Virginia's average residential electricity price was 16.0¢/kWh in February 2026 —
the 25th-highest price of the 51 states+DC (EIA). Across its major utilities in 2024, average all-in rates ranged from
11.6¢/kWh at Northern Virginia Elec Coop to
17.0¢/kWh at Appalachian Power Co — a spread worth about
$588/yr at typical usage (10,800 kWh/yr).
Virginia lets households choose their natural-gas supplier; electric service is fully regulated.
For home heating, utility natural gas was the cheapest fuel at
$16.07 per million BTU vs $46.78 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Virginia Utilities | 10.92 | 10.99 | 13,633 | Municipal | -$369 |
| City of Harrisonburg | 11.98 | 11.36 | 18,089 | Municipal | -$330 |
| Powell Valley Electric Coop | 11.26 | 11.42 | 6,589 | Co-op | -$323 |
| Northern Virginia Elec Coop | 13.92 | 11.57 | 167,274 | Co-op | -$307 |
| City of Manassas | 12.45 | 11.63 | 13,947 | Municipal | -$300 |
| A & N Electric Coop | 13.34 | 13.02 | 33,096 | Co-op | -$150 |
| Prince George Electric Coop | 13.38 | 13.05 | 10,954 | Co-op | -$147 |
| Shenandoah Valley Elec Coop | 13.69 | 13.81 | 85,281 | Co-op | -$65 |
| Dominion Energy Virginia | 13.92 | 14.09 | 2,383,548 | Investor-owned | -$34 |
| Kentucky Utilities Co | 14.23 | 14.28 | 22,669 | Investor-owned | -$14 |
| Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative | 14.91 | 14.50 | 30,016 | Co-op | +$10 |
| Rappahannock Electric Coop | 14.81 | 14.89 | 169,489 | Co-op | +$52 |
| City of Danville | 15.65 | 15.01 | 37,781 | Municipal | +$64 |
| City of Salem | 12.93 | 15.12 | 11,298 | Municipal | +$76 |
| Southside Electric Coop, Inc | 15.02 | 15.48 | 56,846 | Co-op | +$115 |
| Northern Neck Elec Coop, Inc | 15.54 | 16.12 | 17,991 | Co-op | +$185 |
| Central Virginia Electric Coop | 16.03 | 16.14 | 34,893 | Co-op | +$187 |
| Appalachian Power Co | 15.88 | 17.02 | 465,283 | Investor-owned | +$282 |
| Virginia Tech Electric Service | 16.20 | 17.18 | 5,660 | State-owned | +$299 |
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 = 14.41¢/kWh, volume-weighted across these utilities (2024). Your distribution utility is fixed by address; these gaps measure what households in different territories actually paid. A further 2 competitive suppliers / solar lessors report energy-only or behind-the-meter sales in Virginia; their prices cover only part of the bill and are not comparable to the all-in figures above.
Can you choose your electric company in Virginia?
Electric supply choice: no · Gas supply choice: yes
Electric choice limited (100%-renewable suppliers / large customers only). Gas choice in Washington Gas and Columbia Gas of Virginia territories.
How to switch suppliers in Virginia (3 steps)
- Find the price to compare (default supply rate) on your utility bill — you only save when an offer beats it for the same period.
- Compare licensed supplier offers on the state's official shopping site: scc.virginia.gov. Check term, early-exit fees, and whether the rate is fixed or variable.
- Sign up with the supplier — they handle the switch. Your utility still delivers the power, owns the wires, and responds to outages; only the supply line of the bill changes.
Heating: which fuel is cheapest per million BTU in Virginia?
| Fuel | Native price | As of | $ per MMBTU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility natural gas | $1.607 /therm | Feb 2026 | 16.07 |
| Heating oil (No. 2) | $5.277 /gal | Mar 30, 2026 | 38.10 |
| Propane | $3.565 /gal | Mar 30, 2026 | 38.98 |
| Electricity (resistance) | 15.96 ¢/kWh | Feb 2026 | 46.78 |
Utility natural gas is the cheapest heating fuel in Virginia at $16.07/MMBTU — heating oil costs 2.4× 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
Virginia's average residential price went from 14.22¢/kWh in Feb '25 to 15.96¢/kWh in Feb '26 — up 12% year-over-year. The 12-month peak was 16.62¢ in Sep '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 | 14.22 | 14.89 | 15.28 | 15.26 | 15.23 | 15.78 | 15.83 | 16.62 | 16.36 | 15.94 | 15.27 | 15.87 | 15.96 |
Head-to-head utility comparisons in Virginia
- Dominion Energy Virginia vs Appalachian Power Co — who's cheaper?
- Dominion Energy Virginia vs Rappahannock Electric Coop — who's cheaper?
- Dominion Energy Virginia vs Northern Virginia Elec Coop — who's cheaper?
- Dominion Energy Virginia vs Shenandoah Valley Elec Coop — who's cheaper?
- Dominion Energy Virginia vs Southside Electric Coop, Inc — who's cheaper?
- Appalachian Power Co vs Rappahannock Electric Coop — who's cheaper?
- Appalachian Power Co vs Shenandoah Valley Elec Coop — who's cheaper?
- Appalachian Power Co vs Southside Electric Coop, Inc — who's cheaper?
- Rappahannock Electric Coop vs Northern Virginia Elec Coop — who's cheaper?
- Rappahannock Electric Coop vs Shenandoah Valley Elec Coop — who's cheaper?
Questions people ask
- Who has the cheapest electricity in Virginia?
- Northern Virginia Elec Coop, at an average 11.6 cents per kWh for 2024 among Virginia utilities with at least 50,000 customers (EIA-861). The most expensive, Appalachian Power Co, averaged 17.0 cents — a difference of about $588 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I choose my electric company in Virginia?
- No. Virginia 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 (scc.virginia.gov).
- Is gas or electric heat cheaper in Virginia?
- Per million BTU of site energy, utility natural gas was $16.07 (Feb 2026) versus $46.78 for electric resistance heat, $38.10 for heating oil. A heat pump delivering 2.5-3 units of heat per unit of electricity brings electric heating to roughly $16-19 per MMBTU.
- What is the average electric bill in Virginia?
- At Virginia's February 2026 average price of 15.96 cents/kWh and typical usage of 900 kWh per month, a household pays about $144 per month ($1724 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.