Average Electric Bill in Virginia — May 2026

Virginia at a glance

Avg monthly bill

$146

U.S. EIA · May 2026

Avg price

17.61¢/kWh

U.S. EIA · May 2026

Avg usage / month

828 kWh

U.S. EIA · May 2026

Price change (YoY)

+15.4%

U.S. EIA · May 2026

vs May 2025

Price history (last 12 months)

Residential average retail price by month. Source: U.S. EIA (public domain).

Why your bill is rising

Virginia is in the PJM Interconnection footprint, and PJM capacity prices for the next delivery years have already cleared at auction. These are contract results, not forecasts — they flow into residential bills as a capacity charge, on top of whatever fuel and distribution costs do.

• locked2026/2027 delivery year (Jun 2026 - May 2027)+0.41¢/kWh · ≈+$3.39/mo

  Monthly impact at the state-average usage of 828 kWh/mo.

  Locked PJM capacity change vs the 2025/2026 auction ($269.92/MW-day) already in the bill, RTO-wide clearing price converted at a 60% system load factor. Several utility zones cleared higher - treat as a floor. source · 2025-07-22

• locked2027/2028 delivery year (Jun 2027 - May 2028)+0.44¢/kWh · ≈+$3.64/mo

  Monthly impact at the state-average usage of 828 kWh/mo.

  Locked PJM capacity change vs the 2025/2026 auction ($269.92/MW-day) already in the bill, RTO-wide clearing price converted at a 60% system load factor. Several utility zones cleared higher - treat as a floor. source · 2025-12-17

• locked2028/2029 delivery year (Jun 2028 - May 2029)+0.38¢/kWh · ≈+$3.15/mo

  Monthly impact at the state-average usage of 828 kWh/mo.

  Locked PJM capacity change vs the 2025/2026 auction ($269.92/MW-day) already in the bill, RTO-wide clearing price converted at a 60% system load factor. Several utility zones cleared higher - treat as a floor. source · 2026-07-14

• trendIf the last 12 months' trend continues+2.71¢/kWh · ≈+$22.44/mo

  Monthly impact at the state-average usage of 828 kWh/mo.

  Extends the observed year-over-year residential price change (EIA) one more year. Context, not a promise - fuel and distribution costs can move either way. source · 2026-05

Not sure if your own bill jump is price, usage, or both? Our diagnostic guide walks through both checks.

Run your own numbers

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One email a month when the Virginia numbers update from the EIA refresh - price, average bill and trend, sourced and dated.

Can you switch plans in Virginia?

No. Virginia's residential electricity market does not offer retail supplier choice, so you cannot cut the bill by switching plans. Virginia is in PJM and carries the capacity increase, but residential supplier choice is effectively closed.

What you can do instead: cut the usage side of the bill. See what each appliance actually costs to run at Virginia rates in our cost-to-run guides, and target the biggest loads first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average electric bill in Virginia?

The average residential electric bill in Virginia is $146/mo as of May 2026, at an average price of 17.61¢/kWh (+15.4% versus a year earlier), per official U.S. EIA data.

Why are electric bills changing in Virginia?

Virginia is in the PJM Interconnection footprint, where capacity prices for upcoming delivery years have already cleared at auction - a contract result, not a forecast, that flows into residential bills as a capacity charge on top of fuel and distribution costs.

Can I switch electricity suppliers in Virginia?

No. Virginia's residential electricity market does not offer retail supplier choice. Virginia is in PJM and carries the capacity increase, but residential supplier choice is effectively closed.