Kentucky
vsSouth Dakota
Side-by-side comparison of electricity costs, generation mix, and renewable energy data.
| Kentucky | Metric | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| 13.24¢/kWh | Residential | 13.38¢/kWh |
| 11.88¢/kWh | Commercial | 10.89¢/kWh |
| 6.96¢/kWh | Industrial | 8.68¢/kWh |
| #12 | Price Rank | #13 |
| 7.1% | Renewable % | 81.6% |
Generation Mix
Kentucky
South Dakota
Frequently Asked Questions
Kentucky has cheaper residential electricity at 13.24¢/kWh. The difference is 0.14¢/kWh between the two states. Kentucky ranks #12 and South Dakota ranks #13 cheapest among all states.
Kentucky gets 7.1% of electricity from renewables, while South Dakota gets 81.6%. South Dakota leads in renewable energy adoption.
Electricity rates from EIA retail sales data. Generation mix from EIA electric power operational data.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2026.
Comparing Kentucky and South Dakota on U.S. state-level electricity rates and generation mix requires lining up the underlying the EIA Open Data API and State Electricity Profiles data side by side. The table above runs the comparison on the canonical fields; the narrative below identifies the factor or factors that drive the most meaningful difference between the two.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." the EIA Open Data API and State Electricity Profiles captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.