How to Read Your Electric Bill: kWh, Supply vs. Delivery, Fixed Charges and Riders
A line-by-line guide to your electric bill: kWh usage, supply and delivery charges, fixed customer charges, riders and taxes, and how to find your real cost per kWh.
Estimate your monthly electric bill from your usage, and see how it compares with the average home in your state.
State rates are 12-month residential averages from EIA, through August 2026. Use the rate on your own bill for the most accurate result.
Bill ≈ kWh × rate + fixed charges. State averages come from EIA residential revenue, sales and customer counts. The average rate already spreads most fixed charges over usage, so leave fixed charges at 0 when you use state averages.
| State | 12-mo rate | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 1,500 kWh | Avg bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 32.34¢ | $162 | $323 | $485 | $164 |
| Texas | 15.98¢ | $80 | $160 | $240 | $178 |
| Florida | 15.41¢ | $77 | $154 | $231 | $169 |
| New York | 28.60¢ | $143 | $286 | $429 | $168 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.86¢ | $104 | $209 | $313 | $174 |
| Illinois | 18.91¢ | $95 | $189 | $284 | $132 |
| North Carolina | 14.79¢ | $74 | $148 | $222 | $154 |
| Ohio | 18.41¢ | $92 | $184 | $276 | $159 |
| Georgia | 15.17¢ | $76 | $152 | $228 | $164 |
| Michigan | 21.28¢ | $106 | $213 | $319 | $134 |
| New Jersey | 23.74¢ | $119 | $237 | $356 | $160 |
| Virginia | 16.64¢ | $83 | $166 | $250 | $177 |
The average US residential bill was $209 in August 2026 for 1,152 kWh, based on EIA data.
Multiply your monthly kWh by your price per kWh, then add your utility's fixed monthly charge, taxes and fees.
At the US average rate of 18.16¢, 1,000 kWh costs about $182 before fixed charges and taxes. It ranges from about $124 in North Dakota to $443 in Hawaii.
Usage changes with heating and cooling, and some utilities adjust prices through the year. Seasonal fuel costs can move supply prices too.
A line-by-line guide to your electric bill: kWh usage, supply and delivery charges, fixed customer charges, riders and taxes, and how to find your real cost per kWh.
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