Electricity Price History in California
California residential electricity averaged 33.25¢/kWh in May 2026. Below is the year-by-year record — the average rate for each year and how much it changed from the year before — followed by what the series does and does not show about California prices. Data comes from EIA residential retail sales.
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Price Trend
California electricity rates by year
| Year | Average rate | Change (¢/kWh) | Change (%) | Compared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–May) | 33.07 ¢/kWh | +0.75 | +2.3% | Jan–May 2025 (32.32¢) |
| 2025 | 32.64 ¢/kWh | +0.58 | +1.8% | 2024 (32.07¢) |
| 2024 | 32.07 ¢/kWh | +2.50 | +8.5% | 2023 (29.56¢) |
| 2023 | 29.56 ¢/kWh | +3.78 | +14.7% | 2022 (25.78¢) |
| 2022 | 25.78 ¢/kWh | +2.96 | +13.0% | 2021 (22.82¢) |
| 2021 | 22.82 ¢/kWh | +2.33 | +11.4% | 2020 (20.50¢) |
| 2020 | 20.50 ¢/kWh | +1.38 | +7.2% | 2019 (19.12¢) |
| 2019 | 19.12 ¢/kWh | +0.39 | +2.1% | 2018 (18.72¢) |
| 2018 | 18.72 ¢/kWh | +0.57 | +3.1% | 2017 (18.16¢) |
| 2017 | 18.16 ¢/kWh | +0.92 | +5.3% | 2016 (17.24¢) |
| 2016 | 17.24 ¢/kWh | +0.36 | +2.1% | 2015 (16.88¢) |
Yearly figures are the average of the monthly EIA residential rates for that year. A year that is incomplete is labelled with the months it covers, and its change is measured against the same months of the previous year — residential rates are seasonal, so comparing a part-year against a full year would measure the season rather than the trend. Every row carries its own change, including the oldest one shown: its comparison year is the year immediately before the table starts. Where a comparison period is missing entirely, the change columns are left blank rather than filled with a zero.
Why did electricity prices rise in California?
What the EIA series shows
- Past 12 months (May 2025 → May 2026)
- The California residential rate fell 0.1% (−0.04¢/kWh), from 33.29¢ in May 2025 to 33.25¢ in May 2026.
- Past 5 years (May 2021 → May 2026)
- The rate rose 46.2% (+10.51¢/kWh), from 22.74¢ in May 2021 to 33.25¢ in May 2026.
- Past 10 years (May 2016 → May 2026)
- The rate rose 87.7% (+15.54¢/kWh), from 17.71¢ in May 2016 to 33.25¢ in May 2026.
- Highest and lowest month on record
- In this series the California rate peaked at 35.25¢/kWh in April 2026 and bottomed at 10.08¢/kWh in September 2003. The series covers January 2001 to May 2026.
- Steepest 12-month increase
- The largest single-year move in the series ended in October 2020: the rate rose 39.5% (+5.88¢/kWh), from 14.90¢ in October 2019 to 20.78¢ in October 2020. That is when the change happened; the series does not say what caused it.
- Against the rest of the country
- Over the same window the unweighted average across the 51 jurisdictions with data for this period rose 34.4%, so California's +46.2% outpaced the nationwide move by 11.8 percentage points. That gap is the part of the movement this dataset cannot attribute to a nationwide trend — it does not identify what else was involved.
- Rank among jurisdictions (May 2021 → May 2026)
- Measured over that identical five-year window, California's change is the 10th largest of the 51 jurisdictions whose series covers it — rank 1 is the biggest increase, rank 51 the biggest decrease. The rank places the movement; it does not explain it.
What can move rates in California — context, not proof
A rate series shows what changed, not why. The factors below are reviewed context for California maintained separately from the price data — they are not causes measured from the movement above, and no share of the change is attributed to any of them.
- Renewable integration and natural gas backup (Generation Mix) — California has a high share of solar and wind generation, supplemented by natural gas. The cost of integrating variable renewables, including grid balancing and storage, can contribute to higher retail rates. Confidence: high; reviewed 2026-02-22.
- Public purpose programs and surcharges (Taxes & Fees) — California adds several surcharges to electricity bills for wildfire mitigation, public benefit programs, and renewable energy mandates. These can significantly increase the total cost beyond the base energy rate. Confidence: high; reviewed 2026-02-22.
- Transmission investment for wildfire hardening (Transmission Constraints) — Utilities in California have invested heavily in transmission and distribution hardening to reduce wildfire risk. These capital costs are recovered through rates. Confidence: medium; reviewed 2026-02-22.
California electricity price drivers · How generation and fuel costs feed into retail rates · How these figures are calculated
More Data & Comparisons
- Electricity inflation in California — Price growth, trends, rankings
- Electricity cost in California — Rates, value score, affordability
- Average electricity bill in California — Monthly and annual bill estimates
- California electricity rates — Statewide overview and how California ranks
- Electricity cost calculator for California — Usage-based estimates
- Full California knowledge page — Rates, value score, affordability, trends
- All states price history
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much have electricity prices changed in California?
- Electricity prices in California have increased 46.2% over the past 5 years. The 1-year decrease is 0.1%. The annualized 5-year increase is approximately 7.9% per year.
- What drove the change in California electricity prices?
- Measured from EIA residential data, the California rate rose 46.2% (+10.51¢/kWh), from 22.74¢ in May 2021 to 33.25¢ in May 2026. The series itself does not identify a cause. Reviewed context for California points to renewable integration and natural gas backup, public purpose programs and surcharges, transmission investment for wildfire hardening — documented factors, not measured contributions to the change above.
- When were California electricity rates highest and lowest?
- In EIA residential data covering January 2001 to May 2026, the California rate was highest at 35.25¢/kWh in April 2026 and lowest at 10.08¢/kWh in September 2003. The most recent reading is 33.25¢/kWh in May 2026.