City of Memphis residential customers paid an average of 12.16¢/kWh in 2024 —
2% below the Tennessee average of 12.42¢/kWh (EIA-861).
It served 380,286 residential customers across 1 TN county.
Territories are fixed by address, but the cheapest nearby utility, Middle Tennessee E M C (11.76¢), works out about $43/yr less at 10,800 kWh/yr.
How City of Memphis compares with Tennessee's largest utilities
| Utility | 2024 ¢/kWh | Customers | Δ vs City of Memphis, ¢/kWh | $/yr difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee E M C | 11.76 | 307,370 | -0.40 | -$43 |
| City of Memphis (this page) | 12.16 | 380,286 | — | — |
| Volunteer Electric Coop | 12.19 | 104,387 | +0.03 | +$3 |
| City of Chattanooga | 12.32 | 164,417 | +0.15 | +$17 |
| Johnson City | 12.41 | 72,205 | +0.25 | +$27 |
| Knoxville Utilities Board | 12.54 | 193,707 | +0.38 | +$41 |
| City of Clarksville | 12.77 | 75,953 | +0.61 | +$66 |
| Cumberland Elec Member Corp | 12.99 | 100,585 | +0.83 | +$90 |
| Nashville Electric Service | 13.47 | 417,640 | +1.31 | +$141 |
City of Memphis files no county-level territory with EIA, so this table benchmarks against the state's largest utilities. Positive $/yr = that utility's customers pay more than City of Memphis customers at the same usage. Territories are fixed by address — these gaps measure cost differences between areas, not options you can pick between.
Where City of Memphis customers pay more (county benchmark)
| County | Cheapest utility in county | Their ¢/kWh | City of Memphis premium, $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | City of Newbern | 10.34 | +$197 |
Multiple utilities in one county means adjoining territories, not household choice — you cannot switch wires companies.
Rate trend and size
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average price, ¢/kWh | 11.56 | 12.16 | +5.2% |
| Residential customers | 372,070 | 380,286 | +2.2% |
Ownership: Municipal. Statewide context: Tennessee electricity rates.
Supply vs delivery on a City of Memphis bill
Tennessee is a regulated retail market — City of Memphis customers cannot choose a different supplier; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings. Official information: tn.gov/tpuc.html.
Counties served (TN, EIA-861 2024)
Shelby
Questions people ask
- Is City of Memphis more expensive than other Tennessee utilities?
- City of Memphis customers paid an average 12.16 cents/kWh in 2024 — 2% below the Tennessee volume-weighted average of 12.42 cents (EIA-861, bundled residential service).
- Can I switch away from City of Memphis?
- No — distribution territory is fixed by address and Tennessee has no residential supplier shopping. Rate changes go through the state utility commission (tn.gov/tpuc.html).
- How many customers does City of Memphis have?
- 380,286 residential customers in Tennessee in 2024, per its EIA-861 federal filing. Ownership type: municipal.
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.