The states with the highest energy bills might shock you into moving

Turning off the lights and easing up on the air conditioner might help curb energy bills, but another way to trim those costs might boil down to choosing the right place to live.Energy bills vary greatly by state, according to a new survey from WalletHub.The survey is based on data tabulated on how much Americans across the nation spend on a variety of energy sources, including electricity, natural gas, home heating oil, and the fuel people use to drive their cars.And the state with the highest energy costs of all might surprise you: It’s Wyoming—by a mile.In this large Western expanse, residents have to pony up an average of $1,591 a month, almost twice the amount residents pay in North Dakota, which comes in at No.

2 on the list.“This stark difference highlights how geographical and climatic factors significantly impact energy consumption and costs,” says Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst.Due to the state’s long, harsh winters and remote landscape, Wyoming homeowners use the most heating oil and gas—and pay more for it, too.Frigid winters in North Dakota and the plains of Iowa also mean sky-high bills.But you don’t have to live in a cold climate to feel the sting of high energy bills.Electricity is also consumed at very high rates in warmer parts of the country, with Louisiana taking the top spot with this type of energy, followed by Alabama and Mississippi.But what’s surprising, notes Happe, is Hawaii’s relationship to electricity.“Despite having the highest prices, the state boasts the lowest consumption per consumer, which suggests that high costs may incentivize residents to adopt more energy-efficient practices,” she says.The state with the lowest energy cost is New Mexico, where residents pay a mere $376 per year.

Many of the low-energy states on this list have milder winters, of course, but others have wisely invested in efficiency and renewable sources, such as “wind and solar power, which provide more affordable energy options...