District of Columbia electricity rates
As of May 2026, the average residential electricity rate in District of Columbia is 25.40 cents per kilowatt-hour, 37.7% above the U.S. average of 18.44¢. That is the 10th highest rate of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Year over year
- ▲ +24.3% from 20.43¢ in May 2025
- Vs. U.S. average
- +37.7% U.S. average 18.44¢
- National rank
- #10 of 51 · #42 cheapest
- Supply market
- PJM Retail choice statewide
Why District of Columbia pays what it pays
The District generates almost no electricity. Every kilowatt-hour arrives over transmission lines into a dense urban load pocket, and the District pays both the regional energy price and the congestion cost of getting it there.
That left it maximally exposed when PJM's capacity market repriced. With no in-state generation and no ability to build any at scale, there was nothing to offset the increase, and the Standard Offer Service price moved sharply.
Delivery costs are high for the same reason they are high in Manhattan. The network is largely underground, and the District has an ongoing programme to move remaining overhead lines below ground, recovered through a dedicated surcharge.
The District also funds an ambitious set of climate and assistance programmes through the electric bill, including a sustainable energy trust fund and one of the more generous low-income discount structures in the country.
How District of Columbia compares
District of Columbia ranks #10 of 51 jurisdictions by residential price, making it the 42nd cheapest. Within the South Atlantic division, every other state is cheaper.
| State | ¢/kWh | YoY | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 15.09 | +5.4% | #35 |
| Florida | 15.17 | +1.3% | #33 |
| Georgia | 15.84 | +5.7% | #30 |
| South Carolina | 16.18 | +5.0% | #27 |
| West Virginia | 16.80 | +3.8% | #23 |
| Virginia | 17.61 | +15.4% | #21 |
| Delaware | 19.38 | +6.9% | #19 |
| Maryland | 21.77 | +14.6% | #15 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40 | +24.3% | #10 |
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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia
Pepco, an Exelon company, is the sole electric distribution utility. Generation was divested during restructuring.
The District has full retail choice. The Office of the People's Counsel is an independent agency that represents ratepayers and publishes plain-language analyses of every rate filing.
What you can actually do about it
The District's low-income discount programmes are among the largest available anywhere in the United States. They are administered through the Department of Energy and Environment rather than the utility, which is why eligible households frequently miss them.
Renters should check whether their building is master-metered. If it is, the electricity cost is inside the rent and no supplier switch or rate schedule change is available to you.
Closest states by price
These jurisdictions charge within a fraction of a cent of District of Columbia, which is useful if you are comparing a move or a multi-state operating cost.
District of Columbia electricity rates: common questions
What is the average electricity rate in District of Columbia?
The average residential electricity rate in District of Columbia is 25.40 cents per kilowatt-hour as of May 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is +37.7% relative to the national average of 18.44¢/kWh.
How much is a typical monthly electric bill in District of Columbia?
At the May 2026 average rate of 25.40¢/kWh, a household using 900 kWh a month would pay about $229, and one using 1,500 kWh about $381. Actual bills vary with usage, rate schedule, fixed customer charges and taxes.
Have electricity rates in District of Columbia gone up?
District of Columbia rates rose 24.3% over the year to May 2026, from 20.43¢ in May 2025 to 25.40¢.
Can I choose my electricity supplier in District of Columbia?
Retail choice statewide. Residential customers in District of Columbia can buy supply from a competitive provider while the local utility continues to deliver it and maintain the wires.
Where does this District of Columbia 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.