The average US electric bill runs about $140 a month at 17 cents per kWh. See what drives yours higher or lower, and how to read the bill line by line.
The average US home pays about $140 a month for electricity, based on roughly 885 kWh of use at an average rate near 17 cents per kilowatt-hour. Both numbers come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Your own bill depends on three things: how much you use, what your utility charges, and what season it is.
Key facts:
Find two numbers on your bill: kilowatt-hours used and the rate per kWh. Everything else is fees and taxes stacked on top.
Compare your kWh against the 885 kWh monthly average. If you’re way over, your savings live in usage. If your usage is normal but the bill still stings, your rate is the story, and options like time-of-use plans or a different supplier (in deregulated states) matter more than new light bulbs.
Heating and cooling. The biggest slice by far. An electric furnace or resistance baseboard heat can double a winter bill. Heat pumps cut that sharply, because they move heat instead of making it. Our page on how electricity becomes heat explains the physics.
Water heating. About 18% of home energy use (DOE). Tank temperature, shower habits, and the heater’s age all show up here. Saving hot water saves twice, as covered in water and energy conservation.
The always-on load. Routers, game consoles in standby, old fridges in garages. Standby power alone runs 5 to 10% of residential electricity use (DOE). It’s the part of your bill you pay while asleep.
Season and weather. Bills follow the thermometer. A hot July or a cold January will move your bill more than any gadget you buy.
The formula behind every line of your bill is E = P x t: energy equals power times time. Take any appliance’s wattage, multiply by hours used per day, divide by 1,000 for kilowatt-hours, multiply by your rate. The electric energy equation page works through examples step by step, and it’s simple enough that your kids can audit the house with you.
Ready to cut the number? Start with how to save electricity at home, which ranks the fixes by real savings.
Last updated: July 06, 2026
What is the average electric bill in the US?
About $140 a month. The average home uses roughly 885 kWh per month at an average rate near 17 cents per kWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Your state, home size, and heating type move that number a lot.
Why is my electric bill so high?
The usual suspects, in order: electric heating or cooling running long hours, an old water heater, and always-on devices. Heating and cooling alone can be half your usage. Check your bill's kWh number against the US average of 885 kWh per month to see if the problem is usage or your rate.
What uses the most electricity in a home?
Heating and cooling come first, at about half of a typical home's energy use per the Department of Energy. Water heating is next at around 18%. After that come appliances, lighting, and electronics.
How do I calculate an appliance's cost?
Multiply its power in kilowatts by hours used, then by your rate. A 1,500-watt heater for 6 hours is 9 kWh. At 17 cents per kWh that is about $1.53 a day.
Is it cheaper to use electricity at night?
Only if you have a time-of-use plan. Some utilities charge less at off-peak hours. Check your bill or your utility's rate page. On a flat rate, the hour makes no difference.
