Electricity Monthly Update
End Use: January 2026
Retail rates/prices and consumption
In this section, we look at what electricity costs and how much is purchased. Charges for retail electric service are based primarily on rates approved by state regulators. However, a number of states have allowed retail marketers to compete to serve customers and these competitive retail suppliers offer electricity at a market-based price.
EIA does not directly collect retail electricity rates or prices. However, using data collected on retail sales revenues and volumes, we calculate average retail revenues per kWh as a proxy for retail rates and prices. Retail sales volumes are presented as a proxy for end-use electricity consumption.
Average revenue per kWh by state
Forty-six states and the District of Columbia saw increased revenue per kilowatt-hour (kWh) compared to last January, while average revenue per kWh increased by 8.3% on a national basis. The largest percent increase was in the District of Columbia, up 30.3%, followed by Pennsylvania, up 21.7%, and Maryland, up 20.9%. Average revenue per kWh figures decreased in four states compared to last year. The largest percent decrease was in Connecticut, down 5.1%, followed by Arizona, down 0.6%, and California, down 0.5%. In the contiguous US, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut had the highest average revenues at 27.61, 27.23, and 25.71 cents per kWh, respectively. North Dakota, New Mexico, and Louisianna had the lowest average revenues at 8.47, 8.85, and 8.40 cents per kWh, respectively.
| Average Revenues/Sales (¢/kWh) | Retail Sales (thousand MWh) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End-use sector | January 2026 | Change fromJanuary 2025 | January 2026 | Change fromJanuary 2025 | Year to Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residential | 17.45 | 9.5% | 145,115 | -4.7% | 145,115 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial | 13.64 | 6.4% | 126,120 | 1.3% | 126,120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Industrial | 9.29 | 11.4% | 84,043 | -0.6% | 84,043 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transportation | 15.68 | 29.3% | 663 | -3.4% | 663 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 14.17 | 8.3% | 355,940 | -1.7% | 355,940 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total average revenues per kilowatt-hour (kWh) increased by 8.3% from last January, to 14.17 cents/kWh in January 2026. All four sectors saw increases in average revenues per kWh compared to last January. The Transportation sector saw the highest increase, up 29.3%, then the Industrial sector, up 11.4%, followed by the Residential sector, up 9.5%, and finally the Commercial sector, up 6.4%. On a nationwide basis, retail sales decreased by 1.7% in January 2026 compared to last January, with three sectors seeing decreases. The Residential sector saw the largest decrease in retail sales from last January, down 4.7%, followed by the Transportation sector, down 3.4%, and finally the Industrial sector, down 0.6%. The Commercial sector was up 1.3%.
Retail sales
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia saw a decrease in retail sales volume in January 2026 compared to last January. Rhode Island had the highest year over year percent decrease in retail sales, down 13.5%, followed by South Carolina, down 5.9%, and Alabama, down 5.3%. Seventeen states saw an increase in retail sales volume compared to last year. Arkansas had the highest year over year percent increase, up 11.7%, followed by Ohio, up 5.4%, and New Mexico up 4.2%.
Thirty-seven states saw a decrease in heating degree days (HDDs) compared to last January. California had the highest year over year percent decrease, down 26%, followed by Arizona, down 24%, and Louisianna, down 23%. Twelve states and the District of Columbia saw an increase in HDDs from last January. Alaska had the highest percentage year over year increase, up 30%, followed by Minnesota and Wisconsin, both up 5%.