Bristol Virginia Utilities electricity rates
Bristol Virginia Utilities charges an average of 10.99 cents per kilowatt-hour to residential customers, and the average household on its system paid $132 a month using 1,197 kilowatt-hours, according to its 2024 filing with the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Municipal utility TVA Virginia
Where Bristol Virginia Utilities sits
It is a smaller system, serving 13,633 residential customers, which means its fixed costs are spread across a narrow base. At 10.99¢ per kilowatt-hour it is one of the cheaper places to buy electricity in Virginia, 37.6% under the statewide average of 17.61¢.
Consumption here is high, 1,197 kilowatt-hours a month against a national average of 871. Long cooling seasons, large detached homes and electric resistance heating are the usual causes, and together they matter more to the bill than the rate does.
Owned by the city it serves and governed by a local board rather than the state commission. No shareholder return is built into the rate. That matters because a bill is not only the cost of generating electricity: it also carries the cost of the network, and who owns that network changes how it is paid for.
| Rate | Monthly bill | Monthly kWh | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Virginia Utilities | 10.99¢ | $132 | 1,197 |
| Virginia average | 17.61¢ | $171 | 1,063 |
| United States average | 18.44¢ | $155 | 871 |
Utility figures: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024. State and national figures: Electric Power Monthly, May 2026. Methodology
Where Bristol Virginia Utilities delivers
Its service territory covers 3 Virginia counties, either wholly or in part. Utility boundaries follow historic franchise agreements rather than county lines, so a county appearing here does not mean every address in it is served by Bristol Virginia Utilities.
- Bristol City
- Scott
- Washington
How often the power goes out
In 2024 the average Bristol Virginia Utilities customer went 530 minutes without electricity across 7.58 interruptions. The median across the 941 utilities that report this is 185 minutes.
That is far worse than typical, and figures at this level almost always reflect a major storm season rather than everyday performance. A single hurricane or ice storm can dominate the annual number.
Other Virginia utilities
| Utility | Rate | Bill | Customers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Electric & Power Co | 14.09¢ | $142 | 2.4 million |
| Appalachian Power Co | 17.02¢ | $178 | 465,283 |
| City of Manassas | 11.63¢ | $115 | 13,947 |
| City of Salem | 15.11¢ | $139 | 11,298 |
| Prince George Electric Coop | 13.05¢ | $170 | 10,954 |
Bristol Virginia Utilities rates: common questions
How much does Bristol Virginia Utilities charge per kilowatt-hour?
An average of 10.99 cents per kilowatt-hour across its residential customers in 2024. That is -37.6% against the Virginia average of 17.61¢ and -40.4% against the national average of 18.44¢. It is an all-in average across every residential rate schedule the utility offers, not a specific tariff.
What is the average Bristol Virginia Utilities bill?
$132 a month, based on total residential revenue divided by residential customers over the 2024 survey year, at an average of 1,197 kWh a month. The national average bill is $155 at 871 kWh.
Who owns Bristol Virginia Utilities?
It is classified by the EIA as a municipal utility. Owned by the city it serves and governed by a local board rather than the state commission. No shareholder return is built into the rate.
Is Bristol Virginia Utilities expensive compared with other Virginia utilities?
It ranks #19 of the 19 Virginia utilities covered here, counting from the most expensive. Nationally it ranks #1199 of 1369.