Mapped: The Most Expensive U.S. States for Utilities in 2026
Key Takeaways
- Hawaii has the highest utility costs in America at 83.5% above the national average, followed by Alaska (+48.4%) and Massachusetts (+43.9%).
- All six New England states rank in the top 10 for utility costs, reflecting the region’s reliance on imported fuels and constrained pipeline capacity.
- Idaho has the cheapest utilities at 26.6% below average, followed by New Mexico, Montana, and Nevada.
America’s utility map looks surprisingly different from its broader cost-of-living map.
Some relatively affordable states have above-average utility costs, while several Western states benefit from access to lower-cost power sources such as hydropower.
This map shows the utility cost index for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. in Q1 2026, using the C2ER Cost of Living Index published by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC).
The index measures relative prices for home energy (electricity and natural gas) and phone service in participating urban areas, with the U.S. average set at 100. An index value of 120 indicates utility prices 20% above the national average.
Hawaii and New England Have the Most Expensive Utilities
Hawaii tops the ranking with an index of 183.5, meaning utilities cost 83.5% more than the national average. The state generates about three-quarters of its electricity by burning imported petroleum, which gives it the highest average electricity price in the country.
Alaska (148.4) ranks second, followed by Massachusetts (143.9) and California (134.6).
The table below shows the utility cost index for every state in Q1 2026, along with how far each sits above or below the U.S. average:
| Rank | State | Utility Costs Index (U.S. Average = 100) | vs. U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 183.5 | +83.5% |
| 2 | Alaska | 148.4 | +48.4% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 143.9 | +43.9% |
| 4 | California | 134.6 | +34.6% |
| 5 | Connecticut | 126.5 | +26.5% |
| 6 | Maine | 124.6 | +24.6% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 122.3 | +22.3% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 116.4 | +16.4% |
| 9 | Maryland | 113.2 | +13.2% |
| 10 | Vermont | 112.0 | +12.0% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 110.3 | +10.3% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 108.4 | +8.4% |
| 13 | District of Columbia | 107.8 | +7.8% |
| 14 | Texas | 104.0 | +4.0% |
| 15 | Illinois | 102.6 | +2.6% |
| 16 | New York | 102.2 | +2.2% |
| 17 | Arizona | 102.1 | +2.1% |
| 18 | Ohio | 100.9 | +0.9% |
| 19 | Virginia | 99.5 | -0.5% |
| 20 | Washington | 99.4 | -0.6% |
| 21 | Georgia | 98.6 | -1.4% |
| 22 | Arkansas | 98.3 | -1.7% |
| 23 | Michigan | 98.0 | -2.0% |
| 24 | Delaware | 97.5 | -2.5% |
| 25 | Kansas | 97.4 | -2.6% |
| 26 | Alabama | 96.9 | -3.1% |
| 27 | Oregon | 96.3 | -3.7% |
| 28 | Wisconsin | 96.0 | -4.0% |
| 29 | Minnesota | 95.4 | -4.6% |
| 30 | Indiana | 95.2 | -4.8% |
| 31 | South Carolina | 95.1 | -4.9% |
| 32 | Florida | 94.6 | -5.4% |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 94.5 | -5.5% |
| 34 | Mississippi | 94.4 | -5.6% |
| 35 | North Carolina | 94.3 | -5.7% |
| 36 | Missouri | 92.4 | -7.6% |
| 36 | Wyoming | 92.4 | -7.6% |
| 38 | Nebraska | 92.1 | -7.9% |
| 39 | West Virginia | 90.4 | -9.6% |
| 40 | Colorado | 88.7 | -11.3% |
| 41 | Iowa | 88.6 | -11.4% |
| 42 | Kentucky | 87.8 | -12.2% |
| 43 | North Dakota | 86.4 | -13.6% |
| 44 | South Dakota | 85.4 | -14.6% |
| 45 | Tennessee | 84.5 | -15.5% |
| 46 | Utah | 84.4 | -15.6% |
| 47 | Louisiana | 82.3 | -17.7% |
| 48 | Nevada | 81.3 | -18.7% |
| 49 | Montana | 80.2 | -19.8% |
| 50 | New Mexico | 80.0 | -20.0% |
| 51 | Idaho | 73.4 | -26.6% |
New England is the only U.S. region with every state among the 10 most expensive for utilities. Massachusetts ranks third nationally, followed by Connecticut (5th), Maine (6th), Rhode Island (7th), New Hampshire (8th), and Vermont (10th).
The reason is fuel. New England has limited pipeline capacity to bring in natural gas, so on cold days the region competes for scarce gas supply and falls back on imported liquefied natural gas and heating oil, both of which cost more. That premium shows up in both home heating and electricity prices.
Texas Is the Biggest Anomaly in Utility Costs
Texas breaks the usual relationship between utility costs and overall affordability.
The state’s overall 2026 cost of living is 9.3% below the national average, yet its utility index of 104.0 is 4% above average. One contributor is the aftermath of 2021’s Winter Storm Uri. The Texas legislature authorized utilities to securitize storm costs into bonds repaid through surcharges on customer bills, some of which run for years.
Other populous states sit closer to the middle. New York (102.2), Illinois (102.6), and Arizona (102.1) are all within three points of the national average, while Florida (94.6) is 5.4% below it.
Hydro Powers Where Utilities Cost the Least in America
Idaho has the cheapest utilities in the country at 73.4, or 26.6% below the national average. Hawaii’s utility cost index is 2.5 times Idaho’s.
New Mexico (80.0), Montana (80.2), and Nevada (81.3) round out the four cheapest states. Idaho and Montana share one important advantage: hydropower supplied about 44% of Idaho’s electricity in 2024 and roughly a third of Montana’s, while hydroelectric generation remains among the lowest-cost sources of power.
Hydro is the largest renewable energy source for Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, helping keep utility prices below the national average in much of the region.
Ultimately, utility costs tell a different story than overall affordability. How states generate power and access fuel can matter just as much as the broader cost of living.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Cost of Living Across America on Voronoi.
