Electricity rates in California

Average residential price, typical bill and appliance running costs in California, from official U.S. Energy Information Administration data.

Official EIA data · August 2026

Average rate, August 2026

29.75¢

per kWh

vs U.S. average

+63.8%

U.S.: 18.16¢

vs a year ago

−3.8%

was 30.92¢

Rank (1 = priciest)

#4 of 51

50 states + DC

What your kWh cost in California

Electricity used

kWh

Monthly kWh from your bill. 863 kWh is the 2024 U.S. household average.

Electricity rate

EIA average residential price, August 2026. Your bill shows your exact rate.

Energy cost

$149.64

503 kWh × 29.75¢ (California average)

Per kWh: $0.2975
Per 100 kWh: $29.75
Per 1,000 kWh: $297.50

Average electric bill in California

2024 (EIA)	California	U.S.
Monthly use	503 kWh	863 kWh
Average price	31.97¢	16.48¢
Monthly bill	$160.86	$142.26
Residential customers	14,217,180	143,144,185

At the August 2026 rate, the average California household's 503 kWh would cost about $149.64 a month.

What appliances cost to run in California

Yearly cost at 29.75¢/kWh. Where marked, the kWh are the average for homes with that appliance in the Pacific region (EIA RECS 2020); the rest use the example settings on each appliance's page.

Appliance	kWh per year	Cost per year
Space heater	4,320	$1,285.20
Electric water heater *	2,588	$769.93
Window air conditioner	2,095	$623.13
Hot tub *	2,045	$608.39
Pool pump *	1,792	$533.12
Electric car *	1,646	$489.69
Central air conditioner *	1,514	$450.42
Dehumidifier *	806	$239.79
Refrigerator *	612	$182.07
Electric clothes dryer *	603	$179.39
Light bulbs *	579	$172.25
Chest or upright freezer *	541	$160.95
Electric oven *	262	$77.95
TV *	190	$56.53
Ceiling fan *	139	$41.35
Microwave *	110	$32.73

* Regional average from the EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey.

Where California ranks

California is #4 of 51 by average residential rate in August 2026 (1 = most expensive). It is highlighted on the map.

¢ per kWh 12.7–14.4 14.4–15.9 15.9–17.2 17.2–24.5 24.5–47.2

Rate history

Period	California	U.S.
August 2026	29.75¢	18.16¢
August 2025	30.92¢	17.57¢
Year to date through August 2026	32.58¢	18.19¢
Same period a year earlier	31.11¢	17.03¢
2024 annual average	31.97¢	16.48¢

Nearby states (Pacific)

State	Rate (August 2026)	Avg. bill (2024)
Alaska	29.41¢	$143.54
Hawaii	47.18¢	$212.12
Oregon	15.92¢	$129.62
Washington	14.63¢	$113.68

See electricity rates in all 50 states.

Quick answers

What is the average electricity rate in California?

The average residential price in California was 29.75¢ per kWh in August 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is +63.8% versus the U.S. average of 18.16¢ and ranks #4 of 51 (1 = most expensive).

What is the average electric bill in California?

In 2024, the average California household used 503 kWh a month and paid $160.86 a month (EIA). At the August 2026 rate, the same usage would cost about $149.64.

Are electricity prices going up in California?

The August 2026 average of 29.75¢/kWh compares with 30.92¢ a year earlier (−3.8%). For the year to date through August 2026, the average was 32.58¢, +4.7% versus the same period last year. Prices also change with the season, so compare the same month year over year.

Why is my rate different from the California average?

The EIA average is total residential revenue divided by kWh sold in the state. Your rate depends on your utility, your plan (fixed, variable or time-of-use) and fixed monthly charges, which weigh more per kWh in low-usage months.

Sources

Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Rates refreshed automatically when EIA publishes a new month.

More calculators

Electricity Rates by State

Average residential price per kWh in every state, updated monthly from the EIA.

Electricity Cost Calculator

What any device costs per hour, day, month and year from its wattage.

kWh to Dollars Calculator

Turn the kWh on your bill into dollars at your state's rate.

See everything

These are estimates. State rates are EIA averages (total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold), so they include fixed monthly charges spread across usage; your own price per kWh, time-of-use rates and taxes can differ. Real appliance use depends on the model, settings, climate and habits.