Electricity bill calculator: how a bill is built
Most residential bills have two parts:
- Energy and delivery charges — your kWh times a price per kWh. On many bills this is split into "supply" or "generation" and "delivery" or "distribution"; add the per-kWh parts together for your real rate.
- A fixed customer charge — a flat monthly amount you pay even at zero use, typically printed near the top of the bill.
Enter the kWh from your bill and pick your state, or enter your own blended rate. The calculator multiplies, adds the fixed charge, and shows the daily and yearly cost and your all-in price per kWh.
Electricity bill estimate by state
The same 870 kWh — the U.S. average monthly use — costs very different amounts depending on where you live. Energy charges only, at EIA's January–August 2026 average residential prices:
| State | Average rate | 870 kWh | 1,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 18.19¢ | $158 | $182 |
| Louisiana | 13.27¢ | $115 | $133 |
| Washington | 14.42¢ | $125 | $144 |
| Florida | 15.32¢ | $133 | $153 |
| Texas | 16.03¢ | $139 | $160 |
| New York | 29.26¢ | $255 | $293 |
| Massachusetts | 30.19¢ | $263 | $302 |
| California | 32.58¢ | $283 | $326 |
| Hawaii | 46.41¢ | $404 | $464 |
Rates are refreshed from EIA twice a month; the calculator always uses the latest year-to-date figures. See every state in electricity rates by state.
Why your bill is higher than the estimate
- Tiered or time-of-use rates. Many utilities charge more above a monthly threshold, in summer, or during evening peak hours. Divide your energy charges by kWh for your true average rate and enter it as your own rate.
- Fixed charges and taxes. A flat customer charge weighs heavily on a small bill and raises the effective price per kWh; the calculator shows that effective rate.
- Heating and cooling. Seasonal swings are mostly HVAC: a summer bill can be double a spring one in the South, and electric-heated homes see the same in winter.
Water heating and drying clothes are two of the biggest controllable loads — compare gas vs electric water heaters and electric vs gas dryers. Want to know which appliance is driving the bill? The kWh calculator and the electricity cost calculator work device by device. Thinking about cutting it permanently? The solar panel calculator sizes a system from the same monthly kWh.
