The Rising Cost Of Electricity In The United States

Across the U.S., Americans are paying roughly 30% more for electricity than in 2020.

This graphic, via Visual Capitalist's Cody Good in partnership with the National Public Utilities Council, uses data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration to show the change in average retail electricity prices by state across all sectors from 2020 to 2025.

Where Electricity Prices Rose the Most

Washington, DC saw the largest increase in the country, with average retail electricity prices rising 72% between 2020 and 2025. Maine followed closely at 67%, while Maryland and California rose 52% and 50%, respectively.

State Abbreviation	State	Change in Electricity Price, All Sectors 2020-2025 (%)
DC	Washington, D.C.	72
ME	Maine	67
MD	Maryland	52
CA	California	50
RI	Rhode Island	47
PA	Pennsylvania	46
NY	New York	45
MA	Massachusetts	44
IL	Illinois	43
CT	Connecticut	39
DE	Delaware	38
NJ	New Jersey	35
NH	New Hampshire	31
FL	Florida	30
HI	Hawaii	28
LA	Louisiana	27
AL	Alabama	26
MS	Mississippi	26
NV	Nevada	26
AR	Arkansas	25
VA	Virginia	25
WV	West Virginia	25
IN	Indiana	24
MI	Michigan	24
AZ	Arizona	23
WA	Washington	23
OH	Ohio	22
TN	Tennessee	22
VT	Vermont	22
CO	Colorado	21
UT	Utah	21
WI	Wisconsin	21
ID	Idaho	19
MO	Missouri	19
MN	Minnesota	18
NC	North Carolina	18
OR	Oregon	17
OK	Oklahoma	16
KS	Kentucky	15
AK	Alaska	14
GA	Georgia	14
TX	Texas	14
MT	Montana	13
SD	South Dakota	13
IA	Iowa	11
KS	Kansas	9
NM	New Mexico	9
SC	South Carolina	7
NE	Nebraska	-1
WY	Wyoming	-1
ND	North Dakota	-18

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

Data shows percent growth in average retail electricity prices across all sectors from 2020 to 2025.

Many of the largest increases were concentrated in coastal and Northeastern markets, where retail electricity prices have climbed sharply since 2020.

The U.S. Interior Tells a Different Story

While most states saw higher electricity prices, a few moved in the opposite direction. North Dakota had the largest decrease, with average retail electricity prices falling 18% from 2020 to 2025.

Nebraska and Wyoming also posted slight declines, each falling 1%.

This contrast shows how electricity costs can vary widely across the country depending on regional generation mixes, fuel costs, grid needs, regulations, and local market conditions.

The Bigger Impact of Rising Electricity Costs

Electricity prices rose across most of the U.S. from 2020 to 2025, but the increases were uneven. This matters because electricity is a core cost for households, businesses, and local economies.

As demand grows from data centers, electrification, and grid upgrades, affordability will remain a key challenge across the U.S.

For questions about the rising cost of electricity, contact the National Public Utilities Council.