Average U.S. residential summer 2013 electric bill expected to be lowest in four years

The average U.S. household electric bill for June through August is expected to total $395, down 2.5% from last summer and the cheapest in four years. Slightly higher electricity prices are expected to be offset by a drop in electricity use to meet lower cooling demand due to forecast milder temperatures this summer compared to last year's hotter than normal summer.

Average electricity demand is expected to be down 4.6% this summer, while average retail electricity prices are expected to increase 2.2%, according to the EIA's June Short-Term Energy Outlook. The result is lower power bills for most U.S. households during June, July, and August, when air conditioning is used the most.

Retail electricity expenses vary by region (see map below). EIA expects residential summer power bills will be lower in all areas of the country, except for the West South Central region and the Rocky Mountain states, where increased electricity prices will outweigh expected lower power consumption.

Temperature changes will have the biggest effect on summer electric bills. A warmer-than-expected summer would likely move power prices higher, as more homes have air conditioning. The percentage of U.S. households with installed air conditioning equipment jumped from 68% in 1993 to 87% in 2009, based on the most recent data from the EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey. The boost in air conditioning use reflects a U.S. population shift during this period to warmer and more humid areas of the country.

Wholesale electric power prices have increased significantly from last year's lows, but state retail rate regulation shields customers from price swings in the wholesale power market.