North Dakota electricity rates
As of May 2026, the average residential electricity rate in North Dakota is 13.61 cents per kilowatt-hour, 26.2% below the U.S. average of 18.44¢. That is the 46th highest rate of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Year over year
- ▲ +3.9% from 13.10¢ in May 2025
- Vs. U.S. average
- -26.2% U.S. average 18.44¢
- National rank
- #46 of 51 · #6 cheapest
- Supply market
- MISO / SPP Regulated monopoly
Why North Dakota pays what it pays
North Dakota sits on top of its own fuel. The state's lignite plants are built beside the mines that supply them, which removes transport cost entirely. That is normally the single largest component of delivered coal price. Those plants are old and largely depreciated.
Layered on that is one of the strongest wind resources in North America, and enough transmission built over the past fifteen years to move the output east. North Dakota generates far more electricity than it consumes and exports the surplus into MISO and SPP.
The state also avoids most of the cost pressures that afflict others. There is no wildfire mitigation programme, little storm-hardening spending relative to the coasts, and no aggressive clean-energy mandate forcing early retirements.
How North Dakota compares
North Dakota ranks #46 of 51 jurisdictions by residential price, making it the 6th cheapest. Within the West North Central division, 1 of 6 neighbouring states are cheaper.
| State | ¢/kWh | YoY | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 13.59 | +3.3% | #48 |
| North Dakota | 13.61 | +3.9% | #46 |
| Missouri | 13.68 | +5.1% | #45 |
| Iowa | 14.14 | -0.1% | #43 |
| Kansas | 15.13 | +2.7% | #34 |
| South Dakota | 15.73 | +9.8% | #31 |
| Minnesota | 16.95 | +7.0% | #22 |
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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota
Xcel Energy's Northern States Power and Otter Tail Power serve parts of the east, and Montana-Dakota Utilities covers the west. Rural electric co-operatives, supplied largely by Basin Electric Power Cooperative, serve much of the state's area though not most of its population.
There is no residential retail choice. Rates are set by the North Dakota Public Service Commission, whose three members are elected rather than appointed.
What you can actually do about it
North Dakota's cold means high winter usage even at a low rate, so the bill is driven more by envelope efficiency than by price. Insulation and air sealing return more here than rate shopping ever could.
Co-operative members should check whether their co-op offers off-peak electric heating rates. Several do, at substantial discounts, in exchange for the utility controlling load during peaks.
Closest states by price
These jurisdictions charge within a fraction of a cent of North Dakota, which is useful if you are comparing a move or a multi-state operating cost.
North Dakota electricity rates: common questions
What is the average electricity rate in North Dakota?
The average residential electricity rate in North Dakota is 13.61 cents per kilowatt-hour as of May 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is -26.2% relative to the national average of 18.44¢/kWh.
How much is a typical monthly electric bill in North Dakota?
At the May 2026 average rate of 13.61¢/kWh, a household using 900 kWh a month would pay about $122, and one using 1,500 kWh about $204. Actual bills vary with usage, rate schedule, fixed customer charges and taxes.
Have electricity rates in North Dakota gone up?
North Dakota rates rose 3.9% over the year to May 2026, from 13.10¢ in May 2025 to 13.61¢.
Can I choose my electricity supplier in North Dakota?
Regulated monopoly. North Dakota households buy both supply and delivery from their local regulated utility or co-operative; there is no competitive residential supplier market.
Where does this North Dakota 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.