Average Electric Bill Cost Per Month 2026 by kWh Usage and State

The nationwide average residential customer uses about 886 kWh/month at an all-in total rate of roughly 17.2 cents per kWh including taxes, surcharges, and fees. That equals an average of approximately $152 per month. Real bills range from $65 for a mild-climate studio to $550+ for a large northern home with electric heat in January.

HVAC (central AC and electric heat or heat pump) is #1 at 35-50% of total usage depending on climate. Electric water heater is #2 at 14-20%, clothes dryer #3 at 5-9%, refrigerator #4 at 4-8%. Everything else combined (lighting, cooking, electronics, small appliances) is the remaining 25-35%.

If you are willing and able to shift heavy loads (dishwasher, laundry, water heater, EV charging) out of the 4pm-9pm peak window, most households save 15-22% vs. a standard tiered plan. If you cannot shift usage and peak is 2-3x the off-peak rate, you will actually pay more on TOU.

Check for three things: 1) A stuck HVAC relay causing the condenser to run 24/7 regardless of thermostat, 2) A burned-out lower element in the water heater forcing constant top-up heating, 3) A failed refrigerator compressor seal, or the simplest: you changed rate plans mid-cycle and did not notice the new higher all-in per-kWh rate.

Yes. A basic $25 programmable or $80 smart thermostat with a set-it-and-forget-it schedule saves 8-12% on heating and cooling costs per Energy Department data, paying for itself in 2-7 months. It is the single highest-ROI $25 upgrade you can make to a home.