RESEARCH
US Electricity Prices: Five Sources Track a 3–5% Annual Rise in 2025
Independent federal and research sources broadly agree that US residential electricity prices rose in 2025, averaging approximately 17.3 cents per kilowatt-hour — a 3–5% increase over 2024. The BLS electricity CPI component climbed 6.1% in the 12 months through April 2026. While sources agree on the direction, they report different magnitudes depending on measurement window and methodology, producing an INDETERMINATE result. Higher natural gas prices, record data center electricity demand, and growing grid infrastructure investment are the primary cost drivers cited consistently across all five sources.
Findings
- EIA retail data shows US residential electricity averaged approximately 17.3 cents per kWh in 2025, up roughly 3% from 2024 levels.
- BLS CPI electricity index rose 6.1% in the 12 months through April 2026, the fastest sustained 12-month increase in over a decade.
- US wholesale electricity prices surged in 2025 as Henry Hub natural gas prices rose 56% year-over-year, setting the marginal price for most regional markets.
- Data center load growth was a primary demand driver: EIA forecast the strongest four-year US electricity demand increase since 2000, concentrated in Texas (ERCOT) and the Mid-Atlantic (PJM) regions.
Delta Engine result
↔ Divergence Detected — Δ 0.2169 (threshold 0.05)
Evidence quality
avg 67 · min 25 · max 95 · spread 70