How Much Does 500 kWh Cost in California?
500 kWh of electricity costs about $176.25 in California at the state's average rate of 35.25 ¢/kWh. That uses the all-in average rate; separately billed taxes and fixed fees are not included.
Key metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| California average rate | 35.25 ¢/kWh |
| Estimated 500 kWh cost | $176.25 |
| U.S. average cost | $96.60 |
Compared to U.S. average
500 kWh in California is more expensive by $79.65 compared to the U.S. average.
kWh cost calculator
Enter any kWh amount and pick your state (or U.S. average) to see estimated electricity cost using published residential average rates.
Estimated cost: $176.25
500 kWh × 35.25 ¢/kWh = $176.25 (California)
For 500 kWh, the lowest state average is North Dakota ($61.75) and the highest is Hawaii ($233.10).
View electricity price per kWh in California
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Retail Sales of Electricity. Updated: April 2026.
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Explore savings options, plan types, and provider offers for California.
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State cost and bill pathways for California
- Average power price in California — What a kWh of electricity costs in California
- California electricity rates — Core authority page with statewide pricing context
- Electricity cost in California — State-level cost, affordability, and value overview
- Electricity cost in Los Angeles, California — City electricity page with methodology notes where city coverage is available
- California monthly electricity bill estimate — What a typical monthly bill looks like
- Electric bill estimator scenarios in California — Estimate your bill from your monthly usage
Historical and trend pages
- Historical electricity prices in California — Historical context and trend interpretation
- Electricity inflation in California — State electricity inflation analysis
- California electricity price volatility — Volatility and rate movement profile
Fixed-usage and calculator pathways
- Electricity cost for 600 kWh in California — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- 300 kWh cost in California — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- 100 kWh cost in California — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Custom usage calculator for California — Custom kWh and scenario cost calculation
Appliance and estimator pathways
- Refrigerator cost in California — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Refrigerator calculator in California — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Space Heater cost in California — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Space Heater calculator in California — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Window Ac cost in California — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Window Ac calculator in California — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
State comparison pathways for California
- Compare California with other states — State-to-state comparison hub
- California vs Alabama electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
- California vs Alaska electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
Discovery and navigation hubs
- California electricity hub — Guide to this state's electricity rate, usage, comparison, and tool pages
- Electricity cost scenario hub — Entry point for residential and industry scenario pages
- California electricity cost overview — State-level electricity cost page with rates and typical bill context
- California average electricity bill benchmark — Typical monthly bill estimate using a standard household usage assumption
- California electricity bill estimator — Household profile bill scenarios for this state
- Electricity usage hubs — Browse cost pages by common household usage tiers
Consumer electricity drivers
- Price drivers in California — Understand what influences state electricity prices
Source & Method
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Retail Sales of Electricity. Updated: April 2026. Estimates use the EIA average all-in residential rate (delivery included); they don't add separately billed taxes, fixed charges, or other utility fees, which vary by utility. For how rates and estimates are defined, see the methodology hub.