Electricity Bill Calculator
Turn your average daily usage into a full monthly electricity bill, including fixed service fees, delivery charges, and tiered or time-of-use rates.
Common conversions
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| 20 kWh/day @ $0.13 + $10 fixed | $88.00 |
| 25 kWh/day @ $0.16 + $12 fixed | $132.00 |
| 30 kWh/day @ $0.16 + $15 fixed | $159.00 |
| 35 kWh/day @ $0.20 (CA) + $10 fixed | $220.00 |
| 40 kWh/day @ $0.11 (ID) + $8 fixed | $140.00 |
| 45 kWh/day @ $0.40 (HI) + $20 fixed | $560.00 |
| 50 kWh/day @ $0.14 + $15 fixed | $225.00 |
| 60 kWh/day @ $0.17 + $18 fixed | $324.00 |
The math behind it
- kWh/month = 32 × 30 = 960
- Usage charge = 960 × 0.15 = $144.00
- Bill = $144.00 + $11.00
Everything you need to know
What actually makes up your bill
Your monthly bill is not just kWh times rate. Every utility bill combines a usage charge (kWh used multiplied by the per-kWh rate), a fixed customer or service charge you pay even at zero usage, and often a delivery or transmission charge that covers the wires and poles rather than the electricity itself. State and local taxes, franchise fees, and fuel adjustment surcharges can add another 5 to 10 percent on top. The formula behind this calculator, cost = (daily kWh × 30 × rate) + fixed fees, mirrors that structure so the estimate lines up with what actually shows up in your inbox.
Tiered and time-of-use rate plans
Many utilities do not charge one flat rate for every kWh. A tiered (block) rate plan charges a lower rate for the first block of monthly usage, then a higher rate once you cross a threshold, for example $0.14/kWh for the first 500 kWh and $0.19/kWh after that. A time-of-use (TOU) plan instead varies the rate by the hour: a summer afternoon peak might run $0.35/kWh while overnight off-peak power costs $0.10/kWh. To get an accurate estimate on either plan, run the calculator once per tier or per rate period and add the results, rather than plugging in a single blended average.
How to read your actual utility bill
Pull out a recent bill and look for these lines: the meter reading or total kWh used for the billing period, the rate schedule name (often a code like "E-1"), the customer charge (a flat monthly fee), a separate delivery charge if you live in a deregulated electricity state, and any surcharges for fuel cost adjustments or franchise taxes. Enter the total kWh and the effective rate (usage charge divided by kWh) above to check your bill or project next month's.
Common applications
Run the calculator with current and projected daily kWh to see how adding an EV or heat pump will change next year's monthly expense before you buy either one.
Re-run the estimate with each utility's rate and fixed fee side by side to find the cheapest plan for your actual usage profile, not just the lowest advertised rate.
Landlords can give tenants a realistic monthly cost estimate by combining typical usage for the unit's size with the local utility rate and fixed fee.
If your estimate is off from your real bill by more than 15 to 20 percent, check for a meter misread, a rate schedule change, or a one-time surcharge before calling your utility.
Common mistakes
Service charges of $10 to $30 a month exist even at zero usage. Solar customers especially need to budget for them since they can persist after usage drops to near zero.
Many tariffs charge more above a monthly kWh threshold. A single flat rate averaged across the whole bill hides the higher marginal cost of extra usage near the top tier.
Running a dryer or charging an EV during a 3 to 4x peak-rate window can cost far more than the same task done overnight, even though the kWh used is identical.
Summer and winter rates differ on many tariffs, and fuel cost adjustments change month to month. An estimate built on last January's rate will miss a July bill.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average US electricity bill?+
About $140 a month is the average US residential electric bill in 2025, based on EIA data, though it ranges from under $100 in low-cost states to over $200 in Hawaii and parts of the Northeast.
What's on my bill besides the electricity I used?+
Fixed customer charges, delivery or transmission fees, taxes, and fuel surcharges make up the rest of a typical bill on top of the usage charge. These fixed items usually total $10 to $30 a month regardless of how much power you use.
Does using more electricity always cost the same rate per kWh?+
No, many utilities charge tiered rates that rise after a monthly usage threshold. A home using 1,200 kWh on a 500 kWh tier plan pays the higher tier rate on the last 700 kWh, not on the whole bill.
What is time-of-use billing?+
Time-of-use billing charges a different rate depending on the hour of day, with the highest rate during afternoon and early evening peak demand. Shifting laundry or EV charging to overnight hours can cut the cost of that usage by half or more on some plans.
Is this calculator's estimate exact?+
No, this tool gives a close estimate assuming a flat rate and one fixed fee. Your real bill may add taxes, tiered pricing, or time-of-use periods that shift the total by 5 to 15 percent.
Why did my bill jump even though my usage looked similar?+
A seasonal rate change, a tier threshold crossed by a few extra kWh, or a new surcharge are the most common reasons. Compare the rate schedule code on both bills before assuming your usage changed.
Do solar customers still pay a fixed monthly charge?+
Yes, almost every utility bills a fixed customer or grid-connection charge to solar customers even in months when net usage is zero. Budget $10 to $30 a month for this regardless of how much your panels produce.
How can I lower my bill without buying anything?+
Shifting usage to off-peak hours, fixing phantom standby loads, and staying under a lower usage tier can cut a bill by 10 to 20 percent with no new equipment.
What if I don't know my exact rate?+
Divide the usage charge line on a past bill by the kWh used that period. That gives your effective rate to plug into the calculator, separate from fixed fees and taxes.