District of Columbia Electricity Rates and Average Bill

Data through April 2026 (the latest month EIA has published) · Updated July 05, 2026

As of April 2026, the average residential electricity rate in District of Columbia is 25.41¢/kWh (the 10th-highest in the U.S.) and the average monthly bill is $118.7, per EIA data. That rate is 6.6¢ above the U.S. average of 18.83¢/kWh.

Average rate
25.41¢/kWh
+19.2% year over year
Average bill
$118.7
+14.1% year over year
Average usage
467 kWh/mo
vs 678 U.S. average
Rate rank
#42
of 51 (1 = lowest rate)

Rate trend, last three years

View this chart as a table (last 12 months)
MonthRate (¢/kWh)Avg bill ($/mo)Avg usage (kWh/mo)
May 202520.43103.63507
June 202522.7145.3640
July 202523.04199.52866
August 202523.19170.79737
September 202523.67129.43547
October 202523.92115.49483
November 202522.72108.3477
December 202523.9181.76760
January 202623.72188.0793
February 202623.97170.3711
March 202625.0166.46666
April 202625.41118.7467

District of Columbia vs the U.S. average

District of ColumbiaU.S. average
Rate (April 2026)25.41¢/kWh18.83¢/kWh
Average monthly bill$118.7$127.71
Average monthly usage467 kWh678 kWh
Rate change, 1 year+19.2%+7.3%
Rate change, 5 years+90.9%+37.1%

District of Columbia's average residential rate of 25.41¢/kWh for April 2026 ranks 42nd of 51 (1 = lowest). Over the past year the rate moved +19.2% (District of Columbia) versus +7.3% nationally; over five years, +90.9% versus +37.1% nationally. Average usage of 467 kWh/month compares with 678 kWh nationally, which is why the bill and rate ranks can differ.

Largest utilities in District of Columbia

Average effective rates and bills for District of Columbia's largest utilities, from EIA Form 861-M (April 2026). Or find yours by ZIP code.

UtilityRate (¢/kWh)Avg bill ($/mo)Residential customers
Potomac Electric Power Co 24.1105.12294,661

Estimate a bill at District of Columbia rates

1,000 kWh × 25.41¢ ≈ $254.10

Worked example: 1,000 kWh at District of Columbia's average rate of 25.41¢/kWh is about $254.10. The state's actual average usage is 467 kWh/month, which is what produces the $118.7 average bill. These are average effective rates including all charges; your utility's tariff will differ.

Wondering what's behind rising rates nationally? See Why is my electric bill so high?, our data-led explainer on demand growth, data centers, and grid costs.

Source: EIA retail sales data (residential sector, monthly), published with roughly a two-month lag. Rate = revenue ÷ sales; bill = revenue ÷ customers. We do not project unpublished months. See methodology.