U.S. Electricity Price Trends

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration Electric Power Monthly (April 2026 release), the U.S. residential electricity price has moved from approximately 12.5 ¢/kWh in 2016 to roughly 17,500 hundredths-of-a-cent (about 16.48¢/kWh) in 2024, a 31.3% nominal shift over the period. The residential, commercial, and industrial averages below all draw from EIA Electric Power Monthly, the federal source of record. See our methodology page for refresh cadence and full source attribution.

Current Residential Avg

16.48¢/kWh

+31.3% since 2016

Current Rate

16.48¢/kWh

2024 residential

2016–2024 Change

+31.3%

residential

Cheapest Year

2016

12.55¢/kWh

Most Expensive

2024

16.48¢/kWh

Price Trends by Sector

Residential
Commercial
Industrial
6.7¢ 9.1¢ 11.6¢ 14.0¢ 16.5¢ 20162018202020222024

Annual Average Prices

Year Residential Commercial Industrial
2024 16.48¢/kWh +3.0% 12.75¢/kWh 8.13¢/kWh
2023 16.00¢/kWh +6.4% 12.59¢/kWh 8.04¢/kWh
2022 15.04¢/kWh +10.1% 12.41¢/kWh 8.32¢/kWh
2021 13.66¢/kWh +3.9% 11.22¢/kWh 7.18¢/kWh
2020 13.15¢/kWh +1.1% 10.59¢/kWh 6.67¢/kWh
2019 13.01¢/kWh +1.1% 10.68¢/kWh 6.81¢/kWh
2018 12.87¢/kWh -0.2% 10.67¢/kWh 6.92¢/kWh
2017 12.89¢/kWh +2.7% 10.66¢/kWh 6.88¢/kWh
2016 12.55¢/kWh 10.43¢/kWh 6.76¢/kWh

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Prices in cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Annual averages, 2016–2024.