Electricity cost in Pennsylvania, 2026
Homes in Pennsylvania paid an average of 21.04¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 16% above the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 12.5% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 37th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$56.81a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.32
- Per day
- $1.89 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $691.16 · 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 Pennsylvania
At 21.04¢/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 | $9.47 | $115.19 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $176.74 | $2,150 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $45.45 | $552.93 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $56.81 | $691.16 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $85.21 | $1,037 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $25.56 | $311.02 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $59.46 | $723.42 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $3.16 | $38.40 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $6.06 | $73.72 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $8.52 | $103.67 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $3.79 | $46.08 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $72.71 | $884.69 |
Pennsylvania compared with its neighbors
Pennsylvania is in the EIA's Middle Atlantic region. July's price (21.72¢) ran above the year-to-date average, the usual summer peak. It had the lowest price in its region.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 21.04 | +12.5% | 37 of 51 |
| New Jersey | 23.98 | +8.7% | 41 of 51 |
| New York | 29.38 | +13.0% | 47 of 51 |
Charging an EV in Pennsylvania
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $6.68 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $80.15 a month to the bill. Size the circuit with the EV charger 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 — 3.0 times Pennsylvania's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.