December update: Where residential electricity bills are increasing the most

Average residential electricity prices in the U.S. rose to 13.55 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) in the December Choose Energy Rate Report. That represented an increase of 1.8 percent month-over-month. But prices were volatile with both a double-digit percentage increase and double-digit percentage decreases. They even affect electricity bills differently by state.

The Rate Report reflects the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The December edition reflects rates from September.

The largest percentage rate increase came in Nevada, where the price/kWh rose 10.9 percent from the November report to 11.97 cents/kWh. That actually was the 14^th lowest in the U.S.

Following are the states where rates increased by the largest percentage.

Low rates and low bills aren’t necessarily partners. Usage makes a huge difference in bills as well. Here’s the proof. Louisiana residents paid the lowest rate in the December report – 9.76 cents/kWh, but their bills were the 23^rd highest in the U.S. – $115.85. That’s because their usage is the nation’s highest.

So which state recorded the largest increase in bills for the rates shown in the December report? Connecticut. Average bills there increased by $10.63 from the prior month. Here are the states where average bills increased by the largest amount.

While the national average increased by a small percentage in the December report, 13 states recorded decreases in their rates. Average Missouri rates dropped by 11.9 percent from the previous month to 10.92 cents/kWh.

Following are the states where rates decreased by the largest percentage:

Bills also didn’t go up everywhere. The largest monthly decrease won’t be a surprise. It also was in Missouri, where residents on average saved an extra $14.81. More common were the savings in Massachusetts, where residents on average spent 99 cents less.

Following are the states where average bills decreased by the largest amount.

Arthur Murray directs content strategy for ChooseEnergy.com, taking advantage of more than 20 years of newspaper and magazine experience. His articles have appeared on Zillow.com, Business.com, Nasdaq.com, and USNews.com, among others. Reach out to us with any questions or concerns. 

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