Electricity priced at $100 in 1978 → $457.17 in 2024

Electricity Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Electricity, 1978-2024 ($100)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for electricity are 357.17% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $357.17 difference in value).

The current national average price is $0.18 for "Electricity per KWH". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1978 and 2024: Electricity experienced an average inflation rate of 3.36% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, electricity costing $100 in the year 1978 would cost $457.17 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.46% during this same period, inflation for electricity was lower.

In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 7.40%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for electricity during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), 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 (18.07%), 1980 (15.70%), and 1981 (15%).

Price history

The average price for Electricity is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation rate is also calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows average prices and their corresponding "real" prices adjusted for inflation rate. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

Average prices for Electricity per KWH:

YearAverage price (Electricity)Inflation adjusted price (2024 dollars)
2024$0.18 (latest available value)$0.18
2023$0.17$0.17
2022$0.16$0.17
2021$0.14$0.17
2020$0.14$0.18
2019$0.14$0.18
2018$0.14$0.18
2017$0.14$0.18
2016$0.14$0.18
2015$0.14$0.18
2014$0.14$0.18
2013$0.13$0.18
2012$0.13$0.18
2011$0.13$0.18
2010$0.13$0.18
2009$0.13$0.18
2008$0.12$0.18
2007$0.12$0.18
2006$0.11$0.18
2005$0.10$0.18
2004$0.09$0.18
2003$0.09$0.19
2002$0.09$0.19
2001$0.09$0.19
2000$0.09$0.19
1999$0.09$0.19
1998$0.09$0.19
1997$0.09$0.20
1996$0.09$0.20
1995$0.09$0.20
1994$0.09$0.20
1993$0.09$0.20
1992$0.09$0.20
1991$0.09$0.20
1990$0.08$0.20
1989$0.08$0.20
1988$0.08$0.20
1987$0.08$0.20
1986$0.08$0.19
1985$0.08$0.21
1984$0.08$0.22
1983$0.08$0.22
1982$0.08$0.22
1981$0.07$0.22
1980$0.06$0.22
1979$0.05$0.21
1978$0.05$0.21
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Buying power of $100.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Electricity, over time, for $100 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$100.007.40%
1979$107.737.73%
1980$124.6415.70%
1981$143.3415.00%
1982$157.509.88%
1983$162.593.23%
1984$173.026.42%
1985$179.063.49%
1986$181.461.34%
1987$180.84-0.34%
1988$183.321.37%
1989$188.482.81%
1990$192.892.34%
1991$200.163.77%
1992$204.111.97%
1993$208.181.99%
1994$208.270.04%
1995$212.992.26%
1996$216.561.68%
1997$217.710.53%
1998$209.33-3.85%
1999$207.85-0.71%
2000$211.181.60%
2001$226.497.25%
2002$223.92-1.13%
2003$229.272.39%
2004$233.541.86%
2005$247.916.15%
2006$278.0612.16%
2007$289.003.93%
2008$307.616.44%
2009$316.762.97%
2010$317.390.20%
2011$323.381.89%
2012$323.20-0.05%
2013$329.972.10%
2014$341.923.62%
2015$343.850.56%
2016$340.22-1.06%
2017$347.542.15%
2018$350.000.71%
2019$350.700.20%
2020$352.760.59%
2021$368.014.32%
2022$416.0613.06%
2023$440.195.80%
2024$457.173.86%*

* 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:

Year1913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI45.50044.25042.95041.85040.75041.43342.50042.66743.30042.74041.90041.60041.06740.53339.93339.13337.76737.13336.53336.26735.56733.00031.62030.53329.80029.40028.92028.62028.41528.30028.25428.18528.03126.97726.61326.90027.10027.20027.40027.64627.99228.13828.46228.57728.71529.07729.49229.85429.90029.94629.93829.78529.66229.66929.92330.19230.75431.78533.88535.57737.36944.12349.96253.13156.64660.83865.53875.83187.20895.82398.915105.262108.938110.400110.023111.531114.669117.354121.777124.177126.654126.708129.577131.754132.454127.354126.454128.477137.792136.231139.485142.085150.823169.169175.825187.146192.712193.095196.737196.630200.750208.020209.191206.983211.437212.932213.362214.615223.892253.127267.804278.134

Adjust electricity prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1978 * 1978 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Electricity was 60.838 in the year 1978 and 278.134 in 2024:

278.134 / 60.838 * $100 = $457.17

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $457.17 in 2024 (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.

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