According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of household energy rose 326%, from $0.046 per kWh in 1978 to $0.196 in September 2026. Overall prices rose 417% over the same period, so household energy rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
Household energy prices are 1,271.68% higher in 2026 versus 1967 (a $2.54 difference in value).
Between 1967 and 2026, Household energy experienced an average inflation rate of 4.54% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, household energy costing $0.20 in the year 1967 would cost $2.74 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.97% during this same period, inflation for household energy was higher.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
The average price for household energy 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 Household energy, over time, for $0.20 beginning in 1967. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | $0.20 | - |
| 1968 | $0.20 | 1.32% |
| 1969 | $0.21 | 2.00% |
| 1970 | $0.22 | 4.37% |
| 1971 | $0.23 | 6.96% |
| 1972 | $0.24 | 4.08% |
| 1973 | $0.26 | 6.97% |
| 1974 | $0.32 | 25.11% |
| 1975 | $0.37 | 14.38% |
| 1976 | $0.40 | 10.12% |
| 1977 | $0.46 | 12.94% |
| 1978 | $0.49 | 8.20% |
| 1979 | $0.57 | 15.76% |
| 1980 | $0.70 | 22.03% |
| 1981 | $0.81 | 16.46% |
| 1982 | $0.89 | 9.65% |
| 1983 | $0.94 | 5.13% |
| 1984 | $0.97 | 3.48% |
| 1985 | $0.98 | 0.55% |
| 1986 | $0.93 | -5.13% |
| 1987 | $0.91 | -1.91% |
| 1988 | $0.92 | 0.73% |
| 1989 | $0.94 | 2.93% |
| 1990 | $0.98 | 3.56% |
| 1991 | $1.00 | 2.15% |
| 1992 | $1.01 | 1.30% |
| 1993 | $1.04 | 2.88% |
| 1994 | $1.04 | 0.40% |
| 1995 | $1.04 | -0.13% |
| 1996 | $1.08 | 3.34% |
| 1997 | $1.10 | 2.31% |
| 1998 | $1.06 | -3.53% |
| 1999 | $1.06 | -0.22% |
| 2000 | $1.15 | 8.18% |
| 2001 | $1.26 | 10.30% |
| 2002 | $1.19 | -6.03% |
| 2003 | $1.29 | 8.59% |
| 2004 | $1.35 | 4.54% |
| 2005 | $1.51 | 11.85% |
| 2006 | $1.65 | 9.60% |
| 2007 | $1.70 | 2.64% |
| 2008 | $1.88 | 10.49% |
| 2009 | $1.76 | -6.32% |
| 2010 | $1.77 | 0.62% |
| 2011 | $1.81 | 2.30% |
| 2012 | $1.77 | -2.24% |
| 2013 | $1.81 | 2.39% |
| 2014 | $1.89 | 4.31% |
| 2015 | $1.82 | -3.72% |
| 2016 | $1.78 | -1.86% |
| 2017 | $1.85 | 3.80% |
| 2018 | $1.88 | 1.27% |
| 2019 | $1.87 | -0.39% |
| 2020 | $1.86 | -0.28% |
| 2021 | $2.01 | 7.89% |
| 2022 | $2.37 | 17.69% |
| 2023 | $2.40 | 1.55% |
| 2024 | $2.46 | 2.44% |
| 2025 | $2.60 | 5.79% |
| 2026 | $2.74 | 5.38%* |
* 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 Household energy:
| Year | 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 | 21.417 | 21.700 | 22.133 | 23.100 | 24.708 | 25.717 | 27.508 | 34.417 | 39.367 | 43.350 | 48.958 | 52.975 | 61.325 | 74.833 | 87.150 | 95.558 | 100.458 | 103.958 | 104.533 | 99.175 | 97.283 | 97.992 | 100.867 | 104.458 | 106.700 | 108.092 | 111.208 | 111.650 | 111.500 | 115.225 | 117.892 | 113.733 | 113.483 | 122.767 | 135.408 | 127.242 | 138.167 | 144.433 | 161.550 | 177.067 | 181.744 | 200.808 | 188.113 | 189.286 | 193.648 | 189.308 | 193.840 | 202.192 | 194.667 | 191.050 | 198.308 | 200.826 | 200.042 | 199.488 | 215.222 | 253.306 | 257.234 | 263.500 | 278.763 | 293.767 |