Electricity cost in Alabama, 2026
Homes in Alabama paid an average of 16.54¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 9% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 3.6% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 29th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$44.66a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.25
- Per day
- $1.49 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $543.34 · 3,285 kWh
Wattage on the nameplate is the maximum. Thermostat-controlled appliances (fridges, heaters, AC) cycle, so their real cost is usually lower; a plug-in meter tells you exactly.
What appliances cost to run in Alabama
At 16.54¢/kWh, 30-day month. Your utility's rate and fixed charges will differ; your bill's total divided by its kWh is your real price.
| Appliance | Watts | h/day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (modern, ENERGY STAR) | 150 | 10 | $7.44 | $90.56 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $138.94 | $1,690 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $35.73 | $434.67 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $44.66 | $543.34 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $66.99 | $815.01 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $20.10 | $244.50 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $46.74 | $568.69 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $2.48 | $30.19 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $4.76 | $57.96 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $6.70 | $81.50 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $2.98 | $36.22 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $57.16 | $695.47 |
Alabama compared with its neighbors
Alabama is in the EIA's East South Central region. July's price (16.40¢) was below the year-to-date average. In the same region, Tennessee paid 13.87¢.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 13.87 | +4.9% | 9 of 51 |
| Kentucky | 14.27 | +8.8% | 14 of 51 |
| Mississippi | 15.19 | +9.1% | 19 of 51 |
| Alabama | 16.54 | +3.6% | 29 of 51 |
Charging an EV in Alabama
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $5.25 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $63.01 a month to the bill. Size the circuit with the EV charger calculator.
Solar panels in Alabama
NREL's PVWatts model puts a south-facing, 20° roof array in Birmingham at about 1,367 kWh per kW of panels a year (5.2 peak sun hours a day). Covering the average US home's 899 kWh a month takes about 7.9 kW, or 20 panels of 400 W; at 16.54¢/kWh that power is worth about $1,809 a year. Output peaks in May (143 kWh per kW) and bottoms out in Dec (80). Run your own numbers in the solar panel calculator.
Running backup power instead
A 7.5 kW portable generator at half load burns about 0.75 gallons of gasoline an hour, roughly 3.75 kWh. At $3.20 a gallon that is about 64¢ per kWh — 3.9 times Alabama's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.