Delaware electricity rates
As of May 2026, the average residential electricity rate in Delaware is 19.38 cents per kilowatt-hour, 5.1% above the U.S. average of 18.44¢. That is the 19th highest rate of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Year over year
- ▲ +6.9% from 18.13¢ in May 2025
- Vs. U.S. average
- +5.1% U.S. average 18.44¢
- National rank
- #19 of 51 · #33 cheapest
- Supply market
- PJM Retail choice statewide
Why Delaware pays what it pays
Delaware generates a small fraction of the electricity it uses. Nearly everything comes across the PJM network from Pennsylvania, Maryland and beyond, and that dependence is the central fact of its rate. There is no in-state nuclear plant, no large hydro, and only a modest gas fleet.
When PJM's capacity market repriced sharply upward, Delaware had no cushion. The state's default supply, Standard Offer Service, is procured through competitive auction and reflects the regional price directly.
Delaware's small size also concentrates costs. A single transmission upgrade or storm-hardening programme spreads across fewer than half a million meters.
How Delaware compares
Delaware ranks #19 of 51 jurisdictions by residential price, making it the 33rd cheapest. Within the South Atlantic division, 6 of 8 neighbouring states are cheaper.
| State | ¢/kWh | YoY | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 15.09 | +5.4% | #35 |
| Florida | 15.17 | +1.3% | #33 |
| Georgia | 15.84 | +5.7% | #30 |
| South Carolina | 16.18 | +5.0% | #27 |
| West Virginia | 16.80 | +3.8% | #23 |
| Virginia | 17.61 | +15.4% | #21 |
| Delaware | 19.38 | +6.9% | #19 |
| Maryland | 21.77 | +14.6% | #15 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40 | +24.3% | #10 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State. Data period May 2026. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
What a bill looks like at this rate
The figures below apply the May 2026 Delaware average to four usage levels. They are arithmetic, not quotes. A real bill also carries fixed customer charges, taxes and any rider specific to your utility.
Estimate your Delaware bill
Multiply your own usage by the May 2026 state average. Enter the kilowatt-hours from your last statement. This is a supply-and-delivery blended average, not a utility quote.
Rate used: …. U.S. average 18.44¢/kWh, May 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
Who sells electricity in Delaware
Delmarva Power, an Exelon company, serves most of the state. The Delaware Electric Cooperative and municipal systems in Newark, Dover, Lewes and several other towns serve the rest, frequently at lower rates.
Delaware has full retail choice for residential customers, though participation is modest and most households remain on Standard Offer Service.
What you can actually do about it
Delaware's municipal utilities are consistently cheaper than Delmarva for comparable service, which makes the municipal boundary a real financial consideration when you choose where to live in the state.
The Delaware Public Service Commission publishes SOS procurement results before they take effect. That filing is the earliest reliable signal of where residential rates are heading.
Closest states by price
These jurisdictions charge within a fraction of a cent of Delaware, which is useful if you are comparing a move or a multi-state operating cost.
Delaware electricity rates: common questions
What is the average electricity rate in Delaware?
The average residential electricity rate in Delaware is 19.38 cents per kilowatt-hour as of May 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is +5.1% relative to the national average of 18.44¢/kWh.
How much is a typical monthly electric bill in Delaware?
At the May 2026 average rate of 19.38¢/kWh, a household using 900 kWh a month would pay about $174, and one using 1,500 kWh about $291. Actual bills vary with usage, rate schedule, fixed customer charges and taxes.
Have electricity rates in Delaware gone up?
Delaware rates rose 6.9% over the year to May 2026, from 18.13¢ in May 2025 to 19.38¢.
Can I choose my electricity supplier in Delaware?
Retail choice statewide. Residential customers in Delaware can buy supply from a competitive provider while the local utility continues to deliver it and maintain the wires.
Where does this Delaware rate figure come from?
It is the residential-sector average revenue per kilowatt-hour reported by utilities to the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Form EIA-861M and published in the Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A. It blends supply and delivery across every residential customer in the state, so it is a statewide average rather than a quote for any individual household.