In 2021, the retail price of electricity for residential customers in the United States averaged 13.72 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour. Households are charged more than the commercial and industrial sector, in general due to higher distribution costs. Between 2020 and 2021, households in the U.S. saw their electricity bill increase by more than 65 percent. Meanwhile, commercial clients saw a 51-percent increase in the same period.
The U.S. electricity market
The U.S. electricity market is led by several types of electricity providers, such as cooperatives, municipal systems, and shareholder-owned electric utilities. In 2020, cooperatives were the most common type of ownership in the U.S., with more than 600 providers. That year, the U.S. electric utility industry revenue amounted to 390.7 billion U.S. dollars.
Electricity prices around the world
Electricity prices vary widely from country to country, depending on energy sources used as well as government and industry regulations. In 2021, Germany and Denmark had some of the highest household electricity prices worldwide, mainly due to high electricity taxes. Meanwhile, U.S. households paid some of the lowest prices. However, leading oil and gas-producing regions such as the Middle East registered the cheapest rates overall.
Average retail prices of electricity in the United States from 1998 to 2021, by sector
(in U.S. cents per kilowatt hour)
* Prices are not adjusted for inflation. ** Figures until 2002 exclude public street and highway lighting, interdepartmental sales, and other sales to public authorities.
*** Figures until 2002 exclude agriculture and irrigation.
This statistic was compiled using different releases of the publication.
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EIA. (March 29, 2021). Average retail prices of electricity in the United States from 1998 to 2021, by sector (in U.S. cents per kilowatt hour) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 26, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/200197/average-retail-price-of-electricity-in-the-us-by-sector-since-1998/
EIA. "Average retail prices of electricity in the United States from 1998 to 2021, by sector (in U.S. cents per kilowatt hour)." Chart. March 29, 2021. Statista. Accessed May 26, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/200197/average-retail-price-of-electricity-in-the-us-by-sector-since-1998/
EIA. (2021). Average retail prices of electricity in the United States from 1998 to 2021, by sector (in U.S. cents per kilowatt hour). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 26, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/200197/average-retail-price-of-electricity-in-the-us-by-sector-since-1998/
EIA. "Average Retail Prices of Electricity in The United States from 1998 to 2021, by Sector (in U.S. Cents per Kilowatt Hour)." Statista, Statista Inc., 29 Mar 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/200197/average-retail-price-of-electricity-in-the-us-by-sector-since-1998/
EIA, Average retail prices of electricity in the United States from 1998 to 2021, by sector (in U.S. cents per kilowatt hour) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/200197/average-retail-price-of-electricity-in-the-us-by-sector-since-1998/ (last visited May 26, 2022)
