FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2026) — An updated analysis commissioned by the Dependable Power First Kentucky coalition and conducted by Energy Ventures Analysis (EVA) underscores coal’s critical role in protecting Kentucky families and businesses from higher electricity costs.
The report finds that Kentucky maintained the lowest retail electricity rates east of the Mississippi River and improved from the 14th-lowest to the 12th-lowest in the nation last year, reinforcing the importance of policies that support the continued operation of the Commonwealth’s coal-fired power plants.
Kentucky’s average retail electricity rate across all sectors was 10.55 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2025 — 22.6% below the national average. While Kentucky’s rate increased 3.6% from 2024, the national average rose 4.9%, widening the Commonwealth’s affordability advantage. Kentucky’s rates also increased more slowly than those in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Virginia.
Coal supplied 66% of Kentucky’s electricity in 2025, remaining the foundation of the Commonwealth’s power supply. The analysis highlights how Kentucky’s abundant coal resources and regulated utility structure have helped keep electricity prices comparatively low, while increasing reliance on natural gas and wholesale market purchases can expose consumers to greater price volatility.
“Kentucky’s coal fleet is an economic asset that helps keep household bills manageable and businesses competitive,” said Woody Maglinger, spokesperson for Dependable Power First Kentucky coalition. “Federal policies that support continued coal generation and remove burdens that threaten to force dependable plants into premature retirement are essential to protecting that advantage. Those priorities should be reinforced by state policies that preserve the reliable, affordable electricity Kentucky families and employers depend on.”
The report emphasizes that maintaining Kentucky’s existing power plant fleet will be paramount to preserving its comparatively low electricity rates. DPK supports continued action at the federal and state levels to keep dependable coal generation available and protect consumers from unnecessary replacement costs and greater exposure to volatile energy markets.
The full Energy Ventures Analysis (EVA) report can be accessed at: bit.ly/EVAstudy.
For more information about the Dependable Power First Kentucky coalition, please visit: DependablePowerKY.com.
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Dependable Power First Kentucky works to promote a reliable, resilient, and affordable electricity supply for all Kentuckians by bringing together diverse stakeholders from across the state to shift the conversation around reliability and support policies that achieve this goal. For more information, please visit DependablePowerKY.com.
