Electricity prices are 46.65% higher in 2026 versus 2014 (a $0.07 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $0.196 in August 2026 for Electricity per KWH. See observed price history.
Between 2014 and 2026, Electricity experienced an average inflation rate of 3.24% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, electricity costing $0.14 in the year 2014 would cost $0.21 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.85% during this same period, inflation for electricity was higher.
In the year 2014: Pricing changed by 3.62%, which is above the average yearly change for electricity during the 2014-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2014 (1.62%), inflation for electricity was higher.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of electricity rose 43%, from $0.137 per kWh in 2014 to $0.196 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 41% over the same period, so electricity kept pace with inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
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.
| Year | Price (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.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Electricity, over time, for $0.14 beginning in 2014. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $0.14 | 3.62% |
| 2015 | $0.14 | 0.56% |
| 2016 | $0.14 | -1.06% |
| 2017 | $0.14 | 2.15% |
| 2018 | $0.14 | 0.71% |
| 2019 | $0.14 | 0.20% |
| 2020 | $0.14 | 0.59% |
| 2021 | $0.15 | 4.32% |
| 2022 | $0.17 | 13.06% |
| 2023 | $0.18 | 5.80% |
| 2024 | $0.19 | 4.21% |
| 2025 | $0.20 | 4.78% |
| 2026 | $0.21 | 4.32%* |
* 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:
| Year | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 45.500 | 45.367 | 43.800 | 42.608 | 41.508 | 40.683 | 42.658 | 42.292 | 43.300 | 42.908 | 42.000 | 41.600 | 41.250 | 40.708 | 40.150 | 39.508 | 38.158 | 37.350 | 36.750 | 36.250 | 36.317 | 33.645 | 31.769 | 30.567 | 29.908 | 29.450 | 29.008 | 28.675 | 28.417 | 28.300 | 28.258 | 28.183 | 28.033 | 26.983 | 26.592 | 26.858 | 27.083 | 27.200 | 27.367 | 27.650 | 27.992 | 28.142 | 28.458 | 28.575 | 28.717 | 29.075 | 29.492 | 29.850 | 29.900 | 29.950 | 29.942 | 29.783 | 29.658 | 29.667 | 29.925 | 30.192 | 30.750 | 31.783 | 33.883 | 35.575 | 37.367 | 44.125 | 49.958 | 53.133 | 56.650 | 60.833 | 65.533 | 75.833 | 87.208 | 95.825 | 98.917 | 105.258 | 108.942 | 110.400 | 110.025 | 111.533 | 114.667 | 117.350 | 121.775 | 124.175 | 126.650 | 126.708 | 129.575 | 131.750 | 132.450 | 127.350 | 126.450 | 128.475 | 137.792 | 136.233 | 139.483 | 142.083 | 150.825 | 169.167 | 175.825 | 187.145 | 192.712 | 193.095 | 196.737 | 196.630 | 200.750 | 208.020 | 209.191 | 206.983 | 211.437 | 212.932 | 213.362 | 214.615 | 223.892 | 253.127 | 267.804 | 279.087 | 292.432 | 305.053 |