Gas vs. electric driving costs · adjust vehicle and price period below
Why is it like this in Tennessee?
Tennessee's electricity is supplied almost entirely by TVA, which serves roughly 10 million customers across seven states. TVA executed a 5.25% rate increase in August 2024 — its largest in more than a decade — and has directed roughly 90% of its $4.6 billion capital budget toward fossil fuel generation, tying rate stability to natural gas prices. At current prices, gasoline and electricity are close in Tennessee, with electricity holding a clear per-mile advantage over gasoline in Tennessee at the January 2026 baseline — the TVA rate increase has narrowed the gap somewhat, but electric mode remains meaningfully cheaper.
In the news · Tennessee
Documents TVA's August 2024 5.25% rate increase — the largest in over a decade — directly affecting Tennessee's ~13.12¢/kWh rate and PHEV electric-mode costs for the state's millions of TVA customers.
Roughly 90% of TVA's $4.6 billion FY2025 capital budget goes to fossil fuel plants and pipelines — the largest gas buildout of any U.S. utility this decade — signaling sustained TVA rate increases ahead that will raise Tennessee PHEV electricity costs.
Potential federal policy changes — clean energy credit rollbacks in the reconciliation bill — could accelerate TVA rate increases by forcing more expensive generation to fill gaps, a forward-looking risk for PHEV electricity cost economics in Tennessee.
Curated coverage of Tennessee's EV/PHEV cost, policy, and infrastructure story. External links open in a new tab.
Southeast region comparison
| State | Electric ¢/mi | Gas ¢/mi | Cheaper | Annual diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 4.5¢ | 7.5¢ | ⚡ Electric | $363/yr |
| North Carolina | 4.1¢ | 7.0¢ | ⚡ Electric | $346/yr |
| Arkansas | 3.7¢ | 6.4¢ | ⚡ Electric | $319/yr |
| Louisiana | 3.8¢ | 6.4¢ | ⚡ Electric | $313/yr |
| Tennessee | 4.0¢ | 6.6¢ | ⚡ Electric | $310/yr |
| Georgia | 4.4¢ | 6.9¢ | ⚡ Electric | $307/yr |
| Florida | 4.8¢ | 7.3¢ | ⚡ Electric | $295/yr |
| Kentucky | 4.3¢ | 6.8¢ | ⚡ Electric | $295/yr |
| Virginia | 4.8¢ | 7.3¢ | ⚡ Electric | $294/yr |
| Mississippi | 4.3¢ | 6.4¢ | ⚡ Electric | $247/yr |
| South Carolina | 4.7¢ | 6.6¢ | ⚡ Electric | $230/yr |
| Alabama | 4.9¢ | 6.5¢ | ⚡ Electric | $201/yr |