Electricity Cost: California vs Washington
Electricity costs about 145% more in California than in Washington. A typical monthly bill runs about $317 in California vs $129 in Washington.
Based on average residential rates from EIA data · 900 kWh of monthly use
California rate
35.25 ¢/kWh
Washington rate
14.36 ¢/kWh
California 900 kWh bill
$317.25
Washington 900 kWh bill
$129.24
Is electricity cheaper in California or Washington?
| State | Electricity rate | Estimated monthly bill |
|---|---|---|
| California | 35.25 ¢/kWh | $317.25 |
| Washington | 14.36 ¢/kWh | $129.24 |
What the difference adds up to
At a typical 900 kWh a month, a household in California pays about $188.01 more than one in Washington — about 145% higher, or roughly $2256 a year for the same electricity.
Monthly Bill Comparison
Related Pages
- Energy comparison hub
- Compare states
- Electricity cost in California
- Electricity cost in Washington
- Average electricity bill in California
- Average electricity bill in Washington
- Electricity bill estimator in California · California apartment profile scenario
- Electricity bill estimator in Washington · Washington apartment profile scenario
- Electricity affordability in California
- Electricity affordability in Washington
- Appliance operating-cost pages in California
- Appliance operating-cost pages in Washington
- Compare electricity prices between states
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is electricity cheaper in California or Washington?
- Washington has cheaper electricity. At 900 kWh/month, the estimated bill is $129.24 in Washington vs $317.25 in California—about 145.5% less.
- How much more expensive is electricity in California?
- At 900 kWh/month, electricity in California costs about $188.01 more per month than in Washington—roughly 145.5% 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.