By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – A cold snap brought snow to parts of Virginia Monday as national electricity price data shows households are entering winter with higher heating costs than in recent years.
The National Energy Assistance Directors Association reports that residential electricity prices increased 10.5% between January and August. NEADA says that rise is one of the largest year-to-date increases in more than a decade and is now outpacing wages and overall inflation.
Virginia’s average residential electric rate increased from 14.0 cents per kilowatt hour in August 2024 to 16.0 cents in August 2025, according to NEADA. That is a 13% rise over the year.
Maryland saw its average rate move from 17.8 cents to 19.9 cents during the same period, an increase of about 12%. In D.C., rates increased from 17.4 cents to 23.2 cents, a jump of 33%.
Federal data also shows that monthly electric bills have been climbing ahead of winter.
In Virginia, the average residential bill is projected to rise from $149 in 2024 to $167 in 2025, an increase of 12.5%. Maryland households are expected to see bills increase from $166 to $186, which is 12.1%.
Longer-term NEADA estimates show a sharp upward trend since 2021.
Virginia’s average monthly bill is up from $131 in 2021 to $167 in 2025, a 27.9% increase. Maryland bills have increased from $128 to $186 over the same period, a rise of 45.7%.
A separate analysis of federal Energy Information Administration data shows winter heating costs have risen steadily over the past five years.
Virginia’s typical winter heating bill increased from $226 in 2020 to a projected $282.79 in 2025, a 25% rise. Maryland’s projected costs climbed from $253 to $320.43 over the same period, about 27%.
The estimates come as colder weather moves into the Mid-Atlantic and households prepare for higher winter electricity use.