If you live in Louisiana you likely use twice as much electricity as a New Yorker, according to a recent article in the Huffington Post. Maps created from data at the U.S. Energy Information Administration show electricity use and cost by state. How much does electricity cost in your neck of the woods?
How Much Does Electricity Cost By State?
The maps measured price per capita and electricity usage of energy converted from coal, natural gas, or renewable sources. My state, South Carolina, for example, is among the highest in energy consumption per residential utility customer (kWh) along with Virginia, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, and most of the Southeastern U.S. The Northeast on the other hand, including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York along with Hawaii and Alaska had the lowest usage.
Not sure how much electricity costs in your state? Take a look at this map.
The cost of electricity per capita seemed to be a big motivator. Electricity costs in the north were consistently among the highest in the nation including states like Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. While states like West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, and California had the lowest energy costs.
As of 2009, the residential sector became the largest consumer of electricity at 39.6 percent followed by the commercial sector at 35.7 percent and the industrial sector at 24.5 percent. In all, residential energy generates 21 percent of CO2 emissions in the U.S. (twice as much as your car).
Wanna reduce your impact? It’s easier than you think wherever you are considering that 50 percent of U.S. consumers have access to alternative sources of energy. Many power companies offer what’s called green pricing which allows customers to pay a small premium for energy generated from renewable sources. And even if renewable energy isn’t available in your area you can buy green certificates that contribute to the generation of clean energy.
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Image: David Harris