Residents in Jackson County, WV who request quotes on the EnergySage Marketplace spend an average of $259 monthly on electricity. That adds up to $3,108 per year. A different way to look at it is that a typical Jackson County, WV resident uses 1,564 kWh of electricity per month and 18,768 kWh over the year.
(For what it’s worth: Jackson County, WV residents shopping for solar on EnergySage may use more electricity than a typical household.)
The easiest way to compare electricity costs across regions is to look at the electricity rate. In the U.S., residential rates generally range from 11 ¢/kWh all the way up to 34 ¢/kWh.
As of February 2026, the cost of electricity in Jackson County, WV is 17 ¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh)—roughly 16% lower than the national average cost. That number is based on real-world electric bills shared with EnergySage over the past 12 months. You can compare that number to the most recent average state electric price reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
West Virginia’s electricity market is regulated, so you can’t choose which company supplies your electricity. Instead, the state determines your electric utility company based on where you live. There are three primary electricity companies in West Virginia, all of which are Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), meaning they're private for-profit companies:
Appalachian
Monongahela
Potomac Edison
While the IOUs cover much of the state, some towns and cities are served by municipally-owned, not-for-profit electric companies that aren't subject to the same requirements as IOUs. These municipal utilities may offer lower rates, but may not offer benefits like net metering.
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When you pay your electric bill, you’re not only covering the costs to produce that electricity, but also the costs of running and maintaining the electrical grid, as well as public benefit funds that promote things like renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Electric bill costs are rolled into fixed (monthly customer charges) and variable charges (¢/kWh that you use).
Fixed charges, like the flat fee for having a meter, generally remain the same monthly unless your utility makes a policy update.
Your variable charges will change every month and depend on your electricity rate and how much electricity you use.
Your electric bill's variable charges will include a supply (or generation) charge and a transmission and distribution (or delivery) charge. The supply charge covers the cost of electricity generation, while the transmission and distribution charges cover the cost of delivering it to your home.
Utility companies in West Virginia typically offer fixed-rate plans where the rate remains consistent throughout the day. While it might change every few months, the price is relatively stable compared to variable-rate plans. With variable options, your rate might change based on demand or during specific time frames. You’ll usually find these plans listed as time-of-use rates or demand charge plans.
How clean is the electricity in West Virginia?
Due to the complex nature of utility grids, it's not easy to pin down exact data regarding exactly where the energy that goes to your specific home comes from, but according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 96% of the electricity on West Virginia’s utility grid comes from fossil fuels—primarily coal—as of August 2025.
Only about 4% comes from renewable sources. Given that nearly all of the grid’s energy comes from fossil fuels, installing a home solar panel system in West Virginia will almost always shrink your carbon footprint.
Some electricity suppliers give you the option to pay a bit more so that most (or even all) of your electricity comes from renewable sources. If you’re unwilling or unable to go solar in West Virginia but still want to reduce your carbon footprint, this is a great alternative. It just won’t save you any money in most cases.
As long as you have a suitable roof, one of the surest ways to save on energy is to go solar—ideally with a vetted contractor offering a competitive price.
Solar panels will reduce or even eliminate your electric bills in the short term and protect you against rising electricity costs in the long run, too. The amount you save depends on how much you spend on electricity now and how much of your electric bill you can offset with solar energy.
Solar panels are a big investment, but Jackson County, WV homeowners who install them—and pay upfront—break even after an average of just 12.39 years. Then, the solar panels will continue to produce free electricity for years to come.
Does West Virginia offer net metering?
On sunny days, you can count on your solar panels to produce more electricity than your home needs at any given moment. When this happens, you can benefit from the extra energy through a net metering program.
In exchange for your excess solar power, your utility company offers credits toward your energy bill. Whenever you need grid electricity, like at night, the utility taps into your credits to pay for the bill.
The major utility companies in West Virginia (Appalachian Power, Monongahela Power, and Potomac Edison) offer net metering, but there are a few things to know. You can’t use credits to pay for fixed fees (like meter connection costs), so you’ll likely still owe something on your monthly bill. The good news is that your credits never expire, which is ideal for solar owners. You can rack up thousands of kWh credits during the sunny summer months and use them to cover potential bills in the winter.
Your compensation rates may vary depending on which utility company serves your area. Based on a recent settlement, Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison customers will receive less than the retail rate. Currently, Appalachian Power customers are not affected by this settlement and will continue to receive compensation at the retail rate for any excess solar power generated.
How much can you save with solar?
The Mountain State’s pricey electric rates mean that you can often save when you go solar in Jackson County, WV.
Just take a look at how much you'll spend on electricity over time based on your current bill. It’s easy to see how going solar can pay off quickly.
Electricity cost over time in West Virginia
Current monthly electric bill | 10-year electricity cost | 20-year electricity cost | 30-year electricity cost |
|---|---|---|---|
$50 | $7,500 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
$100 | $15,000 | $40,000 | $80,000 |
$150 | $23,000 | $60,000 | $120,000 |
$200 | $30,000 | $79,000 | $160,000 |
$250 | $38,000 | $99,000 | $200,000 |
Assuming a 5% annual increase based on inflation and average annual electric rate increases in West Virginia.
Let's assume you pay $259 for electricity monthly (the Jackson County, WV average) and that electricity prices increase by 5% annually. Let's also assume you buy your solar panel system upfront and that it costs you $47,000 before any available incentives.
In the first year with solar, you'll avoid spending $3,100 on electric bills. Over five years, you'll avoid $17,200; by 10 years, you'll have avoided $39,100. Solar panels are usually covered under warranty for 25 years—by then, you'll have avoided spending $148,400 on electric bills in Jackson County, WV.
The average payback period in Jackson County, WV is 12.39 years, so by this point, you've already broken even on your investment. When you subtract your upfront installation cost, you'll pocket $101,300 over 25 years with solar.
Your solar savings depend on you
How much your utility company charges for electricity is a big indicator of how much you'll save with solar. But your exact solar savings depend on your unique situation—including your energy usage, roof layout, system size, and how you pay for your system.
Here are some reasons your savings could be below average:
You don’t use much electricity, or your roof is small or has a less-than-ideal layout. You might have a relatively long payback period, so you'll save a little less over time.
You don't install enough solar panels to 100% offset your energy use. You’ll pay less up front but save less in the long run.
You finance your solar panel system with a loan or sign a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) instead of paying up front. These types of arrangements can make a lot of sense for keeping your capital flexible and will allow you to start saving sooner. But they will cut into your long-term savings.
Choosing a high-quality solar installer is the key to getting a top-notch solar panel system that will help you save on electric bills.
We pre-screen all solar companies on EnergySage to ensure they get the job done right. Here are the highest-rated EnergySage installers in Jackson County, WV:
Elite+ InstallerScreened & Verified4.8 /5.0362 Reviews
Helping customers make informed decisions since 2009.
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