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 MostWashington, 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 AbbreviationStateChange in Electricity Price, All Sectors 2020-2025 (%)DCWashington, D.C.72MEMaine67MDMaryland52CACalifornia50RIRhode Island47PAPennsylvania46NYNew York45MAMassachusetts44ILIllinois43CTConnecticut39DEDelaware38NJNew Jersey35NHNew Hampshire31FLFlorida30HIHawaii28LALouisiana27ALAlabama26MSMississippi26NVNevada26ARArkansas25VAVirginia25WVWest Virginia25INIndiana24MIMichigan24AZArizona23WAWashington23OHOhio22TNTennessee22VTVermont22COColorado21UTUtah21WIWisconsin21IDIdaho19MOMissouri19MNMinnesota18NCNorth Carolina18OROregon17OKOklahoma16KSKentucky15AKAlaska14GAGeorgia14TXTexas14MTMontana13SDSouth Dakota13IAIowa11KSKansas9NMNew Mexico9SCSouth Carolina7NENebraska-1WYWyoming-1NDNorth Dakota-18Source: U.S. Energy Information AdministrationData 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 StoryWhile 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 CostsElectricity 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.