Average Household Electricity Bill in Rhode Island (2026)

A typical Rhode Island household uses about 893 kWh/month and pays about $253/month — or $3033/year — at the April 2026 residential rate of 28.30¢/kWh.

Monthly use893 kWh
Monthly bill$253
Annual bill$3033

Rhode Island’s rate is 50% above the U.S. average (18.83¢/kWh). Versus the national typical bill of $168/month, Rhode Island households pay $85 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 Rhode Island:

Load category~SharekWh/monthCost/month at 28.30¢/kWh
Space cooling17%152$42.96
Water heating12%107$30.33
Space heating12%107$30.33
Refrigeration7%63$17.69
Lighting5%45$12.64
TV & electronics7%63$17.69
Washer & dryer5%45$12.64
Cooking4%36$10.11
Other (always-on, misc)31%277$78.34

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 Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island sits at 28.30¢/kWh, ranking 45 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 0.2830 to get your Rhode Island 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.