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Illinois electric bills: $171/month (August 2026)

Updated with August 2026 data · Editor: Otto Pop · Methodology

$171/month
Average residential electric bill, Illinois, August 2026
19.32¢/kWh · 886 kWh/month · rank 18 of 51 (1 = cheapest)
12-month average: $132/month (12 months to August 2026)
Source: EIA, Aug 2026

Illinois households paid an average of $171 a month for electricity in August 2026, based on U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That is 5.6% higher than August 2025, and it ranks Illinois 18th of 51 from the lowest average bill.

How much is the average electric bill in Illinois?

An Illinois home used 886 kWh in August 2026, below the U.S. average of 1,152 kWh, at 19.32¢/kWh. The average bill was $171. Check the rate on your own bill in the calculator.

Estimated bill: $171 a month, $2,052 a year if every month matched this one

Defaults are the Illinois averages for August 2026 (EIA). Use changes with the seasons: the actual average bills for the 12 months to August 2026 added up to $1,582. Enter the use and price from your own bill for a personal estimate. EIA's average price already spreads fixed customer charges across every kWh; your utility's own fixed charge and rate plan can differ.

How have Illinois electricity prices changed?

Illinois prices have moved a lot. The price was 13.02¢/kWh in September 2021; over five years it ranged from 12.92¢/kWh (January 2022) to 23.85¢/kWh (May 2026). In August 2026 the price was 48.4% higher than five years ago.

Average residential electricity price in Illinois, last 12 months
15.5¢17.8¢20.1¢22.4¢24.7¢Sep 2025Dec 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026
Show the numbers
Average residential electricity price in Illinois, last 12 months
MonthValue
Sep 202519.01¢/kWh
Oct 202518.70¢/kWh
Nov 202518.28¢/kWh
Dec 202517.05¢/kWh
Jan 202616.36¢/kWh
Feb 202617.83¢/kWh
Mar 202618.85¢/kWh
Apr 202620.47¢/kWh
May 202623.85¢/kWh
Jun 202619.89¢/kWh
Jul 202619.22¢/kWh
Aug 202619.32¢/kWh

Source: EIA, residential electricity data, Sep 2025–Aug 2026

Average residential electricity price in Illinois, last 5 years
11.6¢15.0¢18.4¢21.8¢25.2¢Sep 2021Sep 2022Sep 2023Sep 2024Sep 2025
Show the numbers
Average residential electricity price in Illinois, last 5 years
MonthValue
Sep 202113.02¢/kWh
Oct 202113.98¢/kWh
Nov 202114.33¢/kWh
Dec 202113.40¢/kWh
Jan 202212.92¢/kWh
Feb 202213.83¢/kWh
Mar 202214.57¢/kWh
Apr 202214.98¢/kWh
May 202215.02¢/kWh
Jun 202216.58¢/kWh
Jul 202216.36¢/kWh
Aug 202216.73¢/kWh
Sep 202216.81¢/kWh
Oct 202217.02¢/kWh
Nov 202217.04¢/kWh
Dec 202215.98¢/kWh
Jan 202315.99¢/kWh
Feb 202317.03¢/kWh
Mar 202317.38¢/kWh
Apr 202317.82¢/kWh
May 202317.86¢/kWh
Jun 202315.08¢/kWh
Jul 202314.81¢/kWh
Aug 202313.74¢/kWh
Sep 202314.70¢/kWh
Oct 202315.75¢/kWh
Nov 202315.65¢/kWh
Dec 202314.84¢/kWh
Jan 202414.77¢/kWh
Feb 202415.60¢/kWh
Mar 202415.95¢/kWh
Apr 202416.51¢/kWh
May 202416.52¢/kWh
Jun 202416.01¢/kWh
Jul 202415.19¢/kWh
Aug 202415.62¢/kWh
Sep 202415.80¢/kWh
Oct 202416.48¢/kWh
Nov 202417.06¢/kWh
Dec 202415.96¢/kWh
Jan 202515.77¢/kWh
Feb 202516.46¢/kWh
Mar 202517.54¢/kWh
Apr 202518.28¢/kWh
May 202518.55¢/kWh
Jun 202518.26¢/kWh
Jul 202517.19¢/kWh
Aug 202518.03¢/kWh
Sep 202519.01¢/kWh
Oct 202518.70¢/kWh
Nov 202518.28¢/kWh
Dec 202517.05¢/kWh
Jan 202616.36¢/kWh
Feb 202617.83¢/kWh
Mar 202618.85¢/kWh
Apr 202620.47¢/kWh
May 202623.85¢/kWh
Jun 202619.89¢/kWh
Jul 202619.22¢/kWh
Aug 202619.32¢/kWh

Source: EIA, residential electricity data, Sep 2021–Aug 2026

How does Illinois compare with other states?

Illinois ranked 18th of 51, 18.2% lower than the U.S. average of $209 in August 2026. Wisconsin averaged $148 and Missouri $216.

RankStateAvg. bill¢/kWhkWh/month
1Wyoming$11814.43821
2Washington$12014.63819
3Montana$12215.57784
4North Dakota$13013.31979
5Oregon$13515.92847
…
15New Mexico$16216.51983
16Utah$16413.311,230
17Colorado$16717.17973
18Illinois$17119.32886
19Michigan$17222.99750
20West Virginia$17416.311,069
21Rhode Island$17628.18625
…
47Oklahoma$25114.821,696
48Alabama$25416.331,555
49Texas$26615.911,670
50Arizona$26915.051,789
51Hawaii$26947.18570

1 = lowest average monthly bill. 50 states and DC.

StateAvg. bill¢/kWhvs. Illinois
Illinois$17119.32—
Indiana$18917.02+10.5%
Iowa$14917.06-12.9%
Kentucky$18813.80+9.9%
Missouri$21616.02+26.3%
Wisconsin$14819.41-13.5%

What is behind Illinois's electric bills?

  • Bill versus price: The bill was 5.6% higher than August 2025 and the price per kWh 7.2% higher, so homes used less electricity than a year earlier.
  • Seasonal range: $105 in November 2025 to $193 in July 2026, or $1,582 over 12 months.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the average electric bill in Illinois?

The average residential electric bill in Illinois was $171 a month in August 2026, based on EIA data. That assumes the state's average use of 886 kWh at 19.32¢/kWh. Because use changes with the seasons, the average over the 12 months to August 2026 is a steadier guide: $132 a month.

How much does electricity cost in Illinois?

Residential customers in Illinois paid an average of 19.32¢/kWh in August 2026, 7.2% higher than a year earlier.

Is electricity in Illinois more expensive than the U.S. average?

In August 2026 the average Illinois electric bill was $171, 18.2% lower than the U.S. average of $209. Illinois ranked 18th of 51 from the lowest average bill (the 50 states and the District of Columbia).

How much electricity does a typical Illinois home use?

A typical residential customer in Illinois used 886 kWh in August 2026, calculated as total residential sales divided by the number of residential customers reported to EIA.

How much does an Illinois household spend on electricity in a year?

Adding up the last 12 monthly average bills gives about $1,582 a year for a typical Illinois household (12 months to August 2026). The highest month was July 2026 at $193; the lowest was November 2025 at $105.

Methodology, sources and updates

The average bill is the EIA average residential price multiplied by average monthly use per residential customer. EIA's price is residential revenue divided by kWh sold, so the fixed customer charges utilities bill are already spread across every kWh; your own fixed charge, rate plan and taxes can differ. Read the full methodology.

  • — Updated with EIA data for August 2026.
  • — Updated with EIA residential retail sales data for July 2026.

General information based on public data, not financial advice. Your own bill depends on your utility, rate plan, fixed charge, use and any taxes added to it. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it publicly.