ZIP Codes with Highest Energy Costs — 2026 Rankings

Every ZIP code in the top 100 of this ranking sits in Hawaii. Not ninety-nine of them — all one hundred. From Aiea (96701) on Oahu to Honolulu's downtown post offices, every entry reads 39.8 cents per kilowatt-hour. That is more than double the national median of 15.9 c/kWh. The geography of the highest-cost electricity in the United States is not ambiguous: it starts on an island, runs across islands, and ends in the Pacific.

Welcome to the Highest Energy Costs Rankings. We analyzed 41,344 ZIP codes across all 50 states and the District of Columbia using EIA residential electricity rate data by utility service area, mapped to ZIP code geographies. Rates are expressed in cents per kilowatt-hour (c/kWh). The metric label in this dataset is Electricity Rate, ranked in descending order — so ZIP codes at the top of the list carry the heaviest rate burden on residential customers. The national median sits at 15.9 c/kWh; the national average runs approximately 16–17 c/kWh. Every entry in the top 100 registers 39.8 c/kWh, nearly 2.5 times the median.

What the data reveals. The electricity rate map of the United States follows a clear structural logic. Island grids run on imported fuel. Hawaii's utilities burn oil and liquefied natural gas shipped across the Pacific, carrying the full cost of that supply chain into every residential bill. There is no interstate transmission line to draw on; no cheap hydro from a neighboring state; no pipeline to tap into cheaper natural gas markets. The result is a grid rate that simply cannot fall to mainland levels without a fundamental change in generation mix. A second cluster — not visible in the top 100 but present in the broader ranking — runs through New England: Maine (485 ranked ZIPs), Connecticut (433), Vermont (308), New Hampshire (282), and Rhode Island (90) all appear above the national median for a different structural reason: regional dependence on heating oil and a grid that imports power from a constrained northeastern transmission network. California (2,630 ZIPs) contributes heavily to the middle and upper tiers of the distribution, driven by PG&E and SCE rate schedules that rank among the highest of any investor-owned utilities on the mainland. Alaska (274 ZIPs) carries some of the most extreme rates in the country for remote villages served by diesel microgrids — communities unreachable by the main Railbelt system — though the ZIP code geography in Alaska captures some of that variation imperfectly.

The bottom of this ranking — lowest electricity rates. At the other end of the distribution sit states with structural advantages in power generation. The Pacific Northwest benefits from Columbia River hydropower: Washington (726 ZIPs) and Oregon (482 ZIPs) consistently produce some of the cheapest grid electricity in the country. TVA territory across Tennessee (787 ZIPs), Kentucky (947 ZIPs), and Alabama (819 ZIPs) carries legacy rate structures from federally subsidized generation. Parts of Texas (2,649 ZIPs — the most of any state) served by the ERCOT grid draw on abundant wind capacity that has driven wholesale prices down, although the retail rate picture in Texas varies widely by provider and plan. Louisiana (723 ZIPs) and Arkansas (706 ZIPs) round out the low-cost tier, powered by natural gas generation at prices tied to Gulf Coast supply. Wyoming (195 ZIPs) and Idaho (324 ZIPs) anchor the low end in the Mountain West.

How to read this ranking. An electricity rate in cents per kilowatt-hour measures the price your utility charges for each unit of energy delivered — but the number on your monthly bill reflects rate multiplied by consumption. Two households in the same ZIP code can face bills that differ by hundreds of dollars per year depending on square footage, insulation quality, heating system type, and occupant behavior. A high rate ZIP does not mean every resident pays a high bill; it means every resident faces a steeper per-unit cost, which amplifies the impact of any inefficiency in the home. In Hawaii at 39.8 c/kWh, a household that consumes 500 kWh per month pays $199 in electricity alone — before taxes, fees, and fixed charges. The same consumption at the national median rate of 15.9 c/kWh costs $79.50. The 2.5× gap in rates translates directly to a 2.5× gap in bills for equivalent usage. Seasonal patterns matter too: air conditioning loads in summer and electric heating loads in winter both drive consumption up, multiplying the cost gap for households in high-rate territories.

What this ranking does not tell you. Electricity rate alone does not capture the full energy burden picture. It does not account for rooftop solar adoption, which has penetrated Hawaii's residential market at among the highest rates in the country and meaningfully offsets grid consumption for homeowners who have invested in panels. It does not reflect LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) subsidies, which reduce net costs for qualifying households. It does not factor in time-of-use rate structures, where off-peak rates can be significantly lower than the blended average. It does not measure heating fuel costs — propane, heating oil, or natural gas — which dominate winter energy bills in much of New England and the Mountain West regardless of electricity rate. And it does not capture the efficiency of individual homes: an energy retrofit, a heat pump upgrade, or basic weatherization can cut consumption sharply, reducing the effective burden even in high-rate ZIP codes.

41,344 ZIP codes analyzed · Data last refreshed 2026-04-13

Top 100 Worst ZIP Codes

Rankings by State

Methodology

Energy cost rankings use EIA residential electricity rate data by utility service area, mapped to ZIP codes. Rates are in cents per kilowatt-hour (c/kWh). The national average is approximately 16-17 c/kWh. High energy costs combined with older housing stock indicate significant homeowner burden.

Data sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), FEMA National Flood Insurance Program, EPA radon zone maps, EIA electricity rates, and Consumer Confidence Reports. Last updated: 2026-10-19.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are energy costs included in home safety?

Energy burden is a key factor in home affordability and livability. ZIP codes with high electricity rates and older housing stock face compounding costs: higher bills, more expensive repairs, and greater risk of deferred maintenance that leads to safety hazards.

How can homeowners reduce energy costs?

Federal and state rebates are available for insulation, heat pumps, weatherization, and solar panels. The Inflation Reduction Act provides up to $14,000 in home energy rebates. Check energystar.gov/rebates for eligibility.

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