Nashville Electric Service rates, bills and recent increases
Nashville Electric Service's 424,808 residential customers in Tennessee paid an average of 14.04¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $146.00 a month on 1,040 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 14.22¢, and 13.88¢ in August 2026.2
EIA-861 2025 final (released October 7, 2026) and EIA's monthly utility survey through August 2026 (preliminary); next monthly update expected November 24, 2026. Averages are revenue divided by kWh, all charges included: not the rate printed in a tariff.
7 of 95 Tennessee counties served (EIA-861 2025)
Nashville Electric Service has more homes on its lines than any other Tennessee utility, and its 2025 residential average of 14.04¢ per kWh was tied for 5th highest among the state's 55 larger utilities. Its homes used less electricity than those of the state's other large utilities, though, so the average bill of $146.001 stayed below the state's $156.035.
The average NES price per kWh, by period
Nashville Electric Service (NES) is a municipal utility, publicly owned rather than investor-owned. It served 424,808 residential customers in 2025, 13.3%1 of all Tennessee homes on a utility's lines, the largest share in the state.
The price people search for depends on the period. Three readings from EIA describe what NES households paid, each defined as total residential revenue divided by the kWh sold:
- calendar year 2025 (EIA-861, final): 14.04¢ per kWh1, up from 13.47¢ per kWh3 in 2024;
- last 12 months, September 2025 to August 2026 (EIA-861M, 2026 months preliminary): 14.22¢ per kWh;
- August 20264 alone (preliminary): 13.88¢ per kWh2.
These are averages over every residential account, with fixed monthly charges and any adjustments folded in; NES's rate schedule, not EIA, sets the actual energy charge on a bill. The 12-month figure covers a different span, most of it in 2026, so it is not a second reading of the same year; the price in a single month also moves with how much electricity homes used that month, because fixed charges are spread over more or fewer kWh.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state. Residential revenue divided by kWh in each month, as reported to EIA's monthly survey (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary).
Show the numbers
| Month | Nashville Electric Service (¢/kWh) | kWh per customer | Bill per customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 13.42¢ | 1,275 | $171.09 |
| February 2025 | 13.29¢ | 1,323 | $175.91 |
| March 2025 | 14.58¢ | 996 | $145.19 |
| April 2025 | 15.02¢ | 796 | $119.52 |
| May 2025 | 14.67¢ | 783 | $114.94 |
| June 2025 | 14.87¢ | 930 | $138.28 |
| July 2025 | 14.00¢ | 1,301 | $182.16 |
| August 2025 | 13.85¢ | 1,339 | $185.56 |
| September 2025 | 14.11¢ | 1,052 | $148.44 |
| October 2025 | 13.80¢ | 857 | $118.33 |
| November 2025 | 14.34¢ | 740 | $106.06 |
| December 2025 | 13.50¢ | 1,084 | $146.43 |
| January 2026 | 13.38¢ | 1,257 | $168.21 |
| February 2026 | 13.37¢ | 1,347 | $180.21 |
| March 2026 | 16.16¢ | 823 | $132.93 |
| April 2026 | 15.66¢ | 808 | $126.51 |
| May 2026 | 15.10¢ | 763 | $115.25 |
| June 2026 | 14.69¢ | 984 | $144.59 |
| July 2026 | 14.13¢ | 1,267 | $179.08 |
| August 2026 | 13.88¢ | 1,298 | $180.21 |
Higher than most of Tennessee, lower than most of the country
In 2025 the NES residential average was 6.2% above the Tennessee average, which includes cooperatives and city utilities of every size, and tied for 5th highest among the 55 Tennessee utilities with 10,000 or more residential customers. Those utilities ranged from 11.54¢ per kWh at City of Bristol to 15.05¢ per kWh1 at City of Newport.
Nationally the picture reverses. Among the 177 US utilities with 100,000 or more residential customers, NES ranked 69th lowest of 177, below the median of 15.07¢ per kWh, and its average was 3.1% below the national average for public power (14.49¢ per kWh1 in 2025).
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | average residential price (bundled customers) |
|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee Electric (TN) | 12.47¢ |
| EPB (TN) | 12.89¢ |
| Volunteer Energy Cooperative (TN) | 13.08¢ |
| MLGW (TN) | 13.24¢ |
| Cumberland EMC (TN) | 13.76¢ |
| Knoxville Utilities Board (TN) | 13.83¢ |
| Nashville Electric Service (TN) | 14.04¢ |
Nashville homes use less, so the bill is smaller
The average NES home used 1,040 kWh a month in 2025, against 1,180 kWh for Tennessee as a whole, a state that ranked 3rd highest for use per home. That lower use is why a higher price per kWh did not produce a higher bill: NES's $146.001 compared with $156.035 statewide.
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | average monthly residential use |
|---|---|
| Nashville Electric Service (TN) | 1,040 |
| Knoxville Utilities Board (TN) | 1,109 |
| EPB (TN) | 1,121 |
| MLGW (TN) | 1,142 |
| Volunteer Energy Cooperative (TN) | 1,210 |
| Middle Tennessee Electric (TN) | 1,295 |
| Cumberland EMC (TN) | 1,437 |
The contrast is sharpest with the two cooperatives that share counties with NES around the city. Middle Tennessee Electric, which reports service in Cannon County, DeKalb County, Maury County, Rutherford County, Smith County, Trousdale County, Williamson County and Wilson County, averaged 12.47¢ per kWh in 2025, below NES, but its members used 1,295 kWh a month and paid $161.57. Cumberland EMC, in Cheatham County, Dickson County, Montgomery County, Robertson County, Stewart County and Sumner County, averaged 13.76¢ per kWh with 1,437 kWh a month and a bill of $197.711. EIA's territory data list NES in 7 counties (Cheatham County, Davidson County, Robertson County, Rutherford County, Sumner County, Williamson County and Wilson County); in 66 of them at least one other utility also reports service. A county or city name therefore does not settle which utility serves a home: the utilities' own service-area maps decide by address.
The 2025 increase and the latest month
From 2024 to 2025, the NES residential average rose 4.2%, less than Tennessee's statewide 6.4%7 and less than at Knoxville Utilities Board (+10.3%) or MLGW (+8.9%). The average bill rose more than the price, +6.2% from $137.51 to $146.00, because use per home also went up, from 1,021 kWh3 to 1,040 kWh1 a month.
The latest monthly reading shows little further movement. In August 2026 NES customers paid an average of 13.88¢ per kWh, +0.2% against August 2025; MLGW's average for the same month was +4.6%2 on a year earlier. These 2026 figures are preliminary and EIA revises them when the annual survey is final. Changes after August 20264 are not yet in EIA's data; the next monthly release is due November 24, 2026.
February, not August, brings the highest bill
Over the 12 months to August 2026, use per NES home was highest in February 2026, at 1,347 kWh, when the average bill reached $180.21. It was lowest in November 2025: 740 kWh and $106.06. Electric heat is common in the state: 63.2%8 of Tennessee households heated mainly with electricity in the Census Bureau's 2025 survey (an estimate with a margin of error). In Memphis the same 12 months peaked in August 20262 instead.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility. kWh per residential customer in each month (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). The table adds the average bill and price for the month.
Show the numbers
| Month | kWh per customer | Bill per customer | ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 1,052 | $148.44 | 14.11¢ |
| October 2025 | 857 | $118.33 | 13.80¢ |
| November 2025 | 740 | $106.06 | 14.34¢ |
| December 2025 | 1,084 | $146.43 | 13.50¢ |
| January 2026 | 1,257 | $168.21 | 13.38¢ |
| February 2026 | 1,347 | $180.21 | 13.37¢ |
| March 2026 | 823 | $132.93 | 16.16¢ |
| April 2026 | 808 | $126.51 | 15.66¢ |
| May 2026 | 763 | $115.25 | 15.10¢ |
| June 2026 | 984 | $144.59 | 14.69¢ |
| July 2026 | 1,267 | $179.08 | 14.13¢ |
| August 2026 | 1,298 | $180.21 | 13.88¢ |
Averaged over the 12 months, an NES home used 1,024 kWh a month and paid $145.602. A household budgeting for the year should expect winter months well above that figure and spring and autumn months below it.
Meters and outages
Every NES residential meter counted by EIA in 2025 was an advanced (smart) meter: 100.0%9. On reliability, NES reported an average of 83 minutes without power per customer in 2025 excluding major event days (the IEEE 1366 measure that leaves out large storms), against 151 minutes10 for Tennessee as a whole on the same basis.
Business customers and where the power comes from
NES's 46,070 commercial customers paid an average of 12.68¢ per kWh in 2025, less per kWh than homes, with an average monthly bill of $1,421.56. Its 49 industrial accounts paid 7.86¢ per kWh. Spread over all 470,927 customers, every class together, the average came to 12.93¢ per kWh1.
Nashville lies inside the Tennessee Valley Authority's region: the federally owned TVA, according to EIA, covers most of Tennessee and provides most of the state's electricity. For the statewide picture, including generation and other utilities, see electricity in Tennessee. Tennessee received $69.8 million11 in federal LIHEAP heating and cooling assistance for fiscal 2026; the help paying your electric bill guide explains how to apply.
Where Nashville Electric Service serves
Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 7 counties. Counts whole counties even where the utility serves only part of one; check the utility's own service-area map for an address.
Show the numbers
| County | Other utilities reporting service |
|---|---|
| Cheatham County | Cumberland EMC, City of Dickson |
| Davidson County | none |
| Robertson County | Cumberland EMC, City of Springfield |
| Rutherford County | Middle Tennessee Electric, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation |
| Sumner County | Cumberland EMC, Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation, City of Gallatin |
| Williamson County | Middle Tennessee Electric, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Columbia Power System |
| Wilson County | Middle Tennessee Electric |
Questions and answers
How much does Nashville Electric Service charge per kWh?
NES residential customers paid an average of 14.22¢ per kWh2 over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026, 2026 months preliminary) and 14.04¢ per kWh1 over the calendar year 2025. Both are total residential revenue divided by kWh sold, so they include fixed monthly charges and adjustments. They are not a line from the tariff, which NES publishes itself.
What is the average NES electric bill?
$146.00 a month in 2025 for 1,040 kWh1, according to EIA. Over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026) the computed average was $145.60, ranging from $106.06 in November 2025 to $180.21 in February 20262.
Did NES rates go up?
The residential average price rose 4.2% from 2024 to 2025, from 13.47¢ per kWh3 to 14.04¢ per kWh1. In August 20264 the average was 13.88¢ per kWh, +0.2%2 against the same month a year earlier (preliminary).
Can I choose another electric company in Nashville?
No. Tennessee has no retail choice: 0.0%1 of the state's residential customers bought from a competitive supplier in 2025. The utility that serves an address, NES or a neighboring cooperative, is set by its service territory.
Related pages
Sources
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; table sales_ult_cust_2025 and _2026; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2024; 2024, final (file updated December 3, 2025); released December 3, 2025. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state; table sales_revenue.xlsx (EPM Table 5.6.A); January 2001 to 2026-08; months since January 2026 preliminary; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, average monthly bill by state; table Average_Bill_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, service territory; table Service_Territory_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Historical state data, annual sales, revenue and customers; table HS861 2010-.xlsx; 2010-2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year estimates, house heating fuel, table B25040; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
- EIA-861 2025, advanced meters, dynamic pricing and net metering; table Advanced_Meters, Dynamic_Pricing, Net_Metering 2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, reliability; table Reliability_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- HHS, LIHEAP funding releases to states; table FY2027 first release; FY2026 final; FY2027 first release (October 9, 2026); FY2026 total; released October 9, 2026. acf.gov
- Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.census.gov
Margins of error (±) are at the 90% confidence level. A difference is called significant only when it passes the Census Bureau's test at that level. How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.