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Average electric bill in North Carolina
The average North Carolina household paid $143.50 a month for electricity in 2024 — the 20th highest in the country, and 1% above the U.S. average of $142.26.
- Average bill
- $143.50
- Monthly usage
- 1,015 kWh
- Average rate
- 14.13¢
- Rank
- 20th highest
Why the North Carolina bill is what it is
A bill is kilowatt-hours multiplied by price, and states reach similar bills by very different routes. North Carolina's electricity costs 14% less than the U.S. average, and the typical North Carolina home uses 18% more of it, so the bill lands 1% above the national average. Usage, not price, is what drives the North Carolina bill.
Compare Alaska: households there pay almost the same bill ($143.54 against $143.50) at a rate 1.8 times North Carolina's — 24.82¢ against 14.13¢ — because they use 578 kWh a month where North Carolina homes use 1,015.
At today's rate
The 2024 figures are the latest annual numbers EIA has published. North Carolina's average residential rate has since moved to 14.74¢/kWh (June 2026). At the same 1,015 kWh a month, that puts the typical bill near $149.66 — 4% higher. That is an estimate: it holds usage at 2024 levels, and usage swings with the weather.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Bill/month | kWh/month | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $144.87 | 619 | 23.40¢ |
| Alaska | $143.54 | 578 | 24.82¢ |
| North Carolina | $143.50 | 1,015 | 14.13¢ |
| Tennessee | $143.32 | 1,154 | 12.42¢ |
| Louisiana | $140.96 | 1,202 | 11.73¢ |
Ranked from highest bill down. All 51.
Is your bill normal?
Divide your bill by the kilowatt-hours printed on it and you have your own effective rate, directly comparable with the 14.13¢ above. The bill check calculator does it for you. To see where the kilowatt-hours go, the North Carolina rate page costs 50 common appliances at the state rate.
Questions
- What is the average electric bill in North Carolina?
- $143.50 a month in 2024, for an average of 1,015 kWh at 14.13¢/kWh, according to EIA's annual utility survey.
- Why is the electric bill in North Carolina higher than average?
- North Carolina's electricity costs 14% less than the U.S. average, and the typical North Carolina home uses 18% more of it, so the bill lands 1% above the national average. Usage, not price, is what drives the North Carolina bill.
- How much electricity does the average North Carolina home use?
- 1,015 kWh a month, against a U.S. average of 863 kWh.
- Is my electric bill too high?
- Compare your effective rate — the bill divided by the kWh on it — with the state average, and your kWh with the 1,015 kWh typical here. A high rate points at your plan or tier; high usage points at what is running.