columbia	11.73
39	Maryland	12.21
40	Maine	12.80
41	New Jersey	13.38
42	Vermont	14.46
43	New York	14.47
44	California	15.23
45	New Hampshire	15.66
46	Rhode Island	16.28
47	Massachusetts	16.48
48	Connecticut	17.24
49	Alaska	17.93
50	Hawaii	23.87