What drives electric bills in West Virginia
Residential electricity in West Virginia averaged 15.5¢ per kWh in January–July 2026, up 0.8% from 15.4¢ in the same months a year earlier (the U.S. average went up 6.9%). In July 2026, the latest month available, it was 15.8¢. The typical home here used 1,027 kWh a month in 2024, 19% more than the U.S. average, so how much power you use matters as much as the price.
- Fuel cost increases. Utilities pass the cost of coal and purchased power through to customers, and the Public Service Commission has approved several large fuel-related increases.
- High usage. West Virginia homes use about 1,030 kWh a month, partly because many use electric heat.
- Storm damage. Mountain terrain and heavy storms make lines expensive to maintain and repair.
Who supplies your power
Appalachian Power (with its affiliate Wheeling Power) serves the southern part of the state, and Mon Power and Potomac Edison (FirstEnergy) serve the north and east. A few small municipal utilities and co-ops serve the rest.
Ways to pay less in West Virginia
- If you heat with electric baseboard heaters, close off unused rooms and seal drafts around doors and windows. It’s the cheapest way to cut winter bills.
- Ask your utility about budget billing, which evens out large winter bills.
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day costs about $56 a month at West Virginia prices. Check what your appliances cost to run in West Virginia.
Help paying your bill in West Virginia
- LIEAP: West Virginia’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program helps with heating bills through the Department of Human Services.
- Special Reduced Rate Service: utilities give a discount to customers who receive certain benefits, such as SSI or SNAP for seniors. Ask your utility about the low-income discount.
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 West Virginia?
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in West Virginia produces roughly 8,050 kWh a year, about 65% of what an average home here uses. At the state’s average price of 15.5¢, that power is worth about $1,245 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 West Virginia compares with nearby states
| State | Price per kWh | kWh a month | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 15.5¢ | 1,027 | $159 |
| Kentucky | 14.3¢ | 1,047 | $149 |
| Virginia | 16.8¢ | 1,032 | $174 |
| Ohio | 18.7¢ | 846 | $158 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.0¢ | 817 | $172 |
| Maryland | 21.3¢ | 929 | $198 |
| 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.