Arkansas electricity rates
As of May 2026, the average residential electricity rate in Arkansas is 14.36 cents per kilowatt-hour, 22.1% below the U.S. average of 18.44¢. That is the 41st highest rate of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Year over year
- ▲ +8.9% from 13.19¢ in May 2025
- Vs. U.S. average
- -22.1% U.S. average 18.44¢
- National rank
- #41 of 51 · #11 cheapest
- Supply market
- MISO Regulated monopoly
Why Arkansas pays what it pays
Arkansas benefits from a simple, low-cost generation position: the Arkansas Nuclear One station supplying steady baseload, efficient gas plants fed by nearby production, some hydro on the Arkansas and White rivers, and a share of regional coal.
The state has no renewable portfolio standard forcing early retirements, moderate storm exposure compared with the Gulf coast, and a distribution network that is inexpensive to maintain across mostly flat and moderate terrain.
Arkansas's rate rose year over year, mostly through fuel-cost recovery and moderate capital spending, but from a very low base. It remains near the bottom of the national table.
How Arkansas compares
Arkansas ranks #41 of 51 jurisdictions by residential price, making it the 11th cheapest. Within the West South Central division, 2 of 3 neighbouring states are cheaper.
| State | ¢/kWh | YoY | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 13.38 | +3.4% | #49 |
| Louisiana | 14.15 | +6.7% | #42 |
| Arkansas | 14.36 | +8.9% | #41 |
| Texas | 16.44 | +5.9% | #25 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State. Data period May 2026. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
What a bill looks like at this rate
The figures below apply the May 2026 Arkansas average to four usage levels. They are arithmetic, not quotes. A real bill also carries fixed customer charges, taxes and any rider specific to your utility.
Estimate your Arkansas bill
Multiply your own usage by the May 2026 state average. Enter the kilowatt-hours from your last statement. This is a supply-and-delivery blended average, not a utility quote.
Rate used: …. U.S. average 18.44¢/kWh, May 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
Who sells electricity in Arkansas
Entergy Arkansas serves most of the state's population. Oklahoma Gas and Electric, Southwestern Electric Power Company and Empire District serve smaller territories, and co-operatives supplied by Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation cover much of the rural state.
There is no residential retail choice. The Arkansas Public Service Commission sets rates.
What you can actually do about it
Arkansas has one of the more workable net-metering frameworks in the South, and residential solar economics there depend heavily on which utility territory a home sits in.
The low rate again favours electrification. At Arkansas prices a heat pump beats propane comfortably and competes with natural gas in most of the state.
Closest states by price
These jurisdictions charge within a fraction of a cent of Arkansas, which is useful if you are comparing a move or a multi-state operating cost.
Arkansas electricity rates: common questions
What is the average electricity rate in Arkansas?
The average residential electricity rate in Arkansas is 14.36 cents per kilowatt-hour as of May 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is -22.1% relative to the national average of 18.44¢/kWh.
How much is a typical monthly electric bill in Arkansas?
At the May 2026 average rate of 14.36¢/kWh, a household using 900 kWh a month would pay about $129, and one using 1,500 kWh about $215. Actual bills vary with usage, rate schedule, fixed customer charges and taxes.
Have electricity rates in Arkansas gone up?
Arkansas rates rose 8.9% over the year to May 2026, from 13.19¢ in May 2025 to 14.36¢.
Can I choose my electricity supplier in Arkansas?
Regulated monopoly. Arkansas households buy both supply and delivery from their local regulated utility or co-operative; there is no competitive residential supplier market.
Where does this Arkansas rate figure come from?
It is the residential-sector average revenue per kilowatt-hour reported by utilities to the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Form EIA-861M and published in the Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A. It blends supply and delivery across every residential customer in the state, so it is a statewide average rather than a quote for any individual household.