Electricity Cost: California vs District of Columbia
Electricity costs about 42% more in California than in District of Columbia. A typical monthly bill runs about $313 in California vs $220 in District of Columbia.
Based on average residential rates from EIA data · 900 kWh of monthly use
California rate
34.74 ¢/kWh
District of Columbia rate
24.39 ¢/kWh
California 900 kWh bill
$312.66
District of Columbia 900 kWh bill
$219.51
Is electricity cheaper in California or District of Columbia?
| State | Electricity rate | Estimated monthly bill |
|---|---|---|
| California | 34.74 ¢/kWh | $312.66 |
| District of Columbia | 24.39 ¢/kWh | $219.51 |
What the difference adds up to
At a typical 900 kWh a month, a household in California pays about $93.15 more than one in District of Columbia — about 42% higher, or roughly $1118 a year for the same electricity.
Monthly Bill Comparison
Related Pages
- Energy comparison hub
- Compare states
- Electricity cost in California
- Electricity cost in District of Columbia
- Average electricity bill in California
- Average electricity bill in District of Columbia
- Electricity bill estimator in California · California apartment profile scenario
- Electricity bill estimator in District of Columbia · District of Columbia apartment profile scenario
- Electricity affordability in California
- Electricity affordability in District of Columbia
- Appliance operating-cost pages in California
- Appliance operating-cost pages in District of Columbia
- Compare electricity prices between states
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is electricity cheaper in California or District of Columbia?
- District of Columbia has cheaper electricity. At 900 kWh/month, the estimated bill is $219.51 in District of Columbia vs $312.66 in California—about 42.4% less.
- How much more expensive is electricity in California?
- At 900 kWh/month, electricity in California costs about $93.15 more per month than in District of Columbia—roughly 42.4% higher.
- Why do electricity prices vary between states?
- Electricity prices vary due to generation mix (coal, gas, nuclear, renewables), transmission costs, regulations, taxes, and demand. States with more hydropower or natural gas often have lower rates; those relying on imported power or with higher renewable mandates may have higher rates.