DATA SOURCES
Public sources, dated snapshots, editable inputs
Reference data is a starting point. A current bill, EnergyGuide label, or measured appliance use is usually more specific to a household.
Residential electricity rates
The current snapshot is 2026-05, retrieved 2026-07-29. National and state figures come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s monthly residential retail-sales dataset.
EIA calculates average retail revenue per kilowatt-hour as a proxy for retail prices. It is not a utility tariff and does not reproduce fixed charges, taxes, tiered pricing, or time-of-use periods. Use the variable rate from a bill when available.
- EIA electricity retail-sales data browser
- EIA API technical documentation
- EIA explanation of retail prices and consumption
Snapshot controls
An automated monthly check publishes only a period containing the national average, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia. Values must be numeric and pass plausibility checks. The snapshot is compiled into the static site; the public calculator never receives the EIA API key.
Appliance information
Preset profiles are editable planning examples, not measurements of a particular model. For a purchase comparison, prefer the annual kilowatt-hours on the model’s FTC-required EnergyGuide label. ENERGY STAR certification is useful supporting information, but products should still be compared within an equivalent size and configuration.