Energy · Manufacturing pulse

What manufacturing energy costs.

U.S. industrial electricity price by state on a tile map, plus natural gas, diesel, and crude, each with a six-month projection versus the EIA outlook.

Headline energy benchmarks

  • Industrial electricity: 9.77 cents per kWh, U.S. average (EIA, Jul 2026).
  • Industrial natural gas: 4.58 per Mcf (EIA, Jul 2026).
  • On-highway diesel: $6.38 per gallon (EIA).
  • WTI crude: $96.16 per barrel (EIA).

Cheapest states for industrial power

  • New Mexico: 4.2 cents per kWh.
  • Louisiana: 6.1 cents per kWh.
  • Texas: 7.1 cents per kWh.
  • Tennessee: 7.1 cents per kWh.
  • Kentucky: 7.5 cents per kWh.
  • Washington: 7.5 cents per kWh.

Most expensive states for industrial power

  • Hawaii: 39.3 cents per kWh.
  • District of Columbia: 32.1 cents per kWh.
  • California: 25.1 cents per kWh.
  • Alaska: 24.8 cents per kWh.
  • Rhode Island: 22.9 cents per kWh.
  • Massachusetts: 20.3 cents per kWh.

The EIA outlook

  • EIA projects industrial electricity at 9 cents/kWh in 2026 and 9.1 cents/kWh in 2027 (Short-Term Energy Outlook).
  • EIA projects industrial natural gas at 4.87 USD/Mcf in 2026 and 4.21 USD/Mcf in 2027 (Short-Term Energy Outlook).
  • EIA projects retail diesel at 5.07 USD/gal in 2026 and 4.4 USD/gal in 2027 (Short-Term Energy Outlook).
  • EIA projects WTI crude at 84.65 USD/bbl in 2026 and 69.74 USD/bbl in 2027 (Short-Term Energy Outlook).

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.