Electricity priced at $0.09 in 2000→$0.15 in 2018

Electricity Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Electricity, 2000-2018 ($0.09)

Electricity prices were 65.74% higher in 2018 versus 2000 (a $0.06 difference in value).

The latest available average price is $0.196 in September 2026 for Electricity per KWH. See observed price history.

Between 2000 and 2018, Electricity experienced an average inflation rate of 2.85% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, electricity costing $0.09 in the year 2000 would cost $0.15 in 2018 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.12% during this same period, inflation for electricity was higher.

In the year 2000: Pricing changed by 1.60%, which is below the average yearly change for electricity during the 2000-2018 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2000 (3.38%), inflation for electricity was lower.

Price Inflation for Electricity since 1913

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1974 (18.09%), 1980 (15.72%), and 1981 (15%).

Electricity prices are up 4.4% over the past year, but your own inflation rate depends on everything you buy. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of electricity rose 125%, from $0.087 per kWh in 2000 to $0.196 in September 2026. Overall prices rose 96% over the same period, so electricity rose faster than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted

Electricity prices by year

The average price for electricity is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows the average U.S. price of electricity per KWH each year, along with the same price adjusted for inflation. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

YearPrice (per kWh)Price, inflation-adjusted
2026 (partial)$0.194$0.194
2025$0.185$0.194
2024$0.176$0.189
2023$0.168$0.186
2022$0.159$0.182
2021$0.141$0.175
2020$0.135$0.176
2019$0.136$0.180
2018$0.136$0.183
2017$0.138$0.189
2016$0.135$0.190
2015$0.138$0.196
2014$0.137$0.195
2013$0.132$0.191
2012$0.130$0.190
2011$0.130$0.194
2010$0.128$0.197
2009$0.127$0.200
2008$0.123$0.193
2007$0.117$0.190
2006$0.112$0.188
2005$0.100$0.173
2004$0.094$0.168
2003$0.093$0.170
2002$0.091$0.171
2001$0.092$0.176
2000$0.087$0.171
1999$0.086$0.175
1998$0.087$0.179
1997$0.094$0.198
1996$0.094$0.202
1995$0.094$0.207
1994$0.092$0.209
1993$0.092$0.214
1992$0.088$0.212
1991$0.087$0.214
1990$0.084$0.216
1989$0.082$0.222
1988$0.080$0.228
1987$0.079$0.234
1986$0.077$0.235
1985$0.081$0.254
1984$0.082$0.265
1983$0.078$0.265
1982$0.076$0.266
1981$0.069$0.257
1980$0.060$0.245
1979$0.050$0.234
1978$0.046$0.238

Yearly averages; 2026 is through September. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $0.09 since 2000

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Electricity, over time, for $0.09 beginning in 2000. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2000$0.091.60%
2001$0.107.25%
2002$0.10-1.13%
2003$0.102.39%
2004$0.101.86%
2005$0.116.15%
2006$0.1212.16%
2007$0.123.94%
2008$0.136.44%
2009$0.132.97%
2010$0.140.20%
2011$0.141.89%
2012$0.14-0.05%
2013$0.142.10%
2014$0.153.62%
2015$0.150.56%
2016$0.14-1.06%
2017$0.152.15%
2018$0.150.71%
2019$0.150.20%
2020$0.150.59%
2021$0.164.32%
2022$0.1813.06%
2023$0.195.80%
2024$0.204.21%
2025$0.204.78%
2026$0.214.50%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Electricity:

Year191319141915191619171918191919201921192219231924192519261927192819291930193119321933193419351936193719381939194019411942194319441945194619471948194919501951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI45.50045.36743.80042.60841.50840.68342.65842.29243.30042.90842.00041.60041.25040.70840.15039.50838.15837.35036.75036.25036.31733.64531.76930.56729.90829.45029.00828.67528.41728.30028.25828.18328.03326.98326.59226.85827.08327.20027.36727.65027.99228.14228.45828.57528.71729.07529.49229.85029.90029.95029.94229.78329.65829.66729.92530.19230.75031.78333.88335.57537.36744.12549.95853.13356.65060.83365.53375.83387.20895.82598.917105.258108.942110.400110.025111.533114.667117.350121.775124.175126.650126.708129.575131.750132.450127.350126.450128.475137.792136.233139.483142.083150.825169.167175.825187.145192.712193.095196.737196.630200.750208.020209.191206.983211.437212.932213.362214.615223.892253.127267.804279.087292.432305.586

Adjust electricity prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2018 / CPI in 2000* 2000 USD value = 2018 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Electricity was 128.475 in the year 2000 and 212.932 in 2018:

212.932 / 128.475* $0.09 = $0.15

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $0.09 in 2000 has the same "purchasing power" as $0.15 in 2018 (in the CPI category of Electricity).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Electricity in 1913. In addition to electricity, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.