According to the United States Department of Energy, the average residential cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) was 12 cents per kWh in April of 2012. So, what state has the highest rate and how high is it? Hawaii tops the list of highest electricity rates in the country at an average of 36.27 cents per kWh. With energy costs skyrocketing, this keeps Hawaii as one of the most expensive states to live in.

Hawaii is the third lowest energy consumer in the US, using approximately 200 million British Thermal Units (BTUs) worth of energy per capita. Wyoming consumes the most energy at 948 million BTUs, yet their rate is 10.37 cents per kWh, just under the national average. Texas both produces and consumes 10 percent of the country’s electricity, making them the highest producer and sixth highest consumer. Texas’ average rate is 11.32 cents per kWh, also below the national average.

Similarly, the United States is the top producer of electricity in the world, but they are also the top consumer. Though the average rates may seem high, they are still nearly half that of the rates in the European Union. Europe has one of the highest electricity costs in the world.

Energy costs vary greatly between locations, but the best way to keep your bill costs down is to conserve energy and lower the amount of kWh consumed each month.