Minnesota's average residential electricity price was 15.4¢/kWh in February 2026 —
the 24th-lowest price of the 51 states+DC (EIA). Across its major utilities in 2024, average all-in rates ranged from
11.3¢/kWh at Otter Tail Power Co to
17.9¢/kWh at Rochester Public Utilities — a spread worth about
$710/yr at typical usage (10,800 kWh/yr).
Minnesota is a fully regulated market: households cannot choose their electricity or gas supplier.
For home heating, utility natural gas was the cheapest fuel at
$10.77 per million BTU vs $45.11 for electric resistance heat.
Residential rates by utility (EIA-861, average all-in ¢/kWh)
| Utility | 2023 ¢/kWh | 2024 ¢/kWh | Customers (2024) | Ownership | vs state avg, $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Marshall | 9.47 | 9.70 | 5,857 | Municipal | -$642 |
| Hutchinson Utilities Comm | 10.50 | 11.09 | 6,653 | Municipal | -$492 |
| Otter Tail Power Co | 11.07 | 11.34 | 50,118 | Investor-owned | -$465 |
| City of Moorhead | 10.98 | 11.38 | 18,180 | Municipal | -$460 |
| City of Alexandria | 10.86 | 11.57 | 8,758 | Municipal | -$440 |
| Federated Rural Electric Assn | 11.22 | 11.64 | 5,727 | Co-op | -$432 |
| Brainerd Public Utilities | — | 12.15 | 6,956 | Municipal | -$377 |
| Willmar Municipal Utilities | 11.69 | 12.21 | 8,662 | Municipal | -$370 |
| Lake Region Electric Cooperative | 12.22 | 13.28 | 27,239 | Co-op | -$255 |
| Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp | 12.97 | 13.33 | 44,698 | Co-op | -$249 |
| Itasca-Mantrap Co-op Electrical Assn | 12.44 | 13.44 | 11,200 | Co-op | -$238 |
| Connexus Energy | 13.56 | 13.66 | 134,095 | Co-op | -$214 |
| Stearns Cooperative Elec Assn | 12.72 | 13.88 | 26,138 | Co-op | -$191 |
| Minnesota Valley Electric Coop | 12.61 | 13.98 | 43,412 | Co-op | -$179 |
| Dakota Electric Association | 13.60 | 14.00 | 108,097 | Co-op | -$177 |
| Meeker Coop Light & Power Assn | 13.13 | 14.09 | 8,572 | Co-op | -$167 |
| Wild Rice Electric Coop, Inc | 13.87 | 14.35 | 13,948 | Co-op | -$140 |
| Runestone Electric Assn | 13.31 | 14.36 | 14,282 | Co-op | -$138 |
| Beltrami Electric Coop, Inc | 14.09 | 14.40 | 20,732 | Co-op | -$134 |
| Wright-Hennepin Coop Elec Assn | 13.66 | 14.59 | 53,714 | Co-op | -$113 |
| BENCO Electric Cooperative | 15.21 | 15.03 | 18,361 | Co-op | -$66 |
| Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative | 15.03 | 15.15 | 17,842 | Co-op | -$53 |
| City of Owatonna | 14.51 | 15.27 | 11,434 | Municipal | -$40 |
| City of Austin | 15.06 | 15.34 | 10,795 | Municipal | -$32 |
| Shakopee Public Utilities Comm | 15.43 | 15.54 | 18,517 | Municipal | -$10 |
| Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric | 15.39 | 15.63 | 10,725 | Co-op | -$1 |
| ALLETE, Inc. | 14.04 | 15.66 | 125,896 | Investor-owned | +$2 |
| City of Elk River | 16.00 | 15.83 | 11,776 | Municipal | +$20 |
| City of Anoka | 15.73 | 15.88 | 11,646 | Municipal | +$26 |
| City of Chaska | 17.77 | 16.28 | 10,954 | Municipal | +$70 |
| MiEnergy Cooperative | 16.12 | 16.56 | 15,224 | Co-op | +$99 |
| People's Cooperative Services | 15.85 | 16.70 | 21,665 | Co-op | +$114 |
| East Central Energy | 15.79 | 16.89 | 55,250 | Co-op | +$135 |
| Northern States Power Co - Minnesota | 16.31 | 16.98 | 1,230,057 | Investor-owned | +$145 |
| Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative | 17.11 | 17.58 | 14,546 | Co-op | +$210 |
| Lake Country Power | 16.64 | 17.90 | 47,204 | Co-op | +$244 |
| Rochester Public Utilities | 16.87 | 17.91 | 54,943 | Municipal | +$245 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ residential sales from each utility's federal EIA-861 filing (bundled service — supply + delivery + riders, not a quoted tariff rate). State average = 15.64¢/kWh, volume-weighted across these utilities (2024). Your distribution utility is fixed by address; these gaps measure what households in different territories actually paid.
Can you choose your electric company in Minnesota?
Electric supply choice: no · Gas supply choice: no
Fully regulated.
Official rate information: mn.gov/puc.
Heating: which fuel is cheapest per million BTU in Minnesota?
| Fuel | Native price | As of | $ per MMBTU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility natural gas | $1.077 /therm | Jan 2026 | 10.77 |
| Propane | $2.056 /gal | Mar 30, 2026 | 22.48 |
| Heating oil (No. 2) | $4.245 /gal | Mar 30, 2026 | 30.65 |
| Electricity (resistance) | 15.39 ¢/kWh | Feb 2026 | 45.11 |
Utility natural gas is the cheapest heating fuel in Minnesota at $10.77/MMBTU — heating oil costs 2.8× as much per BTU. Conversions: 1 kWh = 3,412 BTU; 1 therm = 100,000 BTU; heating oil 138,500 BTU/gal; propane 91,452 BTU/gal. Site-energy prices — appliance efficiency changes delivered-heat cost: a 95% AFUE gas furnace delivers heat near the gas figure, while a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.5–3 cuts the effective electric figure by 60–70%.
Electricity price trend, last 12 months
Minnesota's average residential price went from 14.60¢/kWh in Feb '25 to 15.39¢/kWh in Feb '26 — up 5% year-over-year. The 12-month peak was 17.12¢ in Jun '25.
| Month | Feb '25 | Mar '25 | Apr '25 | May '25 | Jun '25 | Jul '25 | Aug '25 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | Nov '25 | Dec '25 | Jan '26 | Feb '26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¢/kWh | 14.60 | 15.10 | 15.08 | 15.84 | 17.12 | 16.92 | 16.91 | 17.10 | 16.37 | 15.67 | 14.96 | 14.98 | 15.39 |
Head-to-head utility comparisons in Minnesota
- Northern States Power Co - Minnesota vs Connexus Energy — who's cheaper?
- Northern States Power Co - Minnesota vs ALLETE, Inc. — who's cheaper?
- Northern States Power Co - Minnesota vs Dakota Electric Association — who's cheaper?
- Northern States Power Co - Minnesota vs East Central Energy — who's cheaper?
- Northern States Power Co - Minnesota vs Rochester Public Utilities — who's cheaper?
- Northern States Power Co - Minnesota vs Wright-Hennepin Coop Elec Assn — who's cheaper?
- Northern States Power Co - Minnesota vs Otter Tail Power Co — who's cheaper?
- Connexus Energy vs East Central Energy — who's cheaper?
- Connexus Energy vs Wright-Hennepin Coop Elec Assn — who's cheaper?
- ALLETE, Inc. vs East Central Energy — who's cheaper?
Questions people ask
- Who has the cheapest electricity in Minnesota?
- Otter Tail Power Co, at an average 11.3 cents per kWh for 2024 among Minnesota utilities with at least 50,000 customers (EIA-861). The most expensive, Rochester Public Utilities, averaged 17.9 cents — a difference of about $710 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I choose my electric company in Minnesota?
- No. Minnesota is a regulated retail market: your utility is set by address and there is no residential supplier shopping. Rates are set in state utility-commission proceedings (mn.gov/puc).
- Is gas or electric heat cheaper in Minnesota?
- Per million BTU of site energy, utility natural gas was $10.77 (Jan 2026) versus $45.11 for electric resistance heat, $30.65 for heating oil. A heat pump delivering 2.5-3 units of heat per unit of electricity brings electric heating to roughly $15-18 per MMBTU.
- What is the average electric bill in Minnesota?
- At Minnesota's February 2026 average price of 15.39 cents/kWh and typical usage of 900 kWh per month, a household pays about $139 per month ($1662 per year) for electricity. Actual bills vary with usage, utility territory, and tariff.
About these numbers. Rates shown are averages computed from federal regulatory filings (EIA Form 861)
and public tariff databases — confirm with your utility before making decisions; your actual rate depends on your tariff,
usage, and riders. Distribution utility is determined by address and generally cannot be chosen; in retail-choice states
you may choose your supplier for the supply portion of the bill. Savings figures use 10,800 kWh/yr
(US average residential usage) and are estimates, not quotes. EnergySavings is an independent data project by CertiHomes
and is not affiliated with any utility, supplier, or government agency.