New York City, via Newswire.com — In 2022, American consumers faced the highest electricity costs in more than 40 years, due to inflation, a rebounding economy and fuel-related repercussions from the Ukraine war.

It appears the worst is not over, according to a national analysis released Thursday, January 5.

The newly released study from Ownerly, a leading home and property value estimation platform, analyzed 12 months of Energy Information Administration (EIA) data and found the increase in out-of-pocket consumer spending exceeded $22 billion — not all related to an increase in usage.

(https://www.ownerly.com/data-analysis/best-worst-states-electric-bills/)

Ownerly examined electricity price data between October 2021 and September 2022 to identify which states paid the most in 2022, which states saw the greatest percentage increase from the previous year and where overall electric costs increased the most. The time period of our analysis also coincides with the highest inflation rates Americans have seen in four decades.

The information cited in this story was included in a press release from Newswire.com. CapitolBeatOK.com adapted its contents. Newswire is a press release distribution platform that regularly works with news organizations around the world.

“The last six months have been even worse for residential energy bills than the previous six months,” said Ownerly data analyst Darcy McCusker in the release.

“Nine states including Hawaii, Texas, Oklahoma and New Hampshire have had increases of $30 or more per month since April alone, and just over half of all states have seen a percentage increase of at least 10%.”

Key takeaways

Hawaii and Connecticut had the highest monthly electric bills in 2022; Utah and New Mexico had the lowest. Hawaiians paid on average $210.26 a month, followed by Connecticut ($173.16), Alabama ($164.62), Georgia ($153.45) and Texas ($152.83).

Hawaii had the greatest dollar increase in energy costs, but Maine had the highest bill increase. While monthly bills went up $38.08 in Hawaii, Maine saw the highest bill increase over the 12 months we examined, paying 31.26% more monthly than the previous year.

Prices in Wyoming and Oregon actually dropped in 2022. Not all states saw a monthly rise in electric bills: monthly average bills dropped slightly in Wyoming (-79¢) and Oregon (-24¢).

These bills also include higher electricity usage during the summer months. “So many of the colder states that use more energy in the winter than the summer, like North Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia, could see those same increases this winter,” McCusker said.

Oklahoma’s rankings (Pat McGuigan’s analysis based on the Report)

Oklahoma was not among either the 10 most expensive or the 10 least expensive states over the 12 months studied, the Ownerly study found.

However, Oklahomans faced the fourth greatest increase in monthly bills among the American states. The average monthly electric bill jumped $22.37 in Oklahoma, an increase of 19.03 percent.

In first for dollar cost hikes was Hawaii ($38.08 monthly increase) followed by Maine ($30.09) and New Hampshire ($24.28) in second and third, respectively.

Trailing Oklahoma in monthly increases were Louisiana (#5, $22.04), Texas (#6, $21.21), Georgia (#7, $20.22), Florida (#8, $20), Tennessee (#9, $18.41), and Kentucky (#10, $17.34).

Another nugget from the Ownerly study: Oklahoma had the nation’s sixth highest residential electric usage in 2022. The average monthly use per customer in Oklahoma was 1,126.64 per kWh, with average total use of 13,519 total usages.

The EIA also expects US energy prices to remain high into 2023.

Find the full study and a breakdown by state here:

https://www.ownerly.com/data-analysis/best-worst-states-electric-bills

Ownerly’s suggestions on how to lower electric bills

Oklahoma’s ranking might suggest electric energy is the use of energy-saving tips. The Ownerly press release indicated planning ahead “can help lower electric bills without necessarily requiring costly retrofits or remodeling.”

* Be mindful of maintenance. Keep appliances running efficiently by periodically vacuuming under your refrigerator and changing your HVAC filter, among other things. Home appliances consume less electricity when they are properly maintained.

* Look at your lighting. Invest in energy-efficient LED bulbs and use translucent lampshades to maximize their performance. Motion sensors can be connected to your lamps to turn them off when not in use. This can also be accomplished with smart bulb schedules and automation.

* Ask your provider for an energy audit. Many utility companies offer free consultations for ways to help lower your energy bills. Also, many states offer incentives for energy efficiency. Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency and plug in your zip code to find programs in your area.

(https://www.dsireusa.org/)

* Check for available rebates. Some cities or energy providers may offer rebates to homeowners who use smart thermostats, energy-efficient appliances, smart lighting or other energy-saving technologies. Reach out to your bill provider and ask if there are any rebates or incentives available to you.

Costlier home modifications can generate bigger energy savings, but may not pay for themselves in the near term. If you happen to be remodeling anyway, some energy-conserving upgrades to consider include:

* Adding more insulation to retain indoor heating and cooling

* Swapping in energy-saving appliances

* Installing energy-efficient doors and windows

* Improving your HVAC system

(https://www.ownerly.com/home-improvement/is-duct-cleaning-waste-of-money/)

Find more tips here on How to Save Energy at Home:

(https://www.ownerly.com/home-improvement/how-to-save-energy-at-home/)

Methodology of the Study: To determine monthly electric bills by state, Ownerly examined residential estimated electricity use and sales data from the US Energy Information Administration from October 2018 through September 2022. For the purposes of this study, 2022 refers to energy prices and usage from October 2021 through September 2022. Note that statistics do not include any customer service charges from providers.

Note: Ownerly provides homeowners, buyers and sellers with professional-grade home values used by real estate agents, banks and lenders. According to the company’s promotional materials, “With Ownerly, users get important home sales insights and can track the value of their single most important investment -— their home.

The original press release can be studied here: https://www.newswire.com/news/americans-spent-over-22-billion-more-on-electricity-the-past-year-21921764

Pat McGuigan of CapitolBeatOK.com contributed to this posting, expanding the information to highlight the Oklahoma data.