Electricity cost in Arkansas, 2026
Homes in Arkansas paid an average of 13.61¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 25% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 8.0% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 8th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$36.75a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.20
- Per day
- $1.22 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $447.09 · 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 Arkansas
At 13.61¢/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 | $6.12 | $74.51 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $114.32 | $1,391 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $29.40 | $357.67 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $36.75 | $447.09 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $55.12 | $670.63 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $16.54 | $201.19 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $38.46 | $467.95 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $2.04 | $24.84 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $3.92 | $47.69 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $5.51 | $67.06 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $2.45 | $29.81 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $47.04 | $572.27 |
Arkansas compared with its neighbors
Arkansas is in the EIA's West South Central region. July's price (14.33¢) ran above the year-to-date average, the usual summer peak. In the same region, Louisiana paid 13.35¢.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 13.35 | +5.9% | 5 of 51 |
| Oklahoma | 13.58 | +7.8% | 7 of 51 |
| Arkansas | 13.61 | +8.0% | 8 of 51 |
| Texas | 16.06 | +5.7% | 27 of 51 |
Charging an EV in Arkansas
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $4.32 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $51.85 a month to the bill. Size the circuit with the EV charger calculator.
Solar panels in Arkansas
NREL's PVWatts model puts a south-facing, 20° roof array in Little Rock at about 1,413 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 7.6 kW, or 20 panels of 400 W; at 13.61¢/kWh that power is worth about $1,538 a year. Output peaks in Jun (147 kWh per kW) and bottoms out in Dec (82). 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 — 4.7 times Arkansas's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.