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NuWatt designs, installs, and manages solar, battery, heat pump, and EV charger systems across 9 states. One company, one warranty, one point of contact.
Get a Free QuoteReal rate data for 26 utilities across 9 states. Updated March 2026 from EIA filings, utility tariff schedules, and rate case decisions.
Quick Answer
The average electric bill ranges from $114/month (Burlington Electric) to $196/month (United Illuminating). The highest per-kWh rate is Block Island Power at $0.35/kWh. The lowest is Austin Energy at $0.12/kWh. Texas homes use the most electricity (1,100+ kWh/month) but pay the lowest rates, while New England homes use less (550-700 kWh) at much higher rates.
$196
Highest Avg Bill
United Illuminating
$114
Lowest Avg Bill
Burlington Electric
$0.35
Highest Rate/kWh
Block Island Power
$0.12
Lowest Rate/kWh
Austin Energy
This table shows the average residential electric bill for every major utility across our 9-state service area. Rates reflect total delivered cost (supply + distribution) as of Q1 2026. Average usage is based on EIA state-level residential data, adjusted for climate and building stock.
| Utility | State | Type | Rate ($/kWh) | Avg Usage (kWh) | Avg Monthly Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Illuminating | Connecticut | IOU | $0.2800 | 700 | $196 |
| National Grid | Massachusetts | IOU | $0.3200 | 600 | $192 |
| Eversource (CT) | Connecticut | IOU | $0.2700 | 700 | $189 |
| CenterPoint (avg REP) | Texas | Deregulated | $0.1600 | 1,150 | $184 |
| PECO Energy | Pennsylvania | IOU | $0.2100 | 850 | $179 |
| PSE&G | New Jersey | IOU | $0.2600 | 680 | $177 |
| Unitil (NH) | New Hampshire | IOU | $0.2833 | 620 | $176 |
| Versant Power | Maine | IOU | $0.3200 | 550 | $176 |
| Block Island Power | Rhode Island | Municipal | $0.3500 | 500 | $175 |
| Oncor (avg REP rate) | Texas | Deregulated | $0.1500 | 1,150 | $173 |
| Eversource (MA) | Massachusetts | IOU | $0.2836 | 600 | $170 |
| Unitil (MA) | Massachusetts | IOU | $0.2833 | 600 | $170 |
| Rhode Island Energy | Rhode Island | IOU | $0.2900 | 580 | $168 |
| JCP&L | New Jersey | IOU | $0.2400 | 680 | $163 |
| Duquesne Light | Pennsylvania | IOU | $0.1900 | 850 | $162 |
| Eversource (NH) | New Hampshire | IOU | $0.2500 | 620 | $155 |
| PPL Electric | Pennsylvania | IOU | $0.1800 | 850 | $153 |
| Atlantic City Electric | New Jersey | IOU | $0.2200 | 680 | $150 |
| Liberty Utilities | New Hampshire | IOU | $0.2400 | 620 | $149 |
| Central Maine Power | Maine | IOU | $0.2700 | 550 | $149 |
| NH Electric Co-op | New Hampshire | Cooperative | $0.2200 | 650 | $143 |
| CPS Energy | Texas | Municipal | $0.1250 | 1,100 | $138 |
| Austin Energy | Texas | Municipal | $0.1200 | 1,100 | $132 |
| Vermont Electric Co-op | Vermont | Cooperative | $0.2200 | 570 | $125 |
| Green Mountain Power | Vermont | IOU | $0.2146 | 570 | $122 |
| Burlington Electric | Vermont | Municipal | $0.2000 | 570 | $114 |
Sources: EIA Form 861, utility tariff filings, state PUC rate cases. Rates as of Q1 2026. Average usage reflects residential sector by state. Texas rates are average REP offers in deregulated territories.
The most expensive bills combine high per-kWh rates with moderate-to-high usage. Connecticut and Massachusetts consistently top the list due to constrained transmission capacity and winter peak demand charges.
Municipal utilities and cooperatives dominate the lowest-bill list. Burlington Electric (VT) benefits from owned hydro generation. Texas municipal utilities avoid deregulated market markups.
Electric bills are rate multiplied by usage. A household paying $0.32/kWh but using only 600 kWh/month (typical in Massachusetts) pays $192. A Texas household at $0.15/kWh using 1,150 kWh/month pays $173. Climate drives usage: air conditioning in Texas, heating systems drawing electricity in New England.
| State | Avg Rate ($/kWh) | Avg Monthly Usage | Avg Monthly Bill | Annual Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $0.300 | 600 kWh | $180 | $2,160 |
| Rhode Island | $0.290 | 580 kWh | $168 | $2,016 |
| Connecticut | $0.275 | 700 kWh | $193 | $2,310 |
| New Hampshire | $0.250 | 620 kWh | $155 | $1,860 |
| Maine | $0.270 | 550 kWh | $149 | $1,782 |
| Vermont | $0.215 | 570 kWh | $123 | $1,470 |
| New Jersey | $0.240 | 680 kWh | $163 | $1,958 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.190 | 850 kWh | $162 | $1,938 |
| Texas | $0.150 | 1,150 kWh | $173 | $2,070 |
An 8 kW system eliminates $1,400-$2,300/year in electric costs depending on your rate. Even without the expired federal ITC, solar pays back in 8-12 years in high-rate states.
Where available, TOU rates save 10-20% by shifting laundry, dishwasher, and EV charging to off-peak hours. Best paired with battery storage.
LED lighting, smart thermostats, and sealing air leaks cut 15-25% off your bill. Many utilities offer free energy audits and rebates for these improvements.
Replacing oil or propane heating with a heat pump consolidates energy onto one bill and typically reduces total energy costs 20-40%, especially in Northeast states with high fuel prices.
With net metering, solar credits offset your electric consumption. Here is what an 8 kW system does to your bill in each state.
| State | Current Annual Bill | Solar Production (8 kW) | Annual Savings | New Annual Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $2,160 | 9,600 kWh | $2,160 | $0 |
| Connecticut | $2,310 | 9,600 kWh | $2,310 | $0 |
| Rhode Island | $2,016 | 9,600 kWh | $2,016 | $0 |
| New Hampshire | $1,860 | 9,200 kWh | $1,860 | $0 |
| Maine | $1,782 | 9,200 kWh | $1,782 | $0 |
| Vermont | $1,470 | 9,200 kWh | $1,470 | $0 |
| New Jersey | $1,958 | 10,400 kWh | $1,958 | $0 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,938 | 10,400 kWh | $1,938 | $0 |
| Texas | $2,070 | 12,000 kWh | $1,800 | $270 |
Assumes 8 kW system with 1,200 kWh/kW production in NE, 1,300 in Mid-Atlantic, 1,500 in TX. Net metering at 1:1 or equivalent. System fully offsets usage in most NE states.
United Illuminating in Connecticut has one of the highest average monthly bills at $196/month, driven by a $0.28/kWh rate on 700 kWh average usage. National Grid in Massachusetts is close behind at $192/month ($0.32/kWh on lower 600 kWh usage).
Electric bills vary due to three factors: the rate per kWh (driven by generation costs, transmission infrastructure, and state regulation), average household usage (climate-driven — Texas homes use nearly 2x the electricity of Vermont homes), and fixed monthly charges ($5-$20/month depending on utility).
Solar can reduce your electric bill by 80-100% depending on system size and net metering policy. In high-rate states like Massachusetts ($0.28-$0.32/kWh), an 8 kW system saves $1,600-$2,300 per year. Even without the federal tax credit (expired Dec 2025), payback periods are 8-12 years in New England.
Generally yes. Municipal utilities like Burlington Electric (VT, $0.20/kWh), Austin Energy (TX, $0.12/kWh), and CPS Energy (TX, $0.125/kWh) tend to have lower rates because they are nonprofit, locally governed, and do not pay shareholder dividends. However, some offer fewer solar incentive programs.
Texas per-kWh rates ($0.12-$0.16) are lower than New England ($0.22-$0.32), but Texas homes use nearly twice the electricity (1,100-1,150 kWh/month vs. 550-700 kWh) due to air conditioning. This means monthly bills often end up similar: $132-$184 in Texas vs. $114-$196 in New England.
Most utilities request rate increases every 1-3 years. Over the past 5 years, rates have increased 25-40% across most Northeast utilities. National Grid jumped from $0.23/kWh in 2024 to $0.32/kWh in 2026 — a 37% increase in just two years.
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