Average Household Electricity Bill in Illinois (2026)

A typical Illinois household uses about 893 kWh/month and pays about $183/month — or $2194/year — at the April 2026 residential rate of 20.47¢/kWh.

Monthly use893 kWh

Monthly bill$183

Annual bill$2194

Illinois’s rate is 9% above the U.S. average (18.83¢/kWh). Versus the national typical bill of $168/month, Illinois households pay $15 more each month.

Where does that 893 kWh/month go?

Based on EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey averages, here is how a typical household’s electricity splits across major loads in Illinois:

Load category	~Share	kWh/month	Cost/month at 20.47¢/kWh
Space cooling	17%	152	$31.08
Water heating	12%	107	$21.94
Space heating	12%	107	$21.94
Refrigeration	7%	63	$12.80
Lighting	5%	45	$9.14
TV & electronics	7%	63	$12.80
Washer & dryer	5%	45	$9.14
Cooking	4%	36	$7.31
Other (always-on, misc)	31%	277	$56.67

Shares vary widely by climate, home size, and what fuels you use (gas vs electric heat, gas vs electric water heater). The split above assumes a fully-electric household; gas-heated homes will see a smaller heating slice and a higher relative share for other loads.

How Illinois compares

The 12 cheapest electricity states are dominated by hydropower, nuclear baseload, or coal-rich regions (Idaho, Washington, Utah, Nebraska, Oklahoma). The most expensive — Hawaii, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York — typically have higher fuel imports, more expensive transmission, or both. Illinois sits at 20.47¢/kWh, ranking 36 out of 51 (1 = cheapest).

FAQ

Why use 893 kWh/month as the baseline?

That is the most recent U.S. average residential household consumption published by the EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Actual usage varies from ~500 kWh/month in mild-climate apartments to over 2,000 kWh/month in large electric-heated homes.

I use much more / less than that — what should I do?

Multiply your actual monthly kWh (from your bill) by 0.2047 to get your Illinois bill. Or use any of our per-appliance calculators to add up your actual loads.

Does this include fees and taxes?

No — this is the energy-only cost at the average residential rate. Most U.S. utilities also charge a small monthly customer/service fee ($5–$20) and applicable taxes, which add on top of the figures here.