A US electric bill has more line items than the number most people actually look at. Understanding each one is the difference between knowing what changed and just watching the total go up.
Your usage charge is (current meter reading − previous reading) × your rate per kWh, plus fixed charges and taxes. At the US average rate of 18.44ยข per kWh, 900 kWh, a typical monthly usage, costs about $149.
Check your own usage and rate
Change any box. The result updates as you type.
Planning estimate. The rate box is prefilled with a regional average; the figure on your own bill is the one that matters. Power is draw while running, not while switched on.
Step 1: Find your actual usage
Every bill states kilowatt-hours used for the billing period, usually printed near a graph comparing this month to previous months. If you want to verify it yourself, most modern meters display a running total; read it, wait, read it again, and the difference over that time is your usage.
Current Reading − Previous Reading = kWh Used
Step 2: Separate supply from delivery
Nearly every US bill splits into two halves, and they behave completely differently:
| Charge | What it is | Typical share |
|---|---|---|
| Supply / Generation | The cost of the electricity itself. In deregulated states this is the part you can shop for; in regulated states it is set by your utility and the state commission. | 50–60% |
| Transmission | Moving power from generating plants to the regional grid. A regulated cost, the same for every supplier in the area. | ~5–10% |
| Distribution | Your utility own poles, wires and substations that carry power the last mile to your house. This is what stays the same when you switch suppliers. | ~20–30% |
| Fixed customer charge | A flat monthly fee for having a connection at all, independent of how much you use. | a few dollars |
| Taxes and fees | State and local taxes, plus utility-specific surcharges like storm recovery or renewable energy fees. | ~5–10% |
In a deregulated state, only the supply line moves when you switch providers. Delivery, and who shows up when the power goes out, stays with your utility regardless of who you buy generation from.
Step 3: The full computation
Total Bill = (kWh Used × Supply Rate) + (kWh Used × Delivery Rate) + Fixed Charges + Taxes and Fees
Utilities sometimes combine supply and delivery into one blended rate per kWh on the bill, which is what our state rate pages use, since it is the number that actually determines your cost per appliance.
Why the bill moves even when usage does not
Rates are not fixed forever. Utilities file rate changes with state regulators periodically, and in deregulated markets the supply rate can change with your contract or the wholesale market. A bill that rose without a change in habits is almost always a rate change, not a usage change, and it is worth checking the rate line specifically before assuming an appliance is to blame.
Seasonal swings are the other major driver. Heating and cooling dominate most residential bills, so a bill that spiked in July or January reflects weather, not a mystery load. The cost-to-run pages break down exactly what each degree of thermostat setting or hour of runtime costs in your state.