What drives electric bills in Idaho
Residential electricity in Idaho averaged 13.0¢ per kWh in January–July 2026, up 12.0% from 11.6¢ in the same months a year earlier (the U.S. average went up 6.9%). In July 2026, the latest month available, it was 13.7¢. The typical home here used 944 kWh a month in 2024, close to the U.S. average.
- Rate increases. Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power raised rates for new generation, transmission and wildfire mitigation.
- Dry years cost more. In years with low snowpack, hydropower falls and utilities buy more expensive power, which flows into rates through power cost adjustments.
- Electric heat. Many homes heat with electricity, especially in rural areas and newer subdivisions.
Who supplies your power
Idaho Power serves southern Idaho, including Boise. Avista serves the north, Rocky Mountain Power serves the southeast, and co-ops and municipal utilities serve the rest.
Ways to pay less in Idaho
- Idaho Power offers rebates on heat pumps, ductless heat pumps and insulation, plus free energy kits.
- If you heat with baseboard heaters, a few programmable thermostats on the most-used rooms can make a noticeable difference.
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day costs about $47 a month at Idaho prices. Check what your appliances cost to run in Idaho.
Help paying your bill in Idaho
- LIHEAP: Idaho’s program helps with heating bills through community action partnerships.
- Project Share: a fund supported by Idaho Power, Avista and customer donations that helps households in an energy crisis.
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 Idaho?
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in Idaho produces roughly 9,450 kWh a year, about 83% of what an average home here uses. At the state’s average price of 13.0¢, that power is worth about $1,225 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 Idaho compares with nearby states
| State | Price per kWh | kWh a month | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 13.0¢ | 944 | $122 |
| Utah | 13.2¢ | 774 | $102 |
| Nevada | 13.5¢ | 930 | $126 |
| Wyoming | 14.0¢ | 863 | $120 |
| Montana | 14.0¢ | 852 | $119 |
| Washington | 14.4¢ | 955 | $138 |
| Oregon | 15.4¢ | 882 | $136 |
| 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.