Electricitymatch.com provides insights on residential electricity consumption in the U.S., highlighting how usage varies by geography and climate, with southern states generally seeing higher consumption due to air conditioning needs. The document notes that Louisiana has the highest average annual consumption at 15,046 kWh, while Maine has the lowest at 6,367 kWh, with the national average at 10,837 kWh. Additionally, it discusses how consumers can manage electricity costs through energy conservation and shopping for competitive rates in retail choice states.

1. Residential Electricity Consumption
ElectricityMatch.com

2. We created ElectricityMatch.com based on the simple truth that searching for great
electricity offers is of no value unless you actually find one that matches your needs.
Your time is valuable and you want to see competitive offers presented in a clear and
easy-to-read format. You need choices free from gimmicks and confusing jargon. You
want to work with top-rated energy providers that consistently deliver what they sell.
ElectricityMatch.com
About ElectricityMatch
About Charlie Hewitt
Charlie Hewitt has more than 20 years of in-depth energy
experience having served in executive and managerial roles at
some of the largest retail energy providers in North America. His
expertise covers a wide range of retail energy disciplines including
pricing, contracting, risk management, and credit. He holds an
MBA from UT Arlington, MA and BS degrees in geology from UT
Austin, and was a TXU environmental research fellow.

3. Residential electricity consumption varies by geographical region due to
factors such as weather and fuel choice. Homes in northern U.S. climates
typically rely on fuel oil and natural gas for heating and have limited air
conditioning use in the summer months. Homes in southern climates may
have electric space heating such as heat pumps. These homes also have
significantly higher electricity consumption due to summer air conditioning.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Louisiana electric
customers have the highest average annual electricity consumption at
15,046 kWh. Maine has the lowest at 6,367 kWh while the average U.S.
power consumer uses 10,837 kWh.
ElectricityMatch.com
Residential Electricity by State

4. ElectricityMatch.com
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
LA TN MS AL TX OK KY AR SC VA GA ND FL WV NC AZ MO WA ID MD NE IN SD OR KS DE NV
Average Annual kWh Consumed
Residential Electric Consumption Above National Average
Highest Total Consumption = 11.5 TWh U.S. Average = 10,837 kWh

5. Residential Electric Consumption Below National Average
ElectricityMatch.com
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
OH IA WY MT PA MN UT IL CT DC CO WI NJ MI NM AK MA NH NY RI CA VT HI ME
Average Annual kWh Consumed
U.S. Average = 10,837 kWh
Lowest Total Consumption = 0.2 TWh

6. Average Consumption vs. Total Consumption
As shown above, average residential usage is largely influenced by climate.
The ten states with the highest average residential electricity usage are in
the south and south-central regions of the country where air conditioning
usage is high.
When analyzing total consumption, population as well average residential
usage are taken into consideration. The ten states with the highest total
residential electricity consumption are Texas, Florida, California, North
Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Illinois, and Virginia.
These ten states represent just over 50% of all residential electricity usage
based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
ElectricityMatch.com

7. Retail electric customers in the U.S. experience a wide range of rates as each
jurisdiction (states and the District of Columbia) has unique economics with
regard to cost of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
The average electric rate in the U.S. is 11.88 cents/kWh. The lowest average
residential rate is 8.37 cents in Louisiana while electricity consumers in
Hawaii pay a whopping 37.34 cents/kWh.
While Hawaiians have the second lowest average residential consumption in
the U.S., they pay the highest monthly electric bill at almost twice the
national average of $107.28.
Texas retail electric customers, on the other hand, have the 5th highest
monthly average usage and the 5th highest electric bill at $127.28/month.
ElectricityMatch.com
Electricity Rates and Overall Spend

8. ElectricityMatch.com
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
<$80 $80-$90 $90-$100 $100-$110 $110-$120 $120-$130 >$130
Number of States
Average Monthly Electric Bill
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

9. Residential customer electricity usage is largely dictated by geography,
climate, and availability of alternative fuel sources (natural gas, fuel oil, etc.).
Within the confines of these macro conditions, retail electric customers have
the opportunity to reduce usage through energy conservation measures
including smart thermostats, use of compact fluorescent lighting, and
enhancements to the thermal envelope of the house.
Customers in retail choice states have an additional opportunity to manage
their energy budget. Customers in those states can shop for electricity rates
to find the lowest price or select innovative rate plans that allow them to
manage their energy expenditures.
ElectricityMatch.com
Opportunities for Retail Choice Customers