North Dakota Utility Cost Calculator
North Dakota has the cheapest residential electricity in the country, 12.32¢ per kWh; its homes used 1,075 kWh a month for an average bill of $132.44.
North Dakota figures
The cheapest electricity in the country
North Dakota had the lowest residential price of the 51 jurisdictions over the last 12 months — 12.32¢ per kWh — and the lowest all-sector price in 2024. Coal produced 55% of its electricity in 2024 (75% in 2014) and wind 35%; Coal Creek station was the largest generator. North Dakota generated 43 TWh against 30 TWh of sales, exporting the surplus.
A cooperative market
Cooperatives made 73% of retail sales in 2024, second only to Alaska, through 21 co-ops with about 225,000 accounts — nearly as many as the investor-owned utilities’ 250,000. The two largest retailers by total sales were McKenzie Electric and Mountrail-Williams Electric cooperatives; for households, Montana-Dakota Utilities (0.8 TWh), Northern States Power (0.7 TWh) and Otter Tail Power (0.6 TWh) are the big investor-owned names, regulated by the North Dakota Public Service Commission. Rooftop solar has hardly started: EIA counted 81 net-metered homes.
Heat is the bill
The electric bill tops out in the cold months — $172.38 in January 2026 — and the 2020 survey found 5,315 kWh a year of electric space heating in homes that use it, the second-largest heating load among the states. Natural gas reaches 52% of homes; an account used about 781 therms in 2024 at $0.907 per therm, one of the three lowest prices. Propane heats 15% of homes at about 724 gallons a year, sixth-most, and cost $1.700 a gallon at the end of SHOPP’s 2025–26 season. Energy assistance is run by the North Dakota Department of Human Services.
Average North Dakota electric bill by month
Revenue ÷ customers, EIA-861M [1]; highest month in teal.
Worked example
A Fargo or Bismarck home with gas heat, at North Dakota averages:
- Electricity: 1,075 kWh × 12.32¢ = $132.44
- Natural gas: 65.1 therms × $0.907 = $59.05
$191.49 a month · $2,297.83 a year
Nearby states
| State | ¢/kWh | kWh/mo | Bill | $/therm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 742 | $120.35 | $1.041 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 829 | $114.73 | $0.847 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 986 | $140.01 | $0.917 |
Official links
Figures verified against their sources on . Report a correction