Home Cost Pulse

Illinois electricity rates and average bill

Residential price, August 2026

Homes in Illinois paid an average of 19.32¢ per kWh in August 2026, 6% above the U.S. average of 18.16¢. That is the 18th highest among the 50 states and D.C. The price is up 7.2% vs August 2025.

The average Illinois home12 months to August 2026
Electricity used per month
697 kWh
U.S. average home
875 kWh
Average monthly bill
$131.86

Same usage at the Aug 2026 price$134.69

Bills are revenue divided by customers, so they include the fixed charges and fees utilities collect.

Price over the last 36 months

13.6¢19.3¢24.9¢Sep 2023Mar 2025Aug 202619.32¢
IllinoisU.S. average
Show the monthly numbers
MonthPrice
August 202619.32¢
July 202619.22¢
June 202619.89¢
May 202623.85¢
April 202620.47¢
March 202618.85¢
February 202617.83¢
January 202616.36¢
December 202517.05¢
November 202518.28¢
October 202518.70¢
September 202519.01¢
August 202518.03¢
July 202517.19¢
June 202518.26¢
May 202518.55¢
April 202518.28¢
March 202517.54¢
February 202516.46¢
January 202515.77¢
December 202415.96¢
November 202417.06¢
October 202416.48¢
September 202415.80¢

What everyday things cost in Illinois

At 19.32¢ per kWh, before any fixed monthly charge:

ItemEnergyCost
1,000 kWh
a round reference amount		1,000 kWh$193.20
Central air conditioner
3.5 kW running 8 hours a day for 30 days		840 kWh$162.29
Space heater
1.5 kW running 8 hours a day for 30 days		360 kWh$69.55
Electric car, 1,000 miles
3.5 miles per kWh with 10% charging losses		317 kWh$61.33
Electric clothes dryer
3 kW, twelve one-hour loads		36 kWh$6.96
LED TV
100 W for 5 hours a day for 30 days		15 kWh$2.90

Thermostat-controlled appliances cycle on and off, so real use is often lower. Price your own appliance.

Rooftop solar in Illinois

A 1 kW rooftop system near Chicago produces about 1,308 kWh a year, according to the NLR PVWatts model. At Illinois's average price that output is worth about $253 a year per kW. A typical 7 kW system would make about 9,160 kWh, worth about $1,770 a year.

The 30% federal tax credit for solar you buy (Section 25D) ended on December 31, 2025. Work out payback with your own quote.

Estimate your Illinois bill

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Illinois compared with the Midwest

StatePriceAverage bill
North Dakota13.31¢$133
Nebraska13.54¢$122
South Dakota15.15¢$140
Kansas15.47¢$134
Missouri16.02¢$145
Indiana17.02¢$157
Iowa17.06¢$120
Minnesota17.20¢$121
Illinois19.32¢$132
Ohio19.38¢$159
Wisconsin19.41¢$125
Michigan22.99¢$134

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), residential retail sales, latest month August 2026. Average bill and usage: 12 months to August 2026, computed from EIA revenue, sales and customer counts.

Solar: PVWatts v8 by the National Laboratory of the Rockies, 1 kW fixed roof system, 20° tilt, facing south, 14% losses.

How we calculate. Page updated 2026-11-15.