California Electricity Rates

30.29¢

per kWh (avg residential)

$273

est. monthly bill at 900 kWh

High

rate tier

-4.42¢ (-12.73%)

month-over-month change

Data status: staleUpdated January 2026 · Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) · Methodology

California's average residential electricity price is 30.29¢/kWh as of January 2026. This places California in the high rate tier based on the same threshold model used across all states. At 900 kWh of monthly usage, the estimated energy-only charge is about $272.61.

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Monthly usage (kWh):

Est. energy charge: $272.61

Note: this is energy-only (doesn’t include delivery fees, taxes, etc.).

Major utilities in California

Scores & rankings

Affordability (Expensive)

Value Score™ (Weak)

170

Price Index™ (Above National Average)

Value ranking · Price Index ranking · Affordability index

Browse nearby states

← Arkansas | Colorado →

Similar-priced states

Rhode Island — 30.14¢/kWh
Maine — 30.73¢/kWh
Massachusetts — 31.16¢/kWh
New York — 28.37¢/kWh
Connecticut — 28.30¢/kWh

West region

Alaska — 25.52¢/kWh
Arizona — 15.61¢/kWh
Colorado — 16.44¢/kWh
Hawaii — 39.79¢/kWh
Idaho — 12.07¢/kWh
Montana — 12.86¢/kWh
Nevada — 13.98¢/kWh
New Mexico — 14.70¢/kWh
Oregon — 14.66¢/kWh
Utah — 12.88¢/kWh
Washington — 13.81¢/kWh
Wyoming — 12.85¢/kWh

Cities in California

Price drivers (qualitative)

Generation Mix: Renewable integration and natural gas backup
Taxes & Fees: Public purpose programs and surcharges
Transmission Constraints: Transmission investment for wildfire hardening

View full drivers analysis for California

Regulatory signals

Open rate cases: 1
Most recent event: Placeholder: New filing submitted (2026-02)

View regulatory overview for California

FAQ

What is the average residential electricity price in California?

California's average residential electricity rate is 30.29¢/kWh (updated January 2026).

How is the bill estimate calculated?

The estimate uses: kWh * (30.29¢/kWh) / 100. It is an energy-only estimate.

Does the estimate include delivery fees and taxes?

No. It excludes delivery fees, taxes, fixed charges, and other utility fees.

More about electricity in California

Why prices vary by state · Common questions · 1,000 kWh bill · 1,500 kWh bill

Methodology & data

Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh from the published state-level dataset. Values are used as a reference benchmark for comparison and estimation.

Estimates are energy-only and exclude delivery fees, taxes, fixed charges, and other utility fees.

Full methodology · Data policy · Source data

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