Electricity rates in District of Columbia
Updated 2026-10-21 with EIA data through July 2026
Homes in District of Columbia paid an average of 24.20¢ per kWh over the last 12 months, up from 12.29¢ in 2016. Businesses paid 22.54¢ and industry 18.37¢. Electricity is deregulated here, so you can shop for a supplier.
What things cost to run in District of Columbia
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District of Columbia electricity price trend
Annual average residential price, 2010–2025. Since 2016, prices have risen +79%.
Choosing a provider in District of Columbia
Pepco customers can choose a competitive supplier.
Competitive suppliers in District of Columbia charged homes an average of 23.02¢/kWh for supply in 2025, before the utility's delivery charges (delivery-only customers paid about 7.58¢/kWh on average). Compare a supplier's offer with your utility's default "price to compare" on your bill.
Official state comparison site Compare District of Columbia providers
Power outages in District of Columbia right now
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Electric utilities in District of Columbia
1 utilities serve homes in District of Columbia. Rates are average residential revenue per kWh, so they include fixed charges. Click a utility for rate plans, outage history and its service map.
Click or tap a county to see the electric companies that serve it.
| Utility | Type | Homes served | Rate | Avg bill | Outage min/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potomac Electric Power Co. | Investor-owned | 292K | 22.91¢ | $136 | 50 |
Retail electricity providers in District of Columbia
Average revenue per kWh from residential customers in 2025 (EIA-861), adjusted to current state trend.
District of Columbia vs. neighboring states
Energy costs at a glance
| Natural gas (homes) | $2.07/therm |
| Gasoline (regular) | $4.31/gal |
| Driving cost: EV vs. gas | 7.5¢ vs. 15¢/mi |
| Solar output (1 kW, Washington) | 1,392 kWh/yr |
| Avg. outage time (2025) | 50 min/yr |
| Commercial rate | 22.54¢ |
| Industrial rate | 18.37¢ |
What appliances cost to run in District of Columbia
| Appliance | Per month | Per year | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space heater | $39.91 | $200 | +$51 |
| Central air conditioner | $139 | $696 | +$179 |
| Refrigerator | $10.08 | $121 | +$31 |
| Electric car | $89.94 | $1,079 | +$277 |
| Electric clothes dryer | $16.59 | $199 | +$51 |
| Electric water heater | $90.75 | $1,089 | +$279 |
| Hot tub | $60.50 | $726 | +$186 |
| TV | $3.02 | $36 | +$9 |
| Pool pump (single-speed) | $100 | $501 | +$129 |
| Heat pump | $247 | $1,237 | +$318 |
Electricity rates by city in District of Columbia
- Washington
- Downtown DC
- Columbia Heights
- Mount Pleasant
- Central 14th Street / Spring Road
- Northwest One
- Foggy Bottom
- Mount Vernon Triangle
- H Street NE
- Pleasant Plains
- NoMa
- Petworth
- Capitol Riverfront
- Park View
- Golden Triangle
- Shaw
- Brightwood
- Adams Morgan
- Kennedy Street
- Southwest Waterfront
- Barracks Row
- Union Market
- Anacostia
- Colorado Triangle
- Brentwood Village
- The Wharf
- Central 14th Street / WMATA Northern Bus Barn
- Van Ness
- Benning Road
- Hillcrest
- Deanwood
- Woodley Park
- Cleveland Park
- Bellevue
- Chevy Chase
- Riggs Park
- Benning
- Lincoln Heights
- Brookland
- The Parks At Walter Reed
- Congress Heights
- Glover Park
- Georgia Avenue / Walter Reed
- Kenilworth
- Capitol Gateway
- Woodridge
- Fort Lincoln
- Tenleytown
- Ivy City
- Pennsylvania Avenue SE
- Bloomingdale
- Barry Farms
Frequently asked questions
What is the average electricity rate in District of Columbia?
The average residential rate in District of Columbia was 24.20¢ per kWh over the 12 months ending July 2026. That is 35% above the U.S. average of 17.99¢. In July 2026 alone it was 25.21¢, +9.4% from a year earlier.
What is the average electric bill in District of Columbia?
About $155 a month. The average District of Columbia home uses 639 kWh a month (EIA 2025), and we priced that at the current average rate. Bills vary with your utility, home size, heating type and season.
Is electricity expensive in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia ranks 42nd cheapest of 51 (50 states plus DC) for residential electricity. That puts it among the most expensive states.
Can I choose my electricity provider in District of Columbia?
Yes. Pepco customers can choose a competitive supplier. The state's official comparison site is dcpsc.org.
Which electric company is cheapest in District of Columbia?
Among utilities with at least 1,000 residential customers, Potomac Electric Power Co. has the lowest average rate at 22.91¢/kWh. The highest is Potomac Electric Power Co. at 22.91¢. Most homes can't switch utilities, since your address determines which one serves you.
How reliable is the power grid in District of Columbia?
In 2025, the average District of Columbia customer was without power for 50 min (SAIDI, including major storms) across about 0.3 outages. Excluding major event days it was 34 min. Figures are customer-weighted across utilities that report to EIA.
Sources: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue (through July 2026), EIA-861 2025 utility data, EIA fuel prices, NREL PVWatts. Methodology.