Electricity Spending

How much American households spend on electricity — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$1,833
Share of total spending
2.3%
Change vs 2023
+4.0%
Change vs 2020
+20.9%

Spending Insight: Electricity

American households spent an average of $1,833 on electricity in 2024, representing 2.3% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 4.0% increase from 2023 ($1,763), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.

Since 2020, electricity spending has risen by 20.9% (from $1,516 to $1,833), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of electricity spending: the top income quintile spends $2,376/year versus $1,276 for the lowest quintile — a 1.9x gap. Regionally, the South spends the most ($2,042/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($1,516/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.

Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Year Annual Amount
2024 $1,833
2023 $1,763
2022 $1,683
2021 $1,551
2020 $1,516

By Income Level (2024)

How electricity spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $1,276
Second 20% $1,674
Middle 20% $1,813
Fourth 20% $2,023
Highest 20% $2,376

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in electricity spending

Midwest
$1,516
2.0%
Northeast
$1,802
2.2%
South
$2,042
2.9%
West
$1,787
1.9%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How electricity spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $1,721
35–44 $1,965
45–54 $2,158
55–64 $1,949
65–74 $1,769
75 and older $1,608
Under 25 $952

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $1,197
2 People $2,106
3 People $1,884
4 People $2,137
5 or More $2,341

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $2,120
Homeowner (no mortgage) $2,186
Renter $2,032

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on electricity? ▼
The average American household spent $1,833 on electricity in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 2.3% of total household spending.
Is electricity spending increasing? ▼
Electricity spending increased by 4% from 2023 to 2024 ($1,763 to $1,833). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +20.9%.
How does income affect electricity spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $1,276/year on electricity, while the highest quintile spends $2,376/year — a 1.9x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on electricity? ▼
The South region spends the most at $2,042/year, while the Midwest region spends the least at $1,516/year on electricity.
Which age group spends the most on electricity? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on electricity at $2,158/year.
Does household size affect electricity spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $1,197/year on electricity, while 5 or More households spend $2,341/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Alcoholic beverages
$643/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
Category
Transportation
$13,318/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.