Wyoming Electricity Rates: What to Know

Wyoming produces more coal than any other state in America — 37.2% of the nation's total, roughly 190 million tons in 2024 from the Powder River Basin. Coal still generates about 60% of the state's electricity. That coal-fueled baseload has kept electricity rates cheap for decades. The average residential rate is approximately 12.79 cents per kilowatt-hour — about 25% below the national average of roughly 17 cents — and the average monthly bill runs about $111.

But those bills are climbing fast. Rocky Mountain Power, the state's dominant utility, pushed through rate increases totaling roughly $23-26 per month for the average customer in 2025 alone. The drivers include wildfire insurance costs that rose 1,888% in five years (from fires in Oregon, not Wyoming), billions of dollars in new transmission lines, and the slow decline of the coal industry that built the state's economy. At the same time, Wyoming generates 27% of its electricity from wind — among the top 10 states — yet the legislature regularly proposes bills to restrict renewable energy, eliminate net metering, and impose additional taxes on wind generation. Wyoming's electricity story is defined by this tension: a coal state with world-class wind resources, cheap rates under upward pressure, and ratepayers absorbing costs from a multi-state utility empire they did not choose.

How Wyoming's Electricity Market Works

Wyoming is a fully regulated electricity market. Residential customers cannot choose their electricity provider. There is no retail competition, no community choice aggregation, and no alternative suppliers. The only consumer lever is managing usage.

The Wyoming Public Service Commission (PSC) regulates investor-owned utilities, with commissioners appointed by the Governor. The PSC also has regulatory authority over 18 retail rural electric cooperatives and three municipally-owned utilities that serve customers outside city limits.

Wyoming operates within the Western Interconnection. In April 2025, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) expanded RTO operations into Wyoming, becoming the first RTO spanning both the Eastern and Western Interconnections. SPP manages transmission across 14 states and operates wholesale energy markets that influence Wyoming electricity prices.

What Wyoming Residents Actually Pay

Current Rates

Wyoming's average residential rate of approximately 12.79 cents per kWh ranks it among the 10 cheapest states. But rates vary by utility:

• Rocky Mountain Power: Dominant utility serving most of the state. Recent increases totaling approximately $23-26 per month for the average customer
• Black Hills Energy (Cheyenne): Rates roughly 17% higher than the statewide average. A typical 1,000 kWh bill runs about $167.50 (January 2026)
• Rural cooperatives: Rates vary significantly across the state's 14 distribution co-ops

Rate Trends — Rising Fast

Rocky Mountain Power's recent rate activity tells the story:

Action	Impact
10.2% rate increase (June 2025)	~$14/month for average customer
ECAM fuel cost adjustment	~$11.95/month additional
Combined recent increases	~$23-26/month

The 10.2% increase was negotiated down from an original request of 14.7%. Key drivers: wildfire liability insurance, new transmission lines, wind farm additions to the rate base, and general operational cost increases.

National average rates climbed about 21% between 2022 and 2026. Wyoming's increases have been steeper in dollar terms because they are layered on top of rates that were already low — the percentage increases are more noticeable when your starting bill was only $90 per month.

Major Utilities

Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp / Berkshire Hathaway Energy)

Rocky Mountain Power is the largest utility in Wyoming by MWh sold. It is a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy — Warren Buffett's energy conglomerate. PacifiCorp serves approximately 2.1 million customers across six states: California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

This multi-state structure is central to Wyoming's rate story. Wyoming customers share system costs with customers in five other states. When PacifiCorp incurs costs in Oregon or California, those costs can flow through to Wyoming bills. The most dramatic example: PacifiCorp faces an estimated $8+ billion in wildfire claims from 2020 and 2022 fires in Oregon. Wildfire insurance costs for Wyoming operations rose 1,888% over five years — from fires that occurred a thousand miles away. PacifiCorp is lobbying for wildfire liability caps across multiple western states and has proposed a new Insurance Cost Adjustment Rider to pass wildfire insurance costs directly to Wyoming ratepayers.

PacifiCorp is also investing massively in transmission:

• Energy Gateway program: $8+ billion to build 2,300+ miles of new high-voltage transmission ($5.4 billion spent through December 2024)
• TransWest Express: $3 billion, 732-mile transmission system connecting Wyoming to Utah and Nevada — 3,000 MW DC plus 1,500 MW AC capacity, operational by 2027

These projects will enable Wyoming wind energy to reach western markets — but the costs are borne by ratepayers.

Black Hills Energy (Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power)

Black Hills Energy serves the Cheyenne and Laramie County area. Rates are approximately 17% higher than the statewide average. The monthly service charge is $16.50 (January 2026), plus energy charges and a Transmission Cost Adjustment of $0.03575 per kWh. Black Hills recently approved new rates to support system resiliency and growing energy demand in the greater Cheyenne community.

Rural Electric Cooperatives

The Wyoming Rural Electric Association (WREA) represents 14 electric distribution cooperatives and 3 generation and transmission co-ops serving over 104,000 homes, businesses, ranches, and farms. Notable cooperatives include Lower Valley Energy, Big Horn Rural Electric, Carbon Power and Light, and Niobrara Electric Association. Cooperatives are member-governed, not-for-profit organizations with rates that vary significantly across the state.

Municipal Utilities

Wyoming has 12 municipally or publicly owned electric systems. Three that serve customers outside city limits are regulated by the PSC.

Why Wyoming's Rates Are Rising

1. Wildfire Liability and Insurance

This is the most unusual cost driver in Wyoming's rate story — and the most frustrating for ratepayers. PacifiCorp's wildfire insurance in Wyoming rose 1,888% over five years. The company faces $8+ billion in total claims from fires in Oregon, not Wyoming. A $575 million settlement with the U.S. government over wildfire claims has already been paid. PacifiCorp is lobbying for liability caps in Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. The proposed Insurance Cost Adjustment Rider would create a permanent tariff mechanism to pass ongoing wildfire insurance costs to ratepayers. Wyoming customers are paying for catastrophes in states they have never visited.

2. Transmission Infrastructure — An $8+ Billion Bet

PacifiCorp's Energy Gateway program is building 2,300+ miles of new high-voltage transmission across the western states. The TransWest Express — a $3 billion, 732-mile line connecting Wyoming wind to western markets — will be one of the largest transmission projects in American history. These projects will enable Wyoming to export vast amounts of wind energy, but the costs flow through to Wyoming ratepayers. The question is whether Wyoming consumers will benefit from being an energy export hub or just pay for the infrastructure.

3. Coal Generation Transition

Wyoming's coal fleet is aging and declining. Coal's share of generation dropped from 87% a decade ago to about 60% today. Maintaining aging coal infrastructure is increasingly expensive, and coal plant retirements require replacement generation investment. Wyoming's 2024 coal production was the lowest since 1992 despite increased demand. The Powder River Basin remains the most productive coal region in America, but its contribution to Wyoming's electricity cost advantage is slowly eroding.

4. Wind Energy Integration

Wyoming added approximately 980 MW of new wind capacity scheduled for 2025 alone, including the 330 MW Boswell Springs project and 590 MW Rock Creek project. While wind power is cheap to operate, building new wind farms requires capital that gets added to the rate base. Integration also requires new transmission and grid upgrades. The massive Chokecherry-Sierra Madre project (3,550 MW, ~600 turbines in Carbon County) will nearly double the state's wind capacity by 2029-2031 — primarily for export to other states.

5. Multi-State Cost Allocation

Wyoming customers share PacifiCorp system costs with customers in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Oregon and California wildfire liability gets allocated across all states. Multi-state operations add regulatory complexity and cost. This cross-subsidization is contentious — Wyoming ratepayers argue they are paying for decisions made to serve other states.

Understanding Your Wyoming Electricity Bill

Rocky Mountain Power Bill Components

• Customer charge: Fixed monthly fee regardless of usage
• Energy charge: Per-kWh rate for electricity consumed
• Energy Cost Adjustment Mechanism (ECAM): Rider adjusting for fuel cost differences (actual versus estimated). Costs are split 80/20 between customers and the utility
• Transmission Cost Adjustment: Pass-through for wholesale transmission costs
• Insurance Cost Adjustment Rider (proposed): New mechanism for wildfire insurance costs

For a full explanation of each line, see our guide on how to read your electric bill and spot overcharges.

Time-of-Use Rates

Rocky Mountain Power offers optional TOU pricing:

• On-peak: 7-9 AM and 4-11 PM, all days
• Off-peak: All remaining hours

If you can shift heavy electricity use to off-peak hours — overnight EV charging, laundry, water heating — TOU can reduce your bill. This is particularly valuable if you have electric heating equipment that can run overnight.

Demand Charges

Available for single-family homes using 1,000+ kWh per month. Demand is measured as the maximum 15-minute integrated kW usage during the billing period. High-usage customers with steady consumption patterns may benefit from demand service pricing.

Solar and Renewable Energy in Wyoming

Solar — Hostile Territory

Wyoming is one of the most challenging states in the country for residential solar:

• Less than 1% of Wyoming homes have rooftop solar
• No state solar incentive, rebate, or renewable portfolio standard
• Federal residential ITC expired January 1, 2026
• Net metering under legislative attack: SF 111 (2025 session) would eliminate net metering for new solar owners as of July 2025 and for existing owners by 2030. It cleared the Senate committee 4-1.
• System size capped at 25 kW under current net metering rules
• Wyoming taxes wind generation ($1/MWh) while most states incentivize it

The irony is stark: a state that prides itself on independence and self-reliance makes it extremely difficult for homeowners to generate their own power. An "unlikely coalition" of ranchers, conservatives, and environmentalists tried to expand net metering in 2025 (HB 183, raising the cap to 200 kW), but the bill was undermined by amendments adding undefined fees.

Current net metering rules: Rocky Mountain Power credits monthly excess generation as kWh at full retail rate. At the end of the calendar year, unused credits are purchased by the utility at avoided-cost rate (below retail). But if SF 111 passes, even this modest benefit disappears.

Wind — Wyoming's Paradox

Wyoming has some of the best wind resources on Earth:

• ~3,700 MW installed from ~1,500 turbines (end of 2024)
• 27% of electricity from wind (2025)
• ~980 MW of new wind scheduled for 2025 alone
• Chokecherry-Sierra Madre: 3,550 MW, ~600 turbines — will nearly double state wind capacity by 2029-2031

Yet much of this wind electricity is exported to other states via transmission lines. The state legislature regularly proposes moratoriums on wind projects and increases to the $1/MWh wind generation tax. Wyoming has no renewable portfolio standard. The wind paradox — world-class resources, growing generation, hostile politics — makes Wyoming unique in the American energy landscape.

Coal's Decline

Coal generated 60% of Wyoming's electricity in 2024, down from 87% a decade ago. Wyoming remains America's coal capital (37.2% of national production), but the trend is clear. A 150-ton/day pilot carbon capture plant at the Dry Fork Station near Gillette has been operational since fall 2024, capturing CO2 at a 90% rate — though the Trump administration cancelled $49 million in federal funding for a larger pilot in May 2025.

Emerging Solar Projects

Despite policy hostility toward residential solar, utility-scale solar is growing:

• Cowboy Solar Project: 765 MW — will triple Wyoming's solar capacity
• Cheyenne Solar Facility: 150 MW — Wyoming's second solar farm, operational 2024

Strategies to Lower Your Wyoming Electricity Bill

1. Switch to Time-of-Use Pricing

Rocky Mountain Power's TOU rate lets you save by shifting usage to off-peak hours (9 AM-4 PM and 11 PM-7 AM). EV charging, water heating, and laundry are prime candidates for shifting. In Wyoming's cold climate, electric heating equipment that can run during off-peak hours offers significant savings.

2. Weatherize Your Home

Wyoming's extreme cold makes weatherization the highest-return investment. The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free improvements for qualifying households — insulation, weather-stripping, caulking, and furnace repair. Even without the free program, basic air sealing pays back quickly at Wyoming's heating loads. Our home insulation and weatherization guide covers the biggest-impact projects.

3. Upgrade to a Heat Pump

If you heat with electric resistance or propane, a heat pump can cut heating electricity by 50-70%. Modern cold-climate heat pumps handle Wyoming's winters. Rocky Mountain Power's Wattsmart program offers efficiency rebates that can help offset upgrade costs.

4. Replace Inefficient Appliances

At 12.79 cents per kWh, each kWh saved is worth less than in high-rate states — but Wyoming's cold-climate high consumption means total bills add up. A heat pump water heater cuts water heating energy by 60-70%. Old refrigerators, freezers, and workshop equipment are common culprits.

5. Install a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat saves 10-15% on heating and cooling. With Wyoming's long, cold winters, those savings compound over many months.

6. Monitor Your ECAM and Transmission Adjustments

The ECAM fuel cost adjustment and transmission cost adjustments change periodically and can cause noticeable bill swings. Watching these line items helps you anticipate cost changes and adjust usage accordingly.

Low-Income Assistance Programs

LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program)

Wyoming's LIHEAP equivalent is administered by the Department of Family Services.

• Benefits (FY 2025): $49 minimum to $2,176 maximum for heating assistance
• Winter crisis assistance: Up to $550
• Income eligibility: Up to 60% of state median income
• Priority households: Elderly (60+), disabled, families with children age 5 and under
• Application period: Through April 30, 2026
• Contact: (800) 246-4221 or [email protected]

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

Free home energy improvements for eligible households — insulation, weather-stripping, caulking, furnace repair or replacement. Approved LIEAP applicants are automatically considered. Proper weatherization can save 5-25% on home heating bills. Applications accepted year-round.

Energy Share of Wyoming

A nonprofit energy assistance program funded by donations and administered through The Salvation Army. Available to customers who do not qualify for LIEAP or have exhausted LIEAP benefits.

Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart

Efficiency incentives including appliance rebates and smart device programs. Contact Rocky Mountain Power for current offerings.

Getting Started

Call Wyoming 211 (search.wyoming211.org) or (800) 246-4221 for referrals to energy assistance programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average electricity rate in Wyoming?

Wyoming's average residential rate is approximately 12.79 cents per kWh — about 25% below the national average of roughly 17 cents. Wyoming ranks among the 10 cheapest states for electricity, benefiting from abundant local coal and growing wind resources. However, rates have been rising. Rocky Mountain Power increases totaling roughly $23-26 per month took effect in 2025.

Why is my bill going up?

Rocky Mountain Power approved a 10.2% rate increase effective June 2025, adding about $14 per month. Combined with an ECAM fuel cost adjustment of roughly $12 per month, total recent increases are approximately $23-26 per month. Key drivers: wildfire insurance costs (up 1,888% from Oregon fires), billions in new transmission lines, wind farm additions, and coal plant maintenance costs. Wyoming ratepayers are absorbing costs from PacifiCorp's multi-state operations.

Can I choose my electricity provider?

No. Wyoming is fully regulated. Your utility is determined by location. Most of the state is served by Rocky Mountain Power. Cheyenne is served by Black Hills Energy. Rural areas are served by one of 14 cooperatives.

Is rooftop solar worth it in Wyoming?

Residential solar faces extreme headwinds in Wyoming. The federal 30% tax credit expired January 1, 2026. Wyoming has no state solar incentives. Pending legislation (SF 111) would eliminate net metering entirely. Less than 1% of homes have solar. Wyoming does have good solar irradiance, and current net metering credits excess generation at retail rate, but the hostile policy environment and low electricity rates make the financial case weak compared to most states.

Why does Wyoming produce so much wind but still rely on coal?

Wyoming has world-class wind resources generating 27% of the state's electricity, with 3,700+ MW installed and another 3,550 MW coming from the Chokecherry-Sierra Madre project. But much of this wind electricity is exported to other states via transmission lines. The state legislature has historically favored coal and regularly proposes restrictions on renewables. Wyoming has no renewable portfolio standard and taxes wind generation at $1/MWh. Coal still provides about 60% of in-state generation and remains central to the state's economic identity.

How does PacifiCorp/Berkshire Hathaway ownership affect my bill?

Rocky Mountain Power is owned by PacifiCorp, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary serving 2.1 million customers across six states. Wyoming ratepayers share system costs with customers in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. PacifiCorp's $8+ billion in wildfire liabilities from Oregon fires has driven Wyoming insurance costs up 1,888%. The company is lobbying for wildfire liability caps across multiple states and has proposed passing insurance costs directly to ratepayers through a new tariff rider.

What help is available if I cannot pay my bill?

LIEAP provides heating assistance of $49-$2,176 per household — apply through the Department of Family Services by April 30 or call (800) 246-4221. The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free home improvements. Energy Share of Wyoming (through The Salvation Army) helps those who do not qualify for LIEAP. Rocky Mountain Power's Wattsmart program offers efficiency rebates. Call Wyoming 211 for referrals.

Your Wyoming Electricity Action Plan

This week:

1. Pull up your most recent bill and identify your energy charge, ECAM adjustment, and transmission cost adjustment. Note whether recent Rocky Mountain Power increases have hit your bill. Our guide on how to read your electric bill and spot overcharges explains each line.
2. If you are a Rocky Mountain Power customer, check whether TOU pricing would save you money based on when you use the most electricity.
3. Check your 12-month usage history for winter heating peaks.

This month:

4. If your income qualifies, apply for LIEAP at (800) 246-4221 or through DFS. Benefits range from $49 to $2,176.
5. Ask about the Weatherization Assistance Program for free insulation and furnace improvements.
6. Seal air leaks around windows, doors, and attic hatches. At Wyoming's temperatures, air sealing is one of the cheapest, highest-return projects.

This year:

7. If you heat with electric resistance or propane, research heat pump options. The savings in Wyoming's cold climate are substantial.
8. Check Rocky Mountain Power's Wattsmart rebate programs for appliance and efficiency upgrades.
9. Replace your water heater with a heat pump water heater if you heat water electrically.
10. Install a smart thermostat with winter setback programming.

If you are struggling right now:

11. Call (800) 246-4221 for LIEAP assistance.
12. Contact Energy Share of Wyoming through The Salvation Army if you do not qualify for LIEAP.
13. Call your utility about payment arrangements before disconnection.
14. Dial Wyoming 211 for local assistance referrals.

For the long term:

15. Watch Rocky Mountain Power's rate case filings. With $8+ billion in wildfire liability, billions more in transmission investment, and ongoing coal transition costs, rate pressure is not going away.
16. Follow the net metering debate. If SF 111 passes, rooftop solar net metering could be eliminated for new customers immediately and for existing customers by 2030.
17. Monitor the TransWest Express and Energy Gateway transmission projects. These will determine whether Wyoming becomes a major wind energy exporter — and whether the transmission costs benefit or burden Wyoming ratepayers.
18. Budget for continued increases. Wyoming's rates remain well below the national average, but the gap is narrowing. Wildfire costs, transmission investment, and the coal-to-wind transition all point upward. Every efficiency improvement you make now compounds in value as rates rise.

Wyoming's electricity identity is built on coal — cheap, abundant, local. That identity is not wrong: coal still generates 60% of the state's power, and Wyoming rates remain among the lowest in America. But the foundations are shifting. Coal production hit a 30-year low in 2024. Wildfire liability from a thousand miles away is driving up insurance costs. Billions in transmission lines are being built primarily to export Wyoming wind to other states' grids. And the legislature that defends coal with one hand is making it nearly impossible for individual homeowners to generate their own power with the other. The rates are still cheap. The question is how much of that advantage erodes over the next decade — and whether Wyoming ratepayers are left paying for an energy transition that primarily benefits customers in other states.