Rappahannock Electric Cooperative: rates per kWh, bills and winter use
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative's 172,883 residential customers in Virginia paid an average of 15.49¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $185.19 a month on 1,195 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 15.92¢, and 16.69¢ 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.
22 of 133 Virginia counties served (EIA-861 2025)
Over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026) Rappahannock Electric Cooperative's homes paid an average of 15.92¢ per kWh, less than Dominion Energy Virginia's 17.27¢ per kWh, yet their average bill was higher, at $194.73. The difference is use: REC homes averaged 1,223 kWh a month, and 1,925 kWh in January 20262.
What REC members paid per kWh
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) is a member-owned distribution cooperative and by residential customers the third-largest utility in Virginia after Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power: 172,883 residential members in 2025, 4.8%1 of the state's residential customers. Its average price depends on the period:
- Year 2025 (EIA-861, final): 15.49¢ per kWh, up from 14.89¢ per kWh3 in 2024. That was 1.4% above the Virginia average and 6th highest among the 171 Virginia utilities with 10,000 or more residential customers.
- Last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026, EIA-861M): 15.92¢ per kWh, against 16.64¢ per kWh for all Virginia utilities. The 2026 months are preliminary.
- August 20264 alone: 16.69¢ per kWh, +5.3%2 on the same month a year earlier.
Each figure is average revenue per kWh: what REC billed its residential members in total, divided by the kWh they used. It folds fixed monthly charges and cost adjustments into one number and excludes most taxes, so a member who uses little electricity pays more per kWh than the average, and a heavy user less. Virginia homes do not shop for supply in practice (EIA counted 01 residential customers of competitive suppliers in 2025), so these figures cover supply and delivery together for every REC home.
January drives the bill
REC's monthly data show a winter-heavy year. In September 2025 to August 2026, use per home peaked at 1,925 kWh in January 2026, with an average bill of $265.69, and was lowest in October 2025, at 849 kWh and $151.09. The same peak month brought 1,481 kWh per Dominion home, 1,710 kWh2 per Appalachian Power home and 1,509 kWh4 across all Virginia utilities.
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 | 925 | $158.68 | 17.15¢ |
| October 2025 | 849 | $151.09 | 17.80¢ |
| November 2025 | 1,044 | $173.39 | 16.61¢ |
| December 2025 | 1,711 | $225.42 | 13.17¢ |
| January 2026 | 1,925 | $265.69 | 13.80¢ |
| February 2026 | 1,675 | $236.31 | 14.11¢ |
| March 2026 | 1,109 | $181.88 | 16.39¢ |
| April 2026 | 870 | $154.61 | 17.76¢ |
| May 2026 | 885 | $165.54 | 18.71¢ |
| June 2026 | 1,078 | $190.17 | 17.63¢ |
| July 2026 | 1,344 | $222.60 | 16.56¢ |
| August 2026 | 1,263 | $210.88 | 16.69¢ |
The highest month of the year comes in winter, not summer. A budget built on the 12-month average bill of $194.73 falls short in a month like January 2026 and runs ahead in one like October 20252.
A middling price, a bill near the top
On price, REC sits between its large neighbors. In 2025 its average of 15.49¢ per kWh was above Dominion Energy Virginia (15.20¢ per kWh) and NOVEC (12.60¢ per kWh) and below Appalachian Power (17.16¢ per kWh1). Over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026) the order changed: REC's 15.92¢ per kWh was below both Dominion's 17.27¢ per kWh and Appalachian Power's 16.38¢ per kWh2. NOVEC is not in EIA's monthly sample, so it has no 12-month figure.
The bill tells a different story because REC homes use more electricity. They averaged 1,195 kWh a month in 2025, against 1,142 kWh at NOVEC, 1,084 kWh at Appalachian Power, 1,038 kWh1 at Dominion and 1,067 kWh5 for Virginia as a whole.
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 |
|---|---|
| Dominion Energy Virginia (VA) | 1,038 |
| Appalachian Power (VA) | 1,084 |
| NOVEC (VA) | 1,142 |
| Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (VA) | 1,195 |
As a result, REC's 2025 average bill of $185.19 was almost level with Appalachian Power's $186.00, despite a lower price, and well above Dominion's $157.75, NOVEC's $143.901 and the state's $163.055. Over the last 12 months REC's computed bill ($194.73) was higher than Dominion's ($179.55) and Appalachian Power's ($175.302).
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 bill |
|---|---|
| NOVEC (VA) | $143.90 |
| Dominion Energy Virginia (VA) | $157.75 |
| Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (VA) | $185.19 |
| Appalachian Power (VA) | $186.00 |
How the price changed, and who sets it
From 2024 to 2025, REC's residential average rose 4.0%, a smaller rise than the +6.0%6 for all Virginia providers. The average bill rose faster, from $170.46 to $185.19 (+8.6%), because use per home also grew, from 1,145 kWh3 to 1,195 kWh1 a month.
The latest month shows a slower climb than at Dominion. In August 2026, REC's average was +5.3% against a year earlier; Dominion's moved +17.2%2 and the statewide residential average rose 11.3%4. Single-month utility figures are preliminary, and EIA revises them when the annual survey is final.
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 | Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (¢/kWh) | kWh per customer | Bill per customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 13.20¢ | 1,961 | $258.82 |
| February 2025 | 14.15¢ | 1,484 | $209.94 |
| March 2025 | 15.77¢ | 1,141 | $179.84 |
| April 2025 | 17.45¢ | 858 | $149.72 |
| May 2025 | 17.49¢ | 868 | $151.78 |
| June 2025 | 16.83¢ | 1,112 | $187.11 |
| July 2025 | 15.62¢ | 1,385 | $216.42 |
| August 2025 | 15.85¢ | 1,137 | $180.26 |
| September 2025 | 17.15¢ | 925 | $158.68 |
| October 2025 | 17.80¢ | 849 | $151.09 |
| November 2025 | 16.61¢ | 1,044 | $173.39 |
| December 2025 | 13.17¢ | 1,711 | $225.42 |
| January 2026 | 13.80¢ | 1,925 | $265.69 |
| February 2026 | 14.11¢ | 1,675 | $236.31 |
| March 2026 | 16.39¢ | 1,109 | $181.88 |
| April 2026 | 17.76¢ | 870 | $154.61 |
| May 2026 | 18.71¢ | 885 | $165.54 |
| June 2026 | 17.63¢ | 1,078 | $190.17 |
| July 2026 | 16.56¢ | 1,344 | $222.60 |
| August 2026 | 16.69¢ | 1,263 | $210.88 |
Cooperative rates in Virginia follow different rules from those of investor-owned utilities. Under Code of Virginia § 56-585.3, a cooperative's board may raise or lower its distribution rates and file the new rates with the State Corporation Commission for information, without prior approval, provided such changes do not add up to more than five percent in any three-year period; larger changes go through a rate case before the Commission. The guide to rate cases explains how those decisions reach a bill.
Above the co-op average
In 2025 Virginia's electric cooperatives as a group averaged 14.46¢ per kWh for residential members, against 15.53¢ per kWh for investor-owned utilities; nationally, cooperatives averaged 14.10¢ per kWh and investor-owned utilities 17.78¢ per kWh. REC was above both its state's co-op average and the national one; it was 9.9% above the national average for electric cooperatives. NOVEC, the other cooperative with 100,000 or more Virginia homes, averaged 12.60¢ per kWh1.
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. Bundled (full-service) residential revenue divided by kWh, summed over every utility of each type (EIA-861 2025). Small utilities filing the short form report no residential split and are not included.
Show the numbers
| Type | ¢/kWh | Residential customers |
|---|---|---|
| Investor-owned utilities | 15.53¢ | 2,899,241 |
| Electric cooperatives | 14.46¢ | 620,023 |
| Public power (municipal, districts, state) | 13.97¢ | 101,128 |
Nationally, REC ranked 81st highest of 177 among utilities with 100,000 or more residential customers in 2025, close to the median of that group (15.07¢ per kWh1).
Twenty-two counties, none served alone
EIA's service-territory records place REC in 22 Virginia counties, from Frederick and Clarke in the north to Hanover and Essex in the east: Albemarle County, Caroline County, Clarke County, Culpeper County, Essex County, Fauquier County, Frederick County, Goochland County, Greene County, Hanover County, King William County, King and Queen County and 10 others. In all 227 at least one other utility also reports customers, so a county or town name is not enough to tell which utility serves a home. REC's own service map settles a particular address.
Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 22 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 |
|---|---|
| Albemarle County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Appalachian Power, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative |
| Caroline County | Dominion Energy Virginia |
| Clarke County | Dominion Energy Virginia, NOVEC, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative |
| Culpeper County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Town of Culpeper |
| Essex County | Dominion Energy Virginia |
| Fauquier County | Dominion Energy Virginia, NOVEC |
| Frederick County | Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative |
| Goochland County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative |
| Greene County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative |
| Hanover County | Dominion Energy Virginia |
| King and Queen County | Dominion Energy Virginia |
| King William County | Dominion Energy Virginia |
| Louisa County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative |
| Madison County | Dominion Energy Virginia |
| Orange County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative |
| Page County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative |
| Rappahannock County | Dominion Energy Virginia |
| Rockingham County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, City of Harrisonburg, Town of Elkton |
| Shenandoah County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative |
| Spotsylvania County | Dominion Energy Virginia |
| Stafford County | Dominion Energy Virginia, NOVEC, Northern Neck Electric Cooperative |
| Warren County | Dominion Energy Virginia, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Town of Front Royal |
Meters on every home, time-of-use for very few
REC reported advanced meters for 100.0% of its residential meters in 2025, so every home could be billed by time of day. Very few are: the cooperative reported time-of-use and critical peak rebates to EIA, with 48 residential members enrolled in time-varying pricing (0.0%9 of the total). The time-of-use guide explains when such a rate lowers a bill.
Rooftop solar is about as common as at Dominion and NOVEC. REC counted 3,964 net-metered residential installations with 31.0 megawatts of capacity, or 22.9 per 1,000 residential members, against 22.7 at Dominion and 23.69 at NOVEC.
Outages: fewer minutes than Virginia overall, more on ordinary days
REC members averaged 428 minutes without power in 2025, including major events, fewer than the Virginia average of 462 minutes. Excluding major event days, the comparison reverses: 220 minutes at REC against 183 minutes statewide. Members had 2.50 interruptions each on average, against 2.00 for Virginia. All figures follow IEEE 1366. NOVEC's members, by comparison, averaged 94 minutes10 including major events.
Business members and help with bills
REC's 10,933 commercial accounts paid an average of 12.17¢ per kWh in 2025, with an average bill of $464.51 a month, and its 605 industrial accounts 9.60¢ per kWh. The all-customer figure, over 184,421 accounts, was 13.36¢ per kWh1.
Households that struggle with winter bills can apply for energy assistance through Virginia's share of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, $103.9 million11 in fiscal year 2026. For the other utilities and the statewide picture, see electricity in Virginia.
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative questions
What are Rappahannock Electric Cooperative's rates per kWh?
A cooperative tariff combines fixed monthly charges, energy charges and adjustments, so no single line is the rate. What residential members paid on average, all of those included, was 15.49¢ per kWh1 in 2025, 15.92¢ per kWh over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026) and 16.69¢ per kWh2 in August 20264 (preliminary).
What is the average REC electric bill?
$185.19 a month in 2025 for 1,195 kWh1, according to EIA, and $194.73 over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026). Monthly averages in that period ranged from $151.09 in October 2025 to $265.69 in January 20262.
Did Rappahannock Electric Cooperative raise rates in 2026?
EIA's monthly data show what members paid rather than tariff decisions: 16.69¢ per kWh in August 2026, +5.3%2 against August 2025, a smaller rise than the Virginia average (+11.3%4). From 2024 to 2025 the annual average rose 4.0%1.
Is Rappahannock Electric Cooperative cheaper than Dominion Energy?
Per kWh, it was slightly dearer in 2025 (15.49¢ per kWh against 15.20¢ per kWh1) and cheaper over the last 12 months (15.92¢ per kWh against 17.27¢ per kWh2, September 2025 to August 2026). Its average bill was higher in both periods. Homes cannot choose between them: the address decides which one serves it.
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, Historical state data, annual sales, revenue and customers; table HS861 2010-.xlsx; 2010-2025, 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
- Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.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
How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.