Wisconsin's average residential electricity price was 18.7¢/kWh in February 2026 —
the 16th-highest price of the 51 states+DC (EIA). Across its major utilities in 2024, average all-in rates ranged from
15.8¢/kWh at Northern States Power Co to
20.3¢/kWh at Madison Gas & Electric Co — a spread worth about
$487/yr at typical usage (10,800 kWh/yr).
Wisconsin is a fully regulated market: households cannot choose their electricity or gas supplier.
For home heating, utility natural gas was the cheapest fuel at
$14.18 per million BTU vs $54.92 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 Marshfield | 10.49 | 10.07 | 11,928 | Municipal | -$781 |
| Manitowoc Public Utilities | 10.59 | 11.14 | 16,152 | Municipal | -$665 |
| Village of Waunakee | 12.20 | 11.70 | 6,677 | Municipal | -$605 |
| Hartford Electric | 12.05 | 11.71 | 6,998 | Municipal | -$604 |
| City of Plymouth | 12.07 | 11.80 | 7,358 | Municipal | -$594 |
| Sun Prairie Utilities | 11.85 | 12.13 | 16,647 | Municipal | -$558 |
| City of Menasha | 12.69 | 12.42 | 8,607 | Municipal | -$527 |
| City of Sturgeon Bay | 12.77 | 12.46 | 7,786 | Municipal | -$522 |
| City of Kaukauna | 12.77 | 12.53 | 14,543 | Municipal | -$515 |
| City of Stoughton | 12.40 | 12.60 | 8,391 | Municipal | -$508 |
| Dahlberg Light & Power Co | 12.32 | 12.62 | 10,939 | Investor-owned | -$506 |
| Cedarburg Light & Water Comm | 12.71 | 12.70 | 6,063 | Municipal | -$497 |
| Two Rivers Water & Light | 12.90 | 12.71 | 5,573 | Municipal | -$496 |
| City of River Falls | 13.82 | 13.28 | 6,709 | Municipal | -$434 |
| Wisconsin Rapids W W & L Comm | 12.69 | 13.38 | 12,395 | Municipal | -$424 |
| Oconomowoc Utilities | 13.53 | 13.75 | 9,972 | Municipal | -$384 |
| Northwestern Wisconsin Elec Co | 13.95 | 13.84 | 12,990 | Investor-owned | -$374 |
| Rock Energy Cooperative | 14.20 | 14.47 | 7,310 | Co-op | -$306 |
| Scenic Rivers Energy Coop | 14.66 | 15.23 | 13,597 | Co-op | -$223 |
| Superior Water and Light Co | 14.90 | 15.44 | 13,072 | Investor-owned | -$201 |
| Dunn County Electric Coop | 15.05 | 15.45 | 9,482 | Co-op | -$199 |
| Barron Electric Coop | 13.93 | 15.72 | 19,266 | Co-op | -$171 |
| Northern States Power Co | 16.03 | 15.83 | 220,574 | Investor-owned | -$159 |
| Oakdale Electric Coop | 14.81 | 15.87 | 17,027 | Co-op | -$155 |
| Polk-Burnett Electric Coop | 15.13 | 15.90 | 20,379 | Co-op | -$151 |
| Wisconsin Public Service Corp | 16.57 | 16.23 | 411,775 | Investor-owned | -$115 |
| Riverland Energy Cooperative | 15.38 | 16.30 | 18,970 | Co-op | -$108 |
| East Central Energy | 15.12 | 16.65 | 5,182 | Co-op | -$71 |
| Wisconsin Power & Light Co | 16.14 | 16.89 | 437,211 | Investor-owned | -$44 |
| Adams-Columbia Electric Coop | 17.43 | 17.63 | 35,910 | Co-op | +$36 |
| We Energies (Wisconsin Electric Power) | 18.96 | 19.23 | 1,048,148 | Investor-owned | +$209 |
| Madison Gas & Electric Co | 19.72 | 20.34 | 147,501 | Investor-owned | +$328 |
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 = 17.30¢/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 Wisconsin?
Electric supply choice: no · Gas supply choice: no
Fully regulated.
Official rate information: psc.wi.gov.
Heating: which fuel is cheapest per million BTU in Wisconsin?
| Fuel | Native price | As of | $ per MMBTU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility natural gas | $1.418 /therm | Feb 2026 | 14.18 |
| Propane | $2.066 /gal | Mar 30, 2026 | 22.59 |
| Heating oil (No. 2) | $4.323 /gal | Mar 30, 2026 | 31.21 |
| Electricity (resistance) | 18.74 ¢/kWh | Feb 2026 | 54.92 |
Utility natural gas is the cheapest heating fuel in Wisconsin at $14.18/MMBTU — heating oil costs 2.2× 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
Wisconsin's average residential price went from 17.41¢/kWh in Feb '25 to 18.74¢/kWh in Feb '26 — up 8% year-over-year. The 12-month peak was 18.94¢ in May '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 | 17.41 | 17.75 | 18.21 | 18.94 | 18.52 | 18.25 | 18.52 | 18.73 | 18.37 | 18.39 | 17.84 | 18.20 | 18.74 |
Head-to-head utility comparisons in Wisconsin
- We Energies (Wisconsin Electric Power) vs Wisconsin Power & Light Co — who's cheaper?
- We Energies (Wisconsin Electric Power) vs Wisconsin Public Service Corp — who's cheaper?
- We Energies (Wisconsin Electric Power) vs Northern States Power Co — who's cheaper?
- We Energies (Wisconsin Electric Power) vs Madison Gas & Electric Co — who's cheaper?
- Wisconsin Power & Light Co vs Wisconsin Public Service Corp — who's cheaper?
- Wisconsin Power & Light Co vs Northern States Power Co — who's cheaper?
- Wisconsin Public Service Corp vs Northern States Power Co — who's cheaper?
- Wisconsin Power & Light Co vs Madison Gas & Electric Co — who's cheaper?
Questions people ask
- Who has the cheapest electricity in Wisconsin?
- Northern States Power Co, at an average 15.8 cents per kWh for 2024 among Wisconsin utilities with at least 50,000 customers (EIA-861). The most expensive, Madison Gas & Electric Co, averaged 20.3 cents — a difference of about $487 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I choose my electric company in Wisconsin?
- No. Wisconsin 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 (psc.wi.gov).
- Is gas or electric heat cheaper in Wisconsin?
- Per million BTU of site energy, utility natural gas was $14.18 (Feb 2026) versus $54.92 for electric resistance heat, $31.21 for heating oil. A heat pump delivering 2.5-3 units of heat per unit of electricity brings electric heating to roughly $18-22 per MMBTU.
- What is the average electric bill in Wisconsin?
- At Wisconsin's February 2026 average price of 18.74 cents/kWh and typical usage of 900 kWh per month, a household pays about $169 per month ($2024 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.