Electricity Cost: California vs District of Columbia
Electricity costs about 39% more in California than in District of Columbia. A typical monthly bill runs about $317 in California vs $229 in District of Columbia.
Based on average residential rates from EIA data · 900 kWh of monthly use
California rate
35.25 ¢/kWh
District of Columbia rate
25.41 ¢/kWh
California 900 kWh bill
$317.25
District of Columbia 900 kWh bill
$228.69
Is electricity cheaper in California or District of Columbia?
| State | Electricity rate | Estimated monthly bill |
|---|---|---|
| California | 35.25 ¢/kWh | $317.25 |
| District of Columbia | 25.41 ¢/kWh | $228.69 |
What the difference adds up to
At a typical 900 kWh a month, a household in California pays about $88.56 more than one in District of Columbia — about 39% higher, or roughly $1063 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 $228.69 in District of Columbia vs $317.25 in California—about 38.7% less.
- How much more expensive is electricity in California?
- At 900 kWh/month, electricity in California costs about $88.56 more per month than in District of Columbia—roughly 38.7% 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.