The 25 Cities That Pay The Most for Electricity: Is Yours On The List?
https://climatecrisis247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/45072-150x150.jpgHigh temperatures mean a vicious cycle of high energy bills. As 113 counties sweat through their hottest summers on record in 2024 — representing 11.9% of the U.S. population — many Americans likely faced higher-than-normal utility costs.
Utility rates are influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including both demand and supply-side elements. While extreme heat events can trigger spikes in demand and cause temporary price surges, long-term rates are often more heavily impacted by infrastructure and resource availability. Poor generation capacity in Hawaii and the Northeast saddles residents of Honolulu, Boston, and New York with some of the highest utility rates nationwide, while in California the costs associated with maintaining an aging power grid and investing in renewables are often passed on to consumers. A look at over 2,000 electric retail service providers reveals which cities have the highest electric utility rates.
To determine the major cities with the most expensive electricity, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on electricity distribution from the Form EIA-861 and Form EIA-861S survey programs of the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Cities were ranked based on the average cost of residential electricity in 2022, the quotient of utility revenues from residential electricity and total residential electricity sales. Data was spatially aggregated from Electric Retail Service Territories to cities using electric power utility service area boundaries from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and boundaries for cities, towns, and villages from the U.S. Census Bureau. Only cities with at least 250,000 residents were considered.
25. Albuquerque, NM
- Average cost of residential electricity: 14.40 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 6,983 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,006 per customer
- Total population: 562,551
24. Tampa, FL
- Average cost of residential electricity: 14.41 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 13,276 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,907 per customer
- Total population: 388,768
23. Corpus Christi, TX
- Average cost of residential electricity: 14.66 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 14,894 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $2,185 per customer
- Total population: 317,804
22. Fort Wayne, IN
- Average cost of residential electricity: 15.32 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 10,404 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,594 per customer
- Total population: 670,587
20. St. Petersburg, FL
- Average cost of residential electricity: 15.32 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 12,575 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,924 per customer
- Total population: 259,343
19. Laredo, TX
- Average cost of residential electricity: 15.41 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 12,608 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,916 per customer
- Total population: 255,293
18. Anaheim, CA
- Average cost of residential electricity: 16.31 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 5,913 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $965 per customer
- Total population: 347,111
17. Chicago, IL
- Average cost of residential electricity: 16.42 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 7,370 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,209 per customer
- Total population: 2,721,914
16. El Paso, TX
- Average cost of residential electricity: 16.44 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 9,752 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,622 per customer
- Total population: 677,181
15. Sacramento, CA
- Average cost of residential electricity: 16.74 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 8,299 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,389 per customer
- Total population: 523,600
14. Milwaukee, WI
- Average cost of residential electricity: 16.93 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 7,874 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,333 per customer
- Total population: 573,299
13. Colorado Springs, CO
- Average cost of residential electricity: 17.03 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 8,971 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,484 per customer
- Total population: 479,612
12. Newark, NJ
- Average cost of residential electricity: 17.43 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 6,926 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,208 per customer
- Total population: 307,355
11. Riverside, CA
- Average cost of residential electricity: 18.06 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 7,982 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,441 per customer
- Total population: 316,076
10. Buffalo, NY
- Average cost of residential electricity: 18.64 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 7,745 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,444 per customer
- Total population: 276,688
9. Pittsburgh, PA
- Average cost of residential electricity: 18.70 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 7,461 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,395 per customer
- Total population: 303,843
8. San Francisco, CA
- Average cost of residential electricity: 19.61 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 11,313 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $2,218 per customer
- Total population: 851,036
7. Anchorage, AK
- Average cost of residential electricity: 20.23 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 6,271 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,271 per customer
- Total population: 290,674
6. Oakland, CA
- Average cost of residential electricity: 20.70 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 4,151 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $859 per customer
- Total population: 437,825
5. Los Angeles, CA
- Average cost of residential electricity: 21.36 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 5,418 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,154 per customer
- Total population: 3,881,041
4. New York, NY
- Average cost of residential electricity: 28.63 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 4,706 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,342 per customer
- Total population: 8,622,467
3. Boston, MA
- Average cost of residential electricity: 29.23 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 5,689 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,660 per customer
- Total population: 665,945
2. San Diego, CA
- Average cost of residential electricity: 37.92 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 4,698 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $1,782 per customer
- Total population: 1,383,987
1. Honolulu, HI
- Average cost of residential electricity: 43.43 cents per kWh
- Average annual electricity consumption: 5,761 kWh per customer
- Average annual electricity costs: $2,502 per customer
- Total population: 348,547
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