City of Tacoma residential customers paid an average of 10.81¢/kWh in 2024 —
9% below the Washington average of 11.91¢/kWh (EIA-861).
It served 180,357 residential customers across 4 WA counties.
Territories are fixed by address, but the cheapest nearby utility, PUD No 1 of Chelan County (3.67¢), works out about $771/yr less at 10,800 kWh/yr.
How City of Tacoma compares with the utilities next door
| Utility | 2024 ¢/kWh | Customers | Δ vs City of Tacoma, ¢/kWh | $/yr difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUD No 1 of Chelan County | 3.67 | 42,120 | -7.14 | -$771 |
| Elmhurst Mutual Power & Light Co | 8.32 | 15,410 | -2.50 | -$270 |
| Benton Rural Electric Assn | 9.27 | 13,422 | -1.54 | -$166 |
| PUD No 1 of Lewis County | 9.48 | 29,417 | -1.33 | -$144 |
| City of Centralia | 9.88 | 9,068 | -0.93 | -$100 |
| Lakeview Light & Power | 9.91 | 8,238 | -0.90 | -$98 |
| Peninsula Light Company | 10.51 | 35,478 | -0.31 | -$33 |
| City of Tacoma (this page) | 10.81 | 180,357 | — | — |
| PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County | 12.52 | 39,881 | +1.70 | +$184 |
| PUD No 3 of Mason County | 13.79 | 33,975 | +2.98 | +$322 |
| City of Seattle | 14.09 | 459,964 | +3.27 | +$354 |
| Puget Sound Energy Inc | 14.63 | 1,091,599 | +3.82 | +$413 |
11 bundled utilities (≥5,000 customers) share at least one county with City of Tacoma. Positive $/yr = that utility's customers pay more than City of Tacoma 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 Tacoma customers pay more (county benchmark)
| County | Cheapest utility in county | Their ¢/kWh | City of Tacoma premium, $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| King | PUD No 1 of Chelan County | 3.67 | +$771 |
| Pierce | Elmhurst Mutual Power & Light Co | 8.32 | +$270 |
| Lewis | Benton Rural Electric Assn | 9.27 | +$166 |
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 | 10.37 | 10.81 | +4.3% |
| Residential customers | 174,342 | 180,357 | +3.5% |
Ownership: Municipal. Statewide context: Washington electricity rates.
Supply vs delivery on a City of Tacoma bill
Washington is a regulated retail market — City of Tacoma customers cannot choose a different supplier; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings. Official information: utc.wa.gov.
Counties served (WA, EIA-861 2024)
King · Lewis · Mason · Pierce
Head-to-head comparisons
Questions people ask
- Is City of Tacoma more expensive than other Washington utilities?
- City of Tacoma customers paid an average 10.81 cents/kWh in 2024 — 9% below the Washington volume-weighted average of 11.91 cents (EIA-861, bundled residential service).
- Can I switch away from City of Tacoma?
- No — distribution territory is fixed by address and Washington has no residential supplier shopping. Rate changes go through the state utility commission (utc.wa.gov).
- How many customers does City of Tacoma have?
- 180,357 residential customers in Washington in 2024 across 4 counties, 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.