What drives electric bills in Arkansas
Residential electricity in Arkansas averaged 13.6¢ per kWh in January–July 2026, up 8.0% from 12.6¢ in the same months a year earlier (the U.S. average went up 6.9%). In July 2026, the latest month available, it was 14.3¢. The typical home here used 1,048 kWh a month in 2024, 21% more than the U.S. average, so how much power you use matters as much as the price.
- Cooling season. Air conditioning is the biggest part of the bill from May through September.
- Fuel and energy cost recovery. A charge on your bill passes natural gas and purchased power costs through and is adjusted regularly.
- Electric heat. Heat pumps and electric furnaces push up winter bills in many homes.
Who supplies your power
Entergy Arkansas serves most of the state. SWEPCO, OG&E and Empire (Liberty) serve some areas, and 17 electric co-ops serve much of rural Arkansas.
Ways to pay less in Arkansas
- Entergy Arkansas and many co-ops offer rebates on heat pumps, duct sealing and insulation through their efficiency programs. Ask about a home energy audit.
- Close blinds and curtains on sunny sides of the house during the day and use ceiling fans to feel cooler at a higher thermostat setting.
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day costs about $50 a month at Arkansas prices. Check what your appliances cost to run in Arkansas.
Help paying your bill in Arkansas
- LIHEAP: Arkansas’s Home Energy Assistance Program helps with heating and cooling bills through community action agencies.
- Utility bill assistance: Entergy Arkansas and most co-ops have hardship funds and budget billing.
Statewide help is in addition to the federal programs, such as LIHEAP and weatherization, that the bill checker above lists. Call 211 to find the agency that handles them near you.
Is solar worth it in Arkansas?
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in Arkansas produces roughly 9,100 kWh a year, about 72% of what an average home here uses. At the state’s average price of 13.6¢, that power is worth about $1,239 a year. What you actually save depends on your roof, the price you pay for the system, the 30% federal tax credit rules in effect when you buy, and how your utility credits the power you send to the grid. Get at least three quotes before you decide.
How Arkansas compares with nearby states
| State | Price per kWh | kWh a month | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 13.6¢ | 1,048 | $143 |
| Louisiana | 13.4¢ | 1,202 | $160 |
| Oklahoma | 13.6¢ | 1,079 | $147 |
| Tennessee | 13.9¢ | 1,154 | $160 |
| Missouri | 14.0¢ | 1,001 | $140 |
| Mississippi | 15.2¢ | 1,156 | $176 |
| Texas | 16.1¢ | 1,096 | $176 |
| U.S. average | 18.2¢ | 863 | $157 |
Price: average residential price, January–July 2026, U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electric Power Monthly, tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B). Usage: average monthly consumption per home, 2024, EIA form EIA-861. Typical bill = typical usage × current average price. Solar output is a rough estimate for a south-facing roof.