Supply
Commercial Electricity Prices in Major Data-Center-Growth States vs. the U.S.
Monthly EIA commercial-sector average retail electricity prices in five states with rapid large-scale computing growth versus the U.S. average. Power costs shape AI infrastructure siting and economics, but these sector-wide averages are not data-center tariffs, contracts, or customer bills.
Commercial Electricity Prices in Major Data-Center-Growth States vs. the U.S.
- United States
- Virginia
- Texas
- North Dakota
- Arizona
- Utah
In 2026-06-01, the U.S. commercial-sector average retail electricity price was 14.2 cents per kilowatthour, compared with 11 cents per kilowatthour in Virginia and 8.66 cents per kilowatthour in Texas.
Methodology
Use EIA Form EIA-861M monthly state-level data beginning January 2023. The latest workbook available on August 27, 2026 contains observations through June 2026; 2025 and 2026 values are preliminary, while 2024 and prior values are final.
Use the commercial sector because EIA's state-selection analysis measures commercial electricity demand and says much large-scale computing-facility load is reported there. EIA also cautions that utilities may classify commercial and industrial customers by NAICS code or by rate-schedule demand and usage thresholds, so some large facilities can be classified as industrial and classifications can change.
Plot EIA's monthly Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers in cents per kilowatthour. This is revenue from commercial ultimate customers divided by corresponding electricity sales and is a weighted sector average, not a tariff quote or a customer-specific bill.
Use the commercial price column reported directly in EIA's state workbook for Virginia, Texas, North Dakota, Arizona, and Utah. Derive the U.S. comparison from the same workbook as 100 multiplied by total commercial revenue in thousand dollars divided by total commercial sales in megawatthours across the 50 states and District of Columbia; the result matches EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.3 for every overlapping month.
Normalize each monthly reporting period to the first calendar day for chart timestamps. Do not interpolate missing months, seasonally adjust the series, convert to real dollars, or infer a price for data centers.
Frequently asked questions
What does this chart measure?
It compares monthly average retail electricity prices for all commercial-sector customers in Virginia, Texas, North Dakota, Arizona, Utah, and the United States. Values are cents per kilowatthour and reflect commercial revenue divided by commercial electricity sales.
Why do these prices matter for AI infrastructure?
Electricity is a major operating input for data centers, so regional price conditions can influence AI-compute siting, expansion economics, and operating costs. The chart provides state-level context, not the marginal cost, total power bill, grid capacity, or contract terms facing a specific project.
Are these the electricity prices paid by data centers?
No. They are average retail prices across all commercial-sector customers in each geography. Data centers may have negotiated tariffs, special contracts, wholesale exposure, demand charges, tax arrangements, on-site generation, or utility classifications that differ from this average.
Why use the commercial sector instead of the industrial sector?
The fixed state set comes from an EIA analysis of commercial electricity-demand growth linked to large computing facilities, so the commercial price series is the internally consistent comparison. EIA notes that utility classification practices vary and some large loads may appear in the industrial sector.
How were the five states chosen?
They are the five states EIA specifically named in its June 2024 analysis: Virginia and Texas for the largest absolute commercial-demand growth, North Dakota for the fastest relative growth, and Arizona and Utah for robust growth associated with large computing facilities. The set is fixed for comparability.
How are the state and U.S. figures sourced and calculated?
State values come directly from EIA Form EIA-861M monthly commercial-price data. The U.S. series is calculated from the same workbook as total commercial revenue divided by total commercial sales across the 50 states and District of Columbia, then checked against EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.3.
Why can monthly retail prices move sharply?
EIA's average includes energy, demand and customer charges, fuel adjustments, surcharges and certain taxes in reported revenue. Billing periods, seasonal demand, rate changes, customer mix and classification changes can all affect a monthly sector average.
Are the latest values final?
No. In the workbook checked on August 27, 2026, data for 2025 and 2026 are preliminary estimates. EIA marks 2024 and earlier values final and may revise newer observations.