kWhBill

U.S. Electricity Price Facts & Estimates

Explorable Explanation · Data Benchmark

Where Does Every Dollar of Your Electricity Bill Go?

Adjust your state and monthly electricity consumption to see how an estimated residential bill decomposes across power generation, neighborhood distribution, and bulk high-voltage transmission — with 12-month price trajectory and YoY trends.

kWh / mo
200 kWh (Apartment)800 kWh (US Typical)3,000 kWh (Large Home)
Estimated Monthly Bill
$146.48
at 18.31¢/kWh (U.S. National Average)
Vs. National Benchmark
Benchmark (0.0%)
Baseline rate
Year-Over-Year Change
+4.9% YoY
vs. July 2025 (17.45¢/kWh)
12-Month Rate TrajectoryAugust 2025 – July 2026 (Monthly EIA Averages)
12M Range: 17.24¢ – 18.83¢
At 800 kWh/month under the U.S. National Average (18.31¢/kWh, +4.9% YoY), your estimated residential bill is $146.48. Over the past 12 months, national average rates fluctuated between 17.24¢ and 18.83¢/kWh. Based on EIA national cost ratios, approximately $82.03 goes toward electricity generation, $43.94 toward local neighborhood distribution, and $20.51 toward long-distance transmission.
Bill Composition Breakdown

1. Electricity Generation

56% of national residential cost
$82.03

The cost of producing electric energy at power plants (natural gas, nuclear, renewables, coal). Covers fuel purchase, power plant operations, maintenance, and wholesale generation capacity.

2. Local Distribution

30% of national residential cost
$43.94

The "last-mile" delivery from local substations directly to your home. Covers neighborhood utility poles, overhead and underground wires, transformers, residential meters, and storm restoration service crews.

3. Bulk Transmission

14% of national residential cost
$20.51

High-voltage bulk transmission grid infrastructure that transports wholesale electricity across regional distances from remote generation plants to local utility distribution hubs.

Data Provenance & Important Limitations

  • Utility and Plan Variation: Bill estimates are based on EIA monthly average residential retail rates; your actual bill depends on your specific utility and tariff plan.
  • National Breakdown Basis: Composition percentages reflect EIA U.S. national averages (2025 estimate); actual proportions vary significantly by state, utility, and market structure.
  • Exact Data Vintage: Rate data: July 2026 (U.S. EIA retail-sales API snapshot); Composition data: EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2026 Reference case Table 8 (2025 estimate).

Note on Taxes & Fees: The official EIA breakdown comprises three primary segments (generation, distribution, and transmission). Local sales taxes, municipal franchise fees, and environmental public benefit surcharges are either incorporated into wholesale utility rates or reported under respective operational segments. To avoid fabricating data, kWhBill adheres strictly to the official 3-segment EIA definition.

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Understanding Your Electric Bill Structure

Why doesn't EIA report state-by-state bill composition percentages?

In the United States, retail electricity regulation is governed at the state public utility commission (PUC) level. Some states operate deregulated competitive retail markets (such as Texas or Ohio) where generation is unbundled from delivery, while others operate traditional vertically integrated monopoly utilities. Because cost allocations and accounting filings differ widely across thousands of municipal, cooperative, and investor-owned utilities, the EIA publishes annual baseline component modeling at the national level through the Annual Energy Outlook.

How can I find my exact utility tariff rates?

Statewide retail rates provide statistical cost benchmarks. To inspect specific delivery riders, transmission cost recovery factors, and utility charges, explore our Texas Utility Delivery Charges Hub or review our full 51-Jurisdiction State Rankings. For details on data processing, visit our Methodology page.