Electricity priced at $0.08 in 1982→$0.25 in 2026

Electricity Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Electricity, 1982-2026 ($0.08)

Electricity prices are 218.34% higher in 2026 versus 1982 (a $0.17 difference in value).

The latest available average price is $0.196 in August 2026 for Electricity per KWH. See observed price history.

Between 1982 and 2026, Electricity experienced an average inflation rate of 2.67% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, electricity costing $0.08 in the year 1982 would cost $0.25 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.85% during this same period, inflation for electricity was lower.

In the year 1982: Pricing changed by 9.88%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for electricity during the 1982-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1982 (6.13%), inflation for electricity was much higher.

Price Inflation for Electricity since 1913

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1974 (18.09%), 1980 (15.72%), and 1981 (15%).

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of electricity rose 158%, from $0.076 per kWh in 1982 to $0.196 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 247% over the same period, so electricity rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted

Electricity prices by year

The average price for electricity is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows the average U.S. price of electricity per KWH each year, along with the same price adjusted for inflation. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

YearPrice (per kWh)Price, inflation-adjusted
2026 (partial)$0.194$0.194
2025$0.185$0.193
2024$0.176$0.188
2023$0.168$0.185
2022$0.159$0.181
2021$0.141$0.174
2020$0.135$0.175
2019$0.136$0.179
2018$0.136$0.182
2017$0.138$0.188
2016$0.135$0.189
2015$0.138$0.195
2014$0.137$0.194
2013$0.132$0.190
2012$0.130$0.189
2011$0.130$0.193
2010$0.128$0.196
2009$0.127$0.199
2008$0.123$0.192
2007$0.117$0.188
2006$0.112$0.187
2005$0.100$0.172
2004$0.094$0.167
2003$0.093$0.169
2002$0.091$0.170
2001$0.092$0.175
2000$0.087$0.170
1999$0.086$0.174
1998$0.087$0.178
1997$0.094$0.197
1996$0.094$0.201
1995$0.094$0.206
1994$0.092$0.208
1993$0.092$0.212
1992$0.088$0.210
1991$0.087$0.213
1990$0.084$0.214
1989$0.082$0.221
1988$0.080$0.227
1987$0.079$0.233
1986$0.077$0.234
1985$0.081$0.253
1984$0.082$0.264
1983$0.078$0.263
1982$0.076$0.264
1981$0.069$0.256
1980$0.060$0.244
1979$0.050$0.232
1978$0.046$0.236

Yearly averages; 2026 is through August. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.

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Buying power of $0.08 since 1982

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Electricity, over time, for $0.08 beginning in 1982. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1982$0.089.88%
1983$0.083.23%
1984$0.096.41%
1985$0.093.50%
1986$0.091.34%
1987$0.09-0.34%
1988$0.091.37%
1989$0.102.81%
1990$0.102.34%
1991$0.103.77%
1992$0.101.97%
1993$0.111.99%
1994$0.110.05%
1995$0.112.26%
1996$0.111.68%
1997$0.110.53%
1998$0.11-3.85%
1999$0.11-0.71%
2000$0.111.60%
2001$0.127.25%
2002$0.11-1.13%
2003$0.122.39%
2004$0.121.86%
2005$0.136.15%
2006$0.1412.16%
2007$0.153.94%
2008$0.166.44%
2009$0.162.97%
2010$0.160.20%
2011$0.161.89%
2012$0.16-0.05%
2013$0.172.10%
2014$0.173.62%
2015$0.170.56%
2016$0.17-1.06%
2017$0.182.15%
2018$0.180.71%
2019$0.180.20%
2020$0.180.59%
2021$0.194.32%
2022$0.2113.06%
2023$0.225.80%
2024$0.234.21%
2025$0.244.78%
2026$0.254.32%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Electricity:

Year191319141915191619171918191919201921192219231924192519261927192819291930193119321933193419351936193719381939194019411942194319441945194619471948194919501951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI45.50045.36743.80042.60841.50840.68342.65842.29243.30042.90842.00041.60041.25040.70840.15039.50838.15837.35036.75036.25036.31733.64531.76930.56729.90829.45029.00828.67528.41728.30028.25828.18328.03326.98326.59226.85827.08327.20027.36727.65027.99228.14228.45828.57528.71729.07529.49229.85029.90029.95029.94229.78329.65829.66729.92530.19230.75031.78333.88335.57537.36744.12549.95853.13356.65060.83365.53375.83387.20895.82598.917105.258108.942110.400110.025111.533114.667117.350121.775124.175126.650126.708129.575131.750132.450127.350126.450128.475137.792136.233139.483142.083150.825169.167175.825187.145192.712193.095196.737196.630200.750208.020209.191206.983211.437212.932213.362214.615223.892253.127267.804279.087292.432305.053

Adjust electricity prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1982* 1982 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Electricity was 95.825 in the year 1982 and 305.053 in 2026:

305.053 / 95.825* $0.08 = $0.25

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $0.08 in 1982 has the same "purchasing power" as $0.25 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Electricity).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Electricity in 1913. In addition to electricity, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.