North Dakota electricity rates
As of May 2026, the average residential electricity rate in North Dakota is 13.61 cents per kilowatt-hour, 26.2% below the U.S. average of 18.44¢. That is the 46th highest rate of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Year over year
- ▲ +3.9% from 13.10¢ in May 2025
- Vs. U.S. average
- -26.2% U.S. average 18.44¢
- National rank
- #46 of 51 · #6 cheapest
- Supply market
- MISO / SPP Regulated monopoly
Why North Dakota pays what it pays
North Dakota sits on top of its own fuel. The state's lignite plants are built beside the mines that supply them, which removes transport cost entirely. That is normally the single largest component of delivered coal price. Those plants are old and largely depreciated.
Layered on that is one of the strongest wind resources in North America, and enough transmission built over the past fifteen years to move the output east. North Dakota generates far more electricity than it consumes and exports the surplus into MISO and SPP.
The state also avoids most of the cost pressures that afflict others. There is no wildfire mitigation programme, little storm-hardening spending relative to the coasts, and no aggressive clean-energy mandate forcing early retirements.
Where North Dakota power comes from
North Dakota generated 43 TWh in 2025, the 35th largest output of any state. Coal supplied 53.1% of it, enough that the price of that fuel largely sets the price of electricity here. Renewables accounted for 41.3%, against 23.8% nationally, which ranks North Dakota #15 of 51.
- Coal 53.1% 23 TWh
- Wind 36.2% 15 TWh
- Natural gas 5.3% 2 TWh
- Hydroelectric 5.2% 2 TWh
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 North Dakota compares
North Dakota ranks #46 of 51 jurisdictions by residential price, making it the 6th cheapest. Within the West North Central division, 1 of 6 neighbouring states are cheaper.
| State | ¢/kWh | YoY | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 13.59 | +3.3% | #48 |
| North Dakota | 13.61 | +3.9% | #46 |
| Missouri | 13.68 | +5.1% | #45 |
| Iowa | 14.14 | -0.1% | #43 |
| Kansas | 15.13 | +2.7% | #34 |
| South Dakota | 15.73 | +9.8% | #31 |
| Minnesota | 16.95 | +7.0% | #22 |
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 North Dakota households actually pay
North Dakota looks more expensive on paper than it is in practice. Its rate ranks #46 of 51, but the average bill ranks only 38th, because households there use 1,062 kWh a month against a national average of 871. See how every state compares on bills.
Estimate your North Dakota 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 North Dakota: gas, heat pump or resistance
Residential natural gas in North Dakota averaged $8.99 per thousand cubic feet in 2024, about $0.87 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 North Dakota, gas remains cheaper to run than a heat pump by about $3.67 per million BTU at these assumptions, roughly $220 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 North Dakota utility charges
The statewide average hides a wide spread. Across the 16 North Dakota utilities reporting to the EIA, rates run from 7.24¢ at Mountrail-Williams Elec Coop to 14.25¢ at McLean Electric Coop, Inc . Together they serve 373,294 residential customers.
| Utility | ¢/kWh | Bill | kWh | Customers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern States Power Co - Minnesota | 12.11 | $89 | 734 | 82,987 |
| Montana-Dakota Utilities Co | 11.72 | $94 | 806 | 79,354 |
| Cass County Elec Coop Inc | 12.45 | $123 | 988 | 51,968 |
| Otter Tail Power Co | 11.38 | $116 | 1,021 | 45,467 |
| Nodak Electric Coop Inc | 12.08 | $176 | 1,457 | 20,803 |
| Capital Electric Coop, Inc | 12.31 | $125 | 1,012 | 19,530 |
| Verendrye Electric Coop Inc | 10.70 | $137 | 1,281 | 14,336 |
| Mountrail-Williams Elec Coop | 7.24 | $103 | 1,422 | 11,405 |
| Roughrider Electric Cooperativ | 10.24 | $125 | 1,218 | 11,183 |
| Northern Plains Electric Coop | 10.65 | $195 | 1,826 | 10,393 |
| North Central Elec Coop, Inc | 10.90 | $202 | 1,853 | 6,061 |
| Dakota Valley Elec Coop Inc | 12.01 | $213 | 1,777 | 5,721 |
| McKenzie Electric Coop Inc | 7.86 | $134 | 1,707 | 5,382 |
| McLean Electric Coop, Inc | 14.25 | $175 | 1,229 | 3,711 |
| Slope Electric Coop Inc | 13.81 | $156 | 1,126 | 3,204 |
| Burke-Divide Electric Coop Inc | 7.88 | $146 | 1,850 | 1,789 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024.
Who sells electricity in North Dakota
Xcel Energy's Northern States Power and Otter Tail Power serve parts of the east, and Montana-Dakota Utilities covers the west. Rural electric co-operatives, supplied largely by Basin Electric Power Cooperative, serve much of the state's area though not most of its population.
There is no residential retail choice. Rates are set by the North Dakota Public Service Commission, whose three members are elected rather than appointed.
North Dakota sits in The Midwest. A single wholesale market stretching from Manitoba to the Gulf, containing both the cheapest wind states and some of the highest delivery costs in the country. Read the regional analysis.
What you can actually do about it
North Dakota's cold means high winter usage even at a low rate, so the bill is driven more by envelope efficiency than by price. Insulation and air sealing return more here than rate shopping ever could.
Co-operative members should check whether their co-op offers off-peak electric heating rates. Several do, at substantial discounts, in exchange for the utility controlling load during peaks.
Closest states by price
These jurisdictions charge within a fraction of a cent of North Dakota, which is useful if you are comparing a move or a multi-state operating cost.
North Dakota electricity rates: common questions
What is the average electricity rate in North Dakota?
The average residential electricity rate in North Dakota is 13.61 cents per kilowatt-hour as of May 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is -26.2% relative to the national average of 18.44¢/kWh.
How much is the average monthly electric bill in North Dakota?
The average North Dakota household paid $130 a month across the twelve months to May 2026, using an average of 1,062 kWh. That is -16.1% against the U.S. average bill of $155, and it ranks 38th 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 North Dakota bill ranking different from its rate ranking?
A bill is the rate multiplied by usage, and usage varies between states more than price does. North Dakota ranks #46 of 51 on price but 38th on the actual bill, because households there use about 1,062 kWh a month against a national average of 871. Climate and heating fuel drive most of that difference.
Have electricity rates in North Dakota gone up?
North Dakota rates rose 3.9% over the year to May 2026, from 13.10¢ in May 2025 to 13.61¢.
Can I choose my electricity supplier in North Dakota?
Regulated monopoly. North Dakota households buy both supply and delivery from their local regulated utility or co-operative; there is no competitive residential supplier market.