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.
Where Delaware power comes from
Delaware generated 5 TWh in 2025, the 49th largest output of any state. Natural gas supplied 85.3% of it, enough that the price of that fuel largely sets the price of electricity here. Renewables accounted for 3.5%, against 23.8% nationally, which ranks Delaware #48 of 51.
- Natural gas 85.3% 5 TWh
- Coal 4.7% 253 GWh
- Solar 3.4% 180 GWh
- Petroleum 1.9% 103 GWh
- Other 4.6% 245 GWh
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Operational Data, net generation, all sectors. Net generation across all sectors. Nuclear counts as carbon-free but not renewable, so the two shares differ.
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 Delaware households actually pay
Delaware looks cheaper on paper than it is in practice. It has the 33rd cheapest rate in the country but only the 13th highest bill from the bottom, because households there use 941 kWh a month against a national average of 871. See how every state compares on bills.
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.
Heating in Delaware: gas, heat pump or resistance
Residential natural gas in Delaware averaged $14.78 per thousand cubic feet in 2024, about $1.43 per therm, against a national average of $14.50. Put on the same scale as the state's electricity rate, the cost of delivering one million BTU of heat works out as follows.
In Delaware, gas remains cheaper to run than a heat pump by about $3.10 per million BTU at these assumptions, roughly $186 over a 60 million BTU season. A heat pump can still be the better purchase once cooling, equipment age and incentives are counted, but not on heating cost alone.
Gas price: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Natural Gas Prices, price delivered to residential consumers, 2024. Assumptions are adjustable in the heating cost guide, and every state is compared on the gas price page.
What each Delaware utility charges
The statewide average hides a wide spread. Across the 7 Delaware utilities reporting to the EIA, rates run from 14.22¢ at Delaware Electric Cooperative to 18.99¢ at City of Newark . Together they serve 432,913 residential customers.
| Utility | ¢/kWh | Bill | kWh | Customers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delmarva Power | 17.23 | $152 | 884 | 275,018 |
| Delaware Electric Cooperative | 14.22 | $147 | 1,031 | 104,839 |
| City of Dover | 15.52 | $126 | 814 | 21,601 |
| City of Newark | 18.99 | $132 | 692 | 11,888 |
| Town of Middletown | 17.12 | $158 | 924 | 9,071 |
| City of Milford | 15.17 | $141 | 930 | 7,169 |
| Tesla Inc. | 16.02 | $104 | 647 | 3,327 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024.
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.
Delaware sits in The PJM region. The wholesale market whose capacity auction repriced and pushed residential rates up across nine jurisdictions in a single year. Read the regional analysis.
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 the average monthly electric bill in Delaware?
The average Delaware household paid $165 a month across the twelve months to May 2026, using an average of 941 kWh. That is +6.0% against the U.S. average bill of $155, and it ranks 13th highest of the 51 jurisdictions. Your own bill depends on the size of your home, your heating and cooling equipment and your rate schedule.
Why is the Delaware bill ranking different from its rate ranking?
A bill is the rate multiplied by usage, and usage varies between states more than price does. Delaware ranks #19 of 51 on price but 13th on the actual bill, because households there use about 941 kWh a month against a national average of 871. Climate and heating fuel drive most of that difference.
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.