Which States Pay the Highest Energy Costs? - The New York Times
Which States Pay the Highest Energy Costs? - The New York Times
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Which States Pay the Highest Energy Costs?
A recent study ranked all 50 states based on the average monthly energy bill in each. Hint: It’s better in the heat than in the cold.
As temperatures hit record highs in parts of the country, energy bills are sure to follow. Air-conditioning can help, but there’s only so much you can do in 111-degree heat.
Where do Americans pay the most for their energy? A recent study by WalletHub ranked the energy costs for homeowners by state, looking at the average monthly consumption and price of electricity, natural gas, home heating oil and motor fuel. (Motor fuel costs also included miles traveled and the number of drivers in the state.) The data was sourced from government agencies and AAA.
Wyoming, known for its extremely cold winters, has by far the steepest average monthly cost of energy — $1,591 — in large part because it consumes the most motor fuel and residential oil per capita, and has the highest monthly prices for both. The five most expensive states overall — Wyoming, North Dakota, Iowa, Montana and Minnesota — have the highest heating-oil prices, ranging from $396 to $1,087 a month.
Hawaii, which ranks 29th overall, has the highest monthly cost of electricity, $204, and natural gas, $212, but also the nation’s lowest consumption of both. Louisiana (42nd), where sticky heat demands air-conditioning, has the highest electrical consumption, while Alaska (8th), among the coldest states, leads the way for natural gas consumption, showing again that heating is generally more expensive than cooling.
Looking for the lowest energy bill? Head to New Mexico, where energy costs average $376 a month. The state ranked 49th for electricity costs ($103 a month), 47th for natural gas ($76 a month) and 47th for oil ($11 a month).
The Cost of Power
The most- and least-expensive states based on their average monthly energy bills, including electricity, heating oil, natural gas and motor fuel.
Highest energy cost
Lowest energy cost
STATE
AVERAGE MONTHLY ENERGY COST
STATE
AVERAGE MONTHLY ENERGY COST
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
Nevada
Georgia
South Carolina
Tennessee
Oklahoma
California
Louisiana
Colorado
Florida
Mississippi
Nebraska
Texas
Kansas
Arizona
New Mexico
$538
$533
$524
$477
$476
$474
$470
$462
$457
$453
$437
$436
$400
$376
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Wyoming
North Dakota
Iowa
Montana
Minnesota
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Alaska
South Dakota
Virginia
Rhode Island
Utah
Alabama
Pennsylvania
Maryland
$1,591
$840
$798
$787
$782
$759
$750
$716
$709
$694
$690
$684
$677
$669
$665
Highest energy cost
STATE
AVERAGE MONTHLY ENERGY COST
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Wyoming
North Dakota
Iowa
Montana
Minnesota
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Alaska
South Dakota
Virginia
Rhode Island
Utah
Alabama
Pennsylvania
Maryland
$1,591
$840
$798
$787
$782
$759
$750
$716
$709
$694
$690
$684
$677
$669
$665
Lowest energy cost
STATE
AVERAGE MONTHLY ENERGY COST
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
Nevada
Georgia
South Carolina
Tennessee
Oklahoma
California
Louisiana
Colorado
Florida
Mississippi
Nebraska
Texas
Kansas
Arizona
New Mexico
$538
$533
$524
$477
$476
$474
$470
$462
$457
$453
$437
$436
$400
$376
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Matt Yan is a real estate reporter for The Times and a member of the 2024-25 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers. More about Matt Yan
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