Electricity prices are 176.80% higher in 2026 versus 1986 (a $0.14 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $0.196 in September 2026 for Electricity per KWH. See observed price history.
Between 1986 and 2026, Electricity experienced an average inflation rate of 2.58% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, electricity costing $0.08 in the year 1986 would cost $0.22 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.81% during this same period, inflation for electricity was lower.
In the year 1986: Pricing changed by 1.34%, which is below the average yearly change for electricity during the 1986-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1986 (1.90%), inflation for electricity was lower.
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 156%, from $0.077 per kWh in 1986 to $0.196 in September 2026. Overall prices rose 207% over the same period, so electricity rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
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.
| Year | Price (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.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Electricity, over time, for $0.08 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | $0.08 | 1.34% |
| 1987 | $0.08 | -0.34% |
| 1988 | $0.08 | 1.37% |
| 1989 | $0.08 | 2.81% |
| 1990 | $0.09 | 2.34% |
| 1991 | $0.09 | 3.77% |
| 1992 | $0.09 | 1.97% |
| 1993 | $0.09 | 1.99% |
| 1994 | $0.09 | 0.05% |
| 1995 | $0.09 | 2.26% |
| 1996 | $0.10 | 1.68% |
| 1997 | $0.10 | 0.53% |
| 1998 | $0.09 | -3.85% |
| 1999 | $0.09 | -0.71% |
| 2000 | $0.09 | 1.60% |
| 2001 | $0.10 | 7.25% |
| 2002 | $0.10 | -1.13% |
| 2003 | $0.10 | 2.39% |
| 2004 | $0.10 | 1.86% |
| 2005 | $0.11 | 6.15% |
| 2006 | $0.12 | 12.16% |
| 2007 | $0.13 | 3.94% |
| 2008 | $0.14 | 6.44% |
| 2009 | $0.14 | 2.97% |
| 2010 | $0.14 | 0.20% |
| 2011 | $0.14 | 1.89% |
| 2012 | $0.14 | -0.05% |
| 2013 | $0.15 | 2.10% |
| 2014 | $0.15 | 3.62% |
| 2015 | $0.15 | 0.56% |
| 2016 | $0.15 | -1.06% |
| 2017 | $0.15 | 2.15% |
| 2018 | $0.15 | 0.71% |
| 2019 | $0.15 | 0.20% |
| 2020 | $0.16 | 0.59% |
| 2021 | $0.16 | 4.32% |
| 2022 | $0.18 | 13.06% |
| 2023 | $0.19 | 5.80% |
| 2024 | $0.20 | 4.21% |
| 2025 | $0.21 | 4.78% |
| 2026 | $0.22 | 4.50%* |
* 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:
| Year | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 45.500 | 45.367 | 43.800 | 42.608 | 41.508 | 40.683 | 42.658 | 42.292 | 43.300 | 42.908 | 42.000 | 41.600 | 41.250 | 40.708 | 40.150 | 39.508 | 38.158 | 37.350 | 36.750 | 36.250 | 36.317 | 33.645 | 31.769 | 30.567 | 29.908 | 29.450 | 29.008 | 28.675 | 28.417 | 28.300 | 28.258 | 28.183 | 28.033 | 26.983 | 26.592 | 26.858 | 27.083 | 27.200 | 27.367 | 27.650 | 27.992 | 28.142 | 28.458 | 28.575 | 28.717 | 29.075 | 29.492 | 29.850 | 29.900 | 29.950 | 29.942 | 29.783 | 29.658 | 29.667 | 29.925 | 30.192 | 30.750 | 31.783 | 33.883 | 35.575 | 37.367 | 44.125 | 49.958 | 53.133 | 56.650 | 60.833 | 65.533 | 75.833 | 87.208 | 95.825 | 98.917 | 105.258 | 108.942 | 110.400 | 110.025 | 111.533 | 114.667 | 117.350 | 121.775 | 124.175 | 126.650 | 126.708 | 129.575 | 131.750 | 132.450 | 127.350 | 126.450 | 128.475 | 137.792 | 136.233 | 139.483 | 142.083 | 150.825 | 169.167 | 175.825 | 187.145 | 192.712 | 193.095 | 196.737 | 196.630 | 200.750 | 208.020 | 209.191 | 206.983 | 211.437 | 212.932 | 213.362 | 214.615 | 223.892 | 253.127 | 267.804 | 279.087 | 292.432 | 305.586 |