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Electricity Price Statistics 2026

The average US home paid 18.16 cents per kilowatthour for electricity in August 2026, and the EIA expects an average of 18.21 cents for the full year, up from 17.30 cents in 2025; the BLS electricity price index was up 4.4 percent in the year to September 2026. EU households paid an average of €0.2832 per kWh in the first half of 2026, according to Eurostat, and Ofgem's cap for a typical British household is £1,723 a year from October 2026. Prices range from 47.18 cents per kWh in Hawaii to 12.72 cents in Nevada.

Download CSVCite this pageUpdated November 6, 2026 · 15 sources

This page collects current figures on what households and businesses pay for electricity, how bills are changing and what drives them. It covers US national and state prices and bills from the Energy Information Administration, inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, research from Berkeley Lab and NEADA, the PJM capacity market, European Union prices from Eurostat, the British price cap from Ofgem, provincial data from Statistics Canada, Australian figures from the AER, AEMC and ABS, and global wholesale prices from the IEA. Most figures describe 2025 and 2026; annual US bill data are for 2024, the latest full year published.

US electricity prices are still climbing faster than general inflation. The EIA's Electric Power Monthly put the average residential price at 18.16 cents per kilowatthour in August 2026, and its October outlook expects 18.21 cents for the year and 18.68 cents in 2027. The BLS consumer price index for electricity was up 4.4 percent in the year to September 2026. Berkeley Lab finds residential prices rose 33 percent in nominal terms from 2019 to 2025 and 5.6 percent after inflation, with residential prices rising faster than commercial and industrial ones.

Where you live matters more than any national average. Hawaii paid 47.18 cents per kilowatthour in August 2026 and California 29.75 cents, while Nevada paid 12.72 cents. The EIA's latest annual data put the average US residential bill at $142.26 a month in 2024, with Hawaii the highest at $212.12. Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states in the PJM grid region saw some of the largest increases in 2025, and PJM's capacity auction for 2027/2028 cleared at its $333.44 per megawatt-day cap, which feeds into future bills there.

Affordability is under strain. NEADA projected average summer 2026 electricity spending of about $792, up 10.5 percent, and reports that one in six US households is behind on utility bills, with about 13.5 million electric disconnections in 2024. The EIA expects winter bills for electrically heated homes to rise 4 percent. Berkeley Lab offers some context: the roughly $480 a year added to average bills since 2019 is 2.5 percent of the total rise in household spending.

Outside the US, price levels are higher but trends are mixed. Eurostat puts the EU household average at €0.2832 per kWh in the first half of 2026, slightly lower than late 2025, with Ireland and Germany the most expensive and Romania showing a 51.9 percent jump after support measures ended. Ofgem's cap rose 4 percent to £1,723 a year from October 2026. In Australia, the AER cut default offers for most regions from July 2026, but the ABS shows electricity costs up 12.8 percent because federal rebates ended. The IEA notes that EU wholesale prices averaged about USD 95 per megawatthour in 2025, about twice US levels.

01

Average US electricity prices and how fast they are rising

The average US home paid just over 18 cents per kilowatthour in August 2026, about 3 percent more than a year earlier, and commercial customers paid about 14.5 cents. The EIA expects the residential average for the full year to reach 18.21 cents, up from 17.30 cents in 2025, and to keep rising in 2027. The BLS consumer price index shows the same direction, with electricity up 4.4 percent in the year to September 2026. Berkeley Lab's longer view shows residential prices up a third in nominal terms since 2019 and ahead of general inflation. Monthly figures are preliminary and summer months run higher than the annual average, so compare like months.

Nominal US electricity price increase by customer class, 2019 to 2025

National average retail prices, nominal, 2019 to 2025.

  • Residential33%
  • Industrial27%
  • Commercial26%

Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Retail Electricity Price Trends and Drivers: Data Update, 2026 Edition (July update)

02

Electricity prices and bills by US state

State prices differ by a factor of almost four. Hawaii, which burns imported oil for much of its power, paid over 47 cents per kilowatthour in August 2026, while Nevada paid under 13 cents. California is the most expensive state on the mainland at nearly 30 cents. Bills depend on usage as well as price: the latest annual EIA data, for 2024, put the average US residential bill at $142.26 a month, with Hawaii the highest. States in the PJM grid region saw some of the largest price increases in 2025 as capacity costs rose. State monthly figures for 2026 are preliminary and can be revised.

03

US household bills, affordability and wholesale cost drivers

Higher prices and hotter summers combine in household bills. NEADA projected that summer 2026 electricity spending would rise about 10.5 percent to roughly $792, and the EIA expects bills for homes heating with electricity to rise 4 percent this winter. Arrears are widespread, with one in six households behind on utility bills. On the cost side, wholesale power prices rose in 2026, led by the PJM region, where the capacity auction for 2027/2028 cleared at its price cap. Berkeley Lab puts the rise in bills since 2019 in context: about $480 a year, a small share of total household spending growth. Forecasts and projections here can change with weather and fuel prices.

  • $792

    NEADA projected that average US residential electricity spending in summer 2026 would reach about $792, up 10.5 percent from $717 in summer 2025.

    National Energy Assistance Directors Association · Summer Cooling Costs Projected to Hit Record Highs as Household Electric Bills Rise 10.5% (Jun 2026)

    Exact quote

    American households are projected to spend significantly more to cool their homes this summer, with average residential electricity expenditures expected to increase 10.5%, rising from $717 in 2025 to approximately $792 in 2026, according to a new report released today by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate.

  • One in six

    One in six US households is behind on its utility bills, according to NEADA's June 2026 report.

    National Energy Assistance Directors Association · Summer Cooling Costs Projected to Hit Record Highs as Household Electric Bills Rise 10.5% (Jun 2026)

    Exact quote

    One in six U.S. households is behind on its utility bills.

  • 13.5 million

    US utilities disconnected electric service about 13.5 million times in 2024.

    National Energy Assistance Directors Association · Summer Cooling Costs Projected to Hit Record Highs as Household Electric Bills Rise 10.5% (Jun 2026)

    Exact quote

    Utilities disconnected electric service approximately 13.5 million times in 2024.

  • 4%

    The EIA expects households that heat mainly with electricity to see a 4 percent increase in winter electricity bills in 2026-27, driven by a 3 percent rise in residential prices.

    U.S. Energy Information Administration · Winter Fuels Outlook 2026-27 (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    we expect a 3% increase in residential electricity prices and slightly higher consumption will lead to a 4% increase in electricity bills.

  • $480

    Average US residential electricity bills rose by about $480 a year from 2019 to 2025, equal to 2.5 percent of the total increase in household spending.

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory · Retail Electricity Price Trends and Drivers: Data Update, 2026 Edition (July update) (Jul 2026)

    Exact quote

    average residential electricity bills increased by ~$480/yr, equal to 2.5% of the total

  • $52/MWh

    The EIA expects US wholesale electricity prices to average $52 per megawatthour in 2026 across the 11 hubs it tracks, 11 percent higher than in 2025.

    U.S. Energy Information Administration · Short-Term Energy Outlook, October 2026 (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    We anticipate wholesale electricity prices in 2026 to average $52 per megawatthour (MWh) across the 11 hubs we track, which is 11% higher than in 2025.

  • 41%

    Wholesale electricity prices in the PJM region, which covers 13 states and DC, are forecast to rise 41 percent in 2026, the largest increase of any US region.

    U.S. Energy Information Administration · Short-Term Energy Outlook, October 2026 (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    We forecast wholesale prices in the PJM region this year will increase by 41% compared with 2025, the largest increase across all regions.

  • $333.44

    PJM's capacity auction for June 2027 to May 2028 cleared at the price cap of $333.44 per megawatt-day, up 1.3 percent from the previous auction.

    PJM Interconnection · PJM Auction Procures 134,479 MW of Generation Resources (Dec 2025)

    Exact quote

    The price came in at the FERC-approved cap, $333.44/MW-day (UCAP) for the entire PJM footprint, a slight increase (+1.3%) from the 2026/2027 Base Residual Auction.

  • $16.4 billion

    The cleared supply in PJM's 2027/2028 capacity auction multiplied by the clearing price totals $16.4 billion.

    PJM Interconnection · PJM Auction Procures 134,479 MW of Generation Resources (Dec 2025)

    Exact quote

    The cleared supply in the auction times the clearing price totals $16.4 billion, although not all load pays this clearing price because of the impact of self-supply and bilateral contract arrangements.

04

Electricity prices in the European Union

EU households paid an average of €0.2832 per kilowatthour including taxes in the first half of 2026, slightly below the second half of 2025. Prices range from €0.11 in Hungary to almost €0.39 in Ireland, and year-on-year changes ran from a 51.9 percent rise in Romania, where support measures ended, to a 31.7 percent fall in Denmark. Taxes and levies made up 28.4 percent of the EU household price. Business customers paid less, €0.18 per kilowatthour on average, and their prices fell 5.4 percent in a year. Eurostat household prices refer to medium consumers using 2,500 to 5,000 kWh a year, so smaller or larger users pay different rates.

Largest increases in EU household electricity prices, first half of 2026 vs 2025

Change in national currency, all taxes included, first half of 2026 against first half of 2025.

  • Romania51.9%
  • Ireland19.8%
  • Finland18.4%

Source: Eurostat, Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained)

  • €0.2832

    The average EU household electricity price, including taxes, was €0.2832 per kilowatthour in the first half of 2026.

    Eurostat · Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained) (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    The EU average price in the first half of 2026 – a weighted average using the most recent (2024) consumption data for electricity by household consumers – was €0.2832 per kWh.

  • €0.3871

    Ireland had the highest household electricity price in the EU in the first half of 2026 at €0.3871 per kilowatthour, followed by Germany and Belgium.

    Eurostat · Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained) (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    electricity prices in the first half of 2026 were highest in Ireland (€0.3871 per kWh), Germany (€0.3618 per kWh), and Belgium (€0.3575 per kWh) (see Figure 1).

  • €0.1139

    Hungary had the lowest household electricity price in the EU in the first half of 2026 at €0.1139 per kilowatthour.

    Eurostat · Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained) (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    The lowest prices were observed in Hungary (€0.1139 per kWh), Malta (€0.1268 per kWh), and Bulgaria (€0.1341 per kWh).

  • 51.9%

    Romania recorded the largest year-on-year rise in household electricity prices in the EU, 51.9 percent from the first half of 2025 to the first half of 2026.

    Eurostat · Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained) (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    The largest increase was observed in Romania (51.9%), followed by Ireland (19.8%), and Finland (18.4%).

  • -31.7%

    Denmark recorded the largest fall in household electricity prices in the EU, down 31.7 percent year on year in the first half of 2026.

    Eurostat · Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained) (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    Denmark (-31.7%), Luxembourg (-24.1%), and Czechia (-11.8%) were the 3 EU countries to record the largest decreases.

  • 28.4%

    Taxes and levies made up 28.4 percent of the average EU household electricity price in the first half of 2026.

    Eurostat · Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained) (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    At EU level, taxes and levies accounted for 28.4% of the total household electricity price in the first half of 2026, down 0.5 percentage points (pp) from the second half of 2025.

  • €0.1800

    The average EU electricity price for non-household (business) consumers was €0.1800 per kilowatthour in the first half of 2026.

    Eurostat · Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained) (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    The EU average price in the first half of 2026 was €0.1800 per kWh.

  • 5.4%

    EU non-household electricity prices fell 5.4 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the first half of 2025.

    Eurostat · Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained) (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    Electricity prices for non-household consumers in the EU fell by 5.4% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 and by 2.0% from the second half of 2025.

  • €0.2666

    Business electricity prices in the first half of 2026 ranged from €0.2666 per kilowatthour in Ireland to €0.0928 in Finland.

    Eurostat · Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained) (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    Non-household electricity prices in the EU were highest in Ireland (€0.2666 per kWh) and lowest in Finland (€0.0928 per kWh) in the first half of 2026.

05

Electricity prices in the UK and Canada

Great Britain's price cap sets the maximum unit rate and standing charge suppliers can charge on default tariffs. From October to December 2026 the typical dual-fuel cap is £1,723 a year, up 4 percent, with electricity capped at 26.32 pence per kilowatthour plus a daily standing charge of 54.83 pence. VAT on electricity is suspended from October 2026 to March 2027, so the cap is not directly comparable with earlier periods. In Canada, provincial utilities set rates, and Statistics Canada's CPI release points to electricity as a driver of faster inflation in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in mid-2026. Canadian price levels vary widely by province, so national averages hide large differences.

  • £1,723

    The Ofgem price cap for a typical household paying by Direct Debit in England, Scotland and Wales is £1,723 a year from 1 October to 31 December 2026, up 4 percent from the previous period.

    Ofgem · Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (Aug 2026)

    Exact quote

    From 1 October to 31 December 2026, the price cap will be £1,723 per year. This has gone up by 4% compared to the last price cap period.

  • 26.32p

    The average capped electricity unit rate in Great Britain is 26.32 pence per kilowatthour for Direct Debit customers from October to December 2026, up from 26.11 pence.

    Ofgem · Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (Aug 2026)

    Exact quote

    Electricity 26.11 pence per kWh 57.19 pence daily standing charge 26.32 pence per kWh 54.83 pence daily standing charge

  • 54.83p

    The average capped electricity standing charge in Great Britain fell to 54.83 pence a day from October 2026, from 57.19 pence.

    Ofgem · Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (Aug 2026)

    Exact quote

    Electricity 26.11 pence per kWh 57.19 pence daily standing charge 26.32 pence per kWh 54.83 pence daily standing charge

  • 3.3%

    Electricity prices in Nova Scotia rose 3.3 percent year over year in July 2026, helping make the province's inflation rate the highest in Canada at 5.0 percent.

    Statistics Canada · The Daily: Consumer Price Index, July 2026 (Aug 2026)

    Exact quote

    Nova Scotia had the highest rate of inflation among the provinces at 5.0% in July. Driving the acceleration were higher prices for electricity (+3.3%) and rent (+8.7%).

  • 4.4%

    Electricity prices in New Brunswick rose 4.4 percent year over year in July 2026.

    Statistics Canada · The Daily: Consumer Price Index, July 2026 (Aug 2026)

    Exact quote

    In New Brunswick, faster price growth was led by higher prices for electricity (+4.4%) and traveller accommodation (+4.5%).

06

Electricity prices in Australia

Australian household prices moved in two directions in 2026. The regulated default market offer fell for most households from July 2026, by 3.4 to 5.0 percent in New South Wales and 7.2 percent in south east Queensland, while South Australia rose 1.4 percent. Yet the consumer price index shows electricity costs up 12.8 percent in the year to September 2026, mainly because federal bill rebates ended. Network charges make up the largest part of the default offer. The AEMC's 10-year outlook expects prices to fall to 2030 and then rise if new renewable supply is delayed. The default offer applies only to standing offers, and many households pay less on market offers.

  • 3.4% to 5.0%

    The default market offer for residential customers in New South Wales is 3.4 to 5.0 percent lower in 2026-27 than in 2025-26.

    Australian Energy Regulator · Default market offer prices 2026-27: Final determination (May 2026)

    Exact quote

    In NSW, compared with DMO 7, final determination prices are between 3.4% and 5.0% lower for residential customers and between 9.0% and 11.3% lower for small business customers.

  • 7.2%

    The default market offer for residential customers in south east Queensland is 7.2 percent lower in 2026-27.

    Australian Energy Regulator · Default market offer prices 2026-27: Final determination (May 2026)

    Exact quote

    In SE Queensland, compared with DMO 7, final determination prices are 7.2% lower for residential customers and 10.4% lower for small business customers.

  • 1.4%

    South Australia is the only region where the residential default market offer rose in 2026-27, by 1.4 percent.

    Australian Energy Regulator · Default market offer prices 2026-27: Final determination (May 2026)

    Exact quote

    In South Australia, compared with DMO 7, final determination prices are 1.4% higher for residential customers and 6.8% lower for small business customers.

  • 39% to 54%

    Network costs make up around 39 to 54 percent of Australian default market offer prices in 2026-27.

    Australian Energy Regulator · Default market offer prices 2026-27: Final determination (May 2026)

    Exact quote

    Network costs are a large component of DMO prices, comprising around 39% to 54% of DMO prices.

  • 12.8%

    Australian consumer electricity costs rose 12.8 percent in the 12 months to September 2026, largely because Commonwealth electricity rebates ended.

    Australian Bureau of Statistics · Consumer Price Index, Australia, September 2026 (Oct 2026)

    Exact quote

    The annual rise of 12.8% in electricity costs is largely due to the ending of Commonwealth electricity rebates over the year.

  • 5%

    The AEMC projects Australian residential electricity prices to fall 5 percent to 2030 and then rise 13 percent from 2030 to 2035 if renewable deployment falls behind demand.

    Australian Energy Market Commission · Residential Electricity Price Trends 2025 (Dec 2025)

    Exact quote

    We project prices to fall by 5% to 2030 as new renewables get built, and then rise by 13% during 2030-2035 if renewable deployment doesn't keep pace with growing demand.

  • 90%

    Australian households that fully electrify can cut their total energy costs by up to 90 percent, with a typical payback period of 4 years, according to the AEMC.

    Australian Energy Market Commission · Residential Electricity Price Trends 2025 (Dec 2025)

    Exact quote

    Households that fully electrify can reduce their total energy costs by up to 90%, with a typical payback period of just 4 years.

07

Global wholesale electricity prices

Wholesale power is only one part of a retail bill, but it sets the direction for supply costs. The IEA found that the EU had the highest average wholesale price among major markets in 2025, about USD 95 per megawatthour, roughly twice the US and Indian level, and that EU prices for energy-intensive industry were more than twice US levels. At the same time, negative wholesale prices became more common in Europe as solar output grew, reaching 6 percent of hours in several countries. Wholesale prices are converted to US dollars at average exchange rates, which affects comparisons.

  • USD 95/MWh

    The average EU wholesale electricity price in 2025 was about USD 95 per megawatthour, up around 10 percent from 2024.

    International Energy Agency · Electricity 2026: Prices (Feb 2026)

    Exact quote

    The average EU wholesale price in 2025 was up around 10% y-o-y to about USD 95/MWh, in line with the 9% increase in the Title Transfer Facility (TTF) natural gas price at the trading hub in the Netherlands.

  • 50%

    EU electricity prices for energy-intensive industries averaged over twice US levels in 2025 and nearly 50 percent above those in China.

    International Energy Agency · Electricity 2026: Prices (Feb 2026)

    Exact quote

    EU electricity prices for energy‑intensive industries stayed elevated in 2025, again averaging over twice US levels and nearly 50% above those in China, similar to 2024, adding competitive pressure.

  • 6%

    Negative wholesale electricity prices occurred in 6 percent of hours in 2025 in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, up from around 3 to 5 percent in 2024.

    International Energy Agency · Electricity 2026: Prices (Feb 2026)

    Exact quote

    Many European markets continued to see more frequent negative prices, with the proportion of hours with negative prices reaching 6% in 2025 in countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain – compared to around 3-5% in 2024.

FAQ

What is the average price of electricity in the US?

The EIA reports an average residential price of 18.16 cents per kilowatthour in August 2026 and forecasts 18.21 cents for 2026 as a whole, up from 17.30 cents in 2025. Commercial customers paid 14.47 cents in August 2026.

Which US state has the most expensive electricity?

Hawaii, at 47.18 cents per kilowatthour in August 2026, according to the EIA. California was the most expensive state on the mainland at 29.75 cents, and Nevada was the cheapest at 12.72 cents.

How much is the average US electricity bill?

The EIA's latest annual data put the average residential bill at $142.26 a month in 2024, based on 863 kilowatthours of use. NEADA projected average summer 2026 electricity spending of about $792, up 10.5 percent from 2025.

Why are electricity prices going up?

The EIA points to higher wholesale prices, which it expects to average $52 per megawatthour in 2026, 11 percent above 2025, along with transmission and distribution upgrades and capacity costs. In the PJM region, wholesale prices are forecast to rise 41 percent in 2026 and the latest capacity auction cleared at its cap.

How do European electricity prices compare with the US?

Eurostat puts the EU household average at €0.2832 per kWh in the first half of 2026, well above the US average of about 18 cents. The IEA found EU wholesale prices averaged about USD 95 per megawatthour in 2025, roughly twice US levels.

What is the UK energy price cap now?

Ofgem's cap for a typical household paying by Direct Debit is £1,723 a year from 1 October to 31 December 2026, up 4 percent. The average capped electricity rate is 26.32 pence per kWh with a standing charge of 54.83 pence a day.

Methodology note

We used the latest releases available on 6 November 2026: the EIA Electric Power Monthly with data for August 2026 (released October 23, 2026), the EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook and Winter Fuels Outlook of October 2026, EIA annual sales and bill data for 2024, the September 2026 CPI from the BLS, Berkeley Lab's 2026 retail price trends update, NEADA's June 2026 summer report, PJM's December 2025 capacity auction release, Eurostat's electricity price statistics for the first half of 2026, Ofgem's price cap for October to December 2026, Statistics Canada's July 2026 CPI release, the AER's final default market offer for 2026-27, the AEMC's 2025 price trends report, the ABS CPI for September 2026 and the IEA's Electricity 2026 report. Monthly EIA state figures for 2026 are preliminary and summer prices run above annual averages. Prices are quoted in the publisher's own currency and units: cents per kWh in the US, euros per kWh for the EU, pence for Great Britain. Eurostat figures cover medium household consumers and include taxes. The Ofgem cap is a limit on unit rates and standing charges, not on total bills, and Australian default offers apply only to standing offers. Forecasts and projections from the EIA, NEADA and the AEMC can change. Every quote is re-fetched from the source by our checker. See how we rank and verify.

Sources

  1. 1Australian Bureau of Statistics: Consumer Price Index, Australia, September 2026
  2. 2Australian Energy Market Commission: Residential Electricity Price Trends 2025
  3. 3Australian Energy Regulator: Default market offer prices 2026-27: Final determination
  4. 4Eurostat: Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained)
  5. 5International Energy Agency: Electricity 2026: Prices
  6. 6Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Retail Electricity Price Trends and Drivers: Data Update, 2026 Edition (July update)
  7. 7National Energy Assistance Directors Association: Summer Cooling Costs Projected to Hit Record Highs as Household Electric Bills Rise 10.5%
  8. 8Ofgem: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
  9. 9PJM Interconnection: PJM Auction Procures 134,479 MW of Generation Resources
  10. 10Statistics Canada: The Daily: Consumer Price Index, July 2026
  11. 11U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index, September 2026
  12. 12U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, August 2026 and 2025
  13. 13U.S. Energy Information Administration: Short-Term Energy Outlook, October 2026
  14. 14U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price, Table 5A: 2024 Average Monthly Bill, Residential
  15. 15U.S. Energy Information Administration: Winter Fuels Outlook 2026-27

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Rankozo. (2026, November 6). Electricity Price Statistics 2026. https://rankozo.com/electricity-price-statistics

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