With Christmas lights up across the U.S., Compare the Market has crunched the numbers to answer a festive question:
What would it cost to power Christmas in Whoville if the town were located in the U.S.?
Using real 2025 residential electricity prices, we calculated the daily cost of running Whoville’s Christmas lights in every U.S. state. Based on 225 households, each using 10–15 LED light sets running 24 hours a day, Whoville’s average festive energy use comes out at 675 kWh per day.
Key findings:
- U.S. average: $122.92 per day / $3,810.37 per month
- Most expensive states:
- Hawaii – $262.57/day / $8,139.67/month
- California – $213.17/day / $6,608.27/month
- Massachusetts – $206.28/day / $6,394.68/month
- Cheapest states:
- Idaho – $81.11/day / $2,514.41/month
- Louisiana – $82.65/day / $2,562.15/month
- Nevada – $84.90/day / $2,631.90/month
The findings show just how much location alone can impact holiday energy bills, giving households a glimpse of the potential cost if they decked the halls with lights this Christmas – and that’s even before factoring in heating, cooking, and entertaining.
The full state by state energy use can be found below.
Many thanks,
Allen
Cost of Holiday Energy in Whoville: What if the Grinch Lived in the U.S.?
As the holiday season approaches, the energy experts at Compare the Market wanted to reveal the true cost of Christmas energy consumption in a very special town, Whoville, the whimsical town from Dr Seuss’s stories. With festive lights twinkling and trees sparkling, we wanted to calculate just how much it would cost to run Whoville’s electrifying celebrations if the town was located in a real U.S. state.
Using real U.S. energy data, Compare the Market has estimated what Whoville’s holiday season would cost in 2025, factoring in the energy used to light up the town’s homes, heat the festive feasts, and run the iconic Whoville parade of lights. The findings reveal some shocking numbers about the energy costs of holiday decorations and heating during the busiest time of year.
Whoville’s Christmas Energy Bill by U.S. State
Here’s a breakdown of how much it would cost to power Whoville from How the Grinch Stole Christmas across various U.S. states:
| State | Residential Electricity Cost (USD/kWh) | Average Daily Cost ($) | Monthly Cost ($) |
| Hawaii | 0.389 | $262.57 | $8,139.67 |
| California | 0.3158 | $213.17 | $6,608.27 |
| Massachusetts | 0.3063 | $206.28 | $6,394.68 |
| Connecticut | 0.3029 | $204.42 | $6,337.02 |
| Maine | 0.2825 | $190.75 | $5,913.25 |
| Alaska | 0.2771 | $187.06 | $5,798.86 |
| New York | 0.2665 | $179.68 | $5,570.08 |
| Rhode Island | 0.2652 | $178.94 | $5,547.14 |
| New Jersey | 0.2496 | $168.45 | $5,221.95 |
| New Hampshire | 0.2447 | $165.10 | $5,118.10 |
| Vermont | 0.2257 | $152.33 | $4,722.23 |
| Michigan | 0.2074 | $139.96 | $4,338.76 |
| Pennsylvania | 0.1994 | $134.64 | $4,173.84 |
| Maryland | 0.1987 | $134.12 | $4,157.72 |
| Wisconsin | 0.1857 | $125.36 | $3,886.16 |
| U.S. Average | 0.1823 | $122.92 | $3,810.37 |
| Illinois | 0.1809 | $121.77 | $3,774.87 |
| Ohio | 0.1761 | $118.84 | $3,684.04 |
| Minnesota | 0.1694 | $114.29 | $3,542.99 |
| Delaware | 0.1681 | $113.54 | $3,519.74 |
| Indiana | 0.1659 | $111.38 | $3,452.78 |
| Colorado | 0.1648 | $111.22 | $3,447.82 |
| New Mexico | 0.1627 | $109.91 | $3,407.21 |
| Alabama | 0.1619 | $109.19 | $3,384.89 |
| Virginia | 0.1601 | $108.07 | $3,350.17 |
| Oregon | 0.1574 | $106.29 | $3,294.99 |
| West Virginia | 0.1565 | $105.62 | $3,274.22 |
| Iowa | 0.1564 | $104.83 | $3,249.73 |
| Georgia | 0.1554 | $104.89 | $3,251.59 |
| Texas | 0.1545 | $104.21 | $3,230.51 |
| Florida | 0.1539 | $103.91 | $3,221.21 |
| Missouri | 0.1537 | $103.65 | $3,213.15 |
| Arizona | 0.1521 | $102.57 | $3,179.67 |
| South Carolina | 0.1489 | $100.33 | $3,110.23 |
| Kansas | 0.1473 | $98.53 | $3,054.43 |
| North Carolina | 0.1456 | $98.28 | $3,046.68 |
| Wyoming | 0.1437 | $96.87 | $3,002.97 |
| Oklahoma | 0.1431 | $96.68 | $2,997.08 |
| Montana | 0.143 | $96.18 | $2,981.58 |
| South Dakota | 0.1398 | $94.08 | $2,916.48 |
| Utah | 0.137 | $92.49 | $2,867.19 |
| Washington | 0.1366 | $92.10 | $2,855.10 |
| Mississippi | 0.1349 | $90.68 | $2,811.08 |
| Kentucky | 0.134 | $89.36 | $2,770.16 |
| Arkansas | 0.1326 | $89.47 | $2,773.57 |
| Nebraska | 0.1319 | $89.02 | $2,759.62 |
| Tennessee | 0.1316 | $88.64 | $2,747.84 |
| North Dakota | 0.1294 | $87.37 | $2,708.47 |
| Nevada | 0.1257 | $84.90 | $2,631.90 |
| Louisiana | 0.1246 | $82.65 | $2,562.15 |
| Idaho | 0.1207 | $81.11 | $2,514.41 |
Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts top the list as the states with the most expensive estimated energy costs for running Whoville’s festive decorations. These states experience high electricity rates, especially during the holiday season when residents are adding lights and decorations to their homes.
Energy costs vary significantly across the U.S. States on the East Coast, such as Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island tend to have higher energy prices due to colder winters and increased heating demand during the holiday season. In contrast, West Coast states, such as California, face high electricity costs likely for cooling as they have a warmer climate and could have further significant energy consumption if they intend to decorate for the holiday season. These regional differences highlight how local factors, whether it’s heating or cooling, can drive up energy costs during the festive season.
At the other end of the spectrum, Idaho, Louisiana, and Nevada ranked among the states with the lowest energy costs. These states benefit from lower residential electricity costs, leading to lower overall holiday energy consumption for those who have decorated their homes.
Although, the Grinch may have other plans to sabotage Whoville’s festive celebrations. For many U.S. households, holiday energy bills may be a real concern. The festive season often brings higher energy consumption, especially with increased lighting, heating, and cooking.