Electricity Cost: California vs Pennsylvania
Electricity costs about 55% more in California than in Pennsylvania. A typical monthly bill runs about $302 in California vs $195 in Pennsylvania.
Based on average residential rates from EIA data · 900 kWh of monthly use
California rate
33.61 ¢/kWh
Pennsylvania rate
21.72 ¢/kWh
California 900 kWh bill
$302.49
Pennsylvania 900 kWh bill
$195.48
Is electricity cheaper in California or Pennsylvania?
| State | Electricity rate | Estimated monthly bill |
|---|---|---|
| California | 33.61 ¢/kWh | $302.49 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72 ¢/kWh | $195.48 |
What the difference adds up to
At a typical 900 kWh a month, a household in California pays about $107.01 more than one in Pennsylvania — about 55% higher, or roughly $1284 a year for the same electricity.
Monthly Bill Comparison
Related Pages
- Energy comparison hub
- Compare states
- Electricity cost in California
- Electricity cost in Pennsylvania
- Average electricity bill in California
- Average electricity bill in Pennsylvania
- Electricity bill estimator in California · California apartment profile scenario
- Electricity bill estimator in Pennsylvania · Pennsylvania apartment profile scenario
- Electricity affordability in California
- Electricity affordability in Pennsylvania
- Appliance operating-cost pages in California
- Appliance operating-cost pages in Pennsylvania
- Compare electricity prices between states
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is electricity cheaper in California or Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania has cheaper electricity. At 900 kWh/month, the estimated bill is $195.48 in Pennsylvania vs $302.49 in California—about 54.7% less.
- How much more expensive is electricity in California?
- At 900 kWh/month, electricity in California costs about $107.01 more per month than in Pennsylvania—roughly 54.7% 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.