Homes in District of Columbia pay an average of 24.39¢ per kWh, 33% above the national average of 18.34¢. Enter your bill to see where you stand.
District of Columbia ranks 41st cheapest of 51 (50 states plus D.C.) for residential electricity. At 24.39¢/kWh, it sits 33% above the national average of 18.34¢, and prices are up 7.4% over the past year.
The typical District of Columbia household uses about 689 kWh a month and pays around $168. Among Northeast states, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland have lower rates.
District of Columbia lets households buy the electricity itself from a competitive electricity supplier, while Pepco keeps delivering power, reading meters and handling outages. The program is overseen by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia.
If you've never shopped, you're on Standard Offer Service (SOS) from Pepco. Pepco delivers power to every home in the District, whichever supplier you choose, so outages and meter questions always go to Pepco.
With a typical District of Columbia bill of about $168, supply is roughly $92 of it. A supply price 10% below your current default rate would save about $9 a month ($111 a year); delivery charges don't change.
Have your Pepco account number ready, compare offers on the Public Service Commission's list of licensed suppliers, and sign up with the supplier you choose. The supplier arranges the switch with your utility and your power isn't interrupted. Note when any fixed rate ends, because many suppliers then move you to a variable rate.
Your utility delivers the power and stays the same whichever supplier you choose. Its name is at the top of your bill.
| Utility | Main service area |
|---|---|
| Pepco | All of Washington, D.C. |
The District opened its market with the Retail Electric Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1999. Today the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia oversees the market.
The average residential rate in District of Columbia is 24.39 cents per kWh as of September 2026, 33% above the national average of 18.34¢, and about $168 a month for a typical home.
If you haven't chosen a supplier, you're on Standard Offer Service (SOS) from Pepco. It's the price any supplier offer needs to beat.
The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. You can compare offers on the Public Service Commission's list of licensed suppliers.
Averages are EIA residential revenue divided by kWh sold, September 2026. Your rate depends on your utility, plan and season. See average rates for all 50 states.