Household Electricity Usage in California
A typical home in California uses about 680 kWh of electricity a month. At the state's average rate of 33.25 ¢/kWh, that's about $226.10 a month.
California modeled monthly usage
680 kWh
California modeled annual usage
8,160 kWh
U.S. monthly benchmark
899 kWh
California average rate
33.25 ¢/kWh
Modeled monthly cost
$226.10
Key metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| California modeled monthly usage | 680 kWh |
| California modeled annual usage | 8,160 kWh |
| U.S. monthly benchmark | 899 kWh |
| California average rate | 33.25 ¢/kWh |
| Modeled monthly cost | $226.10 |
Does a California home use more electricity than average?
California monthly usage
680 kWh
U.S. monthly usage
899 kWh
California rate
33.25 ¢/kWh
U.S. benchmark rate
18.44 ¢/kWh
A typical home in California uses about 680 kWh a month, about 24.4% below the typical U.S. home of 899 kWh. At 33.25 ¢/kWh, that works out to about $226.10 a month.
Usage-to-cost scenarios in California
| Monthly usage | Estimated monthly cost | Estimated annual cost | Canonical cost page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $166.25 | $1995.00 | Open 500 kWh page |
| 1,000 kWh | $332.50 | $3990.00 | Open 1,000 kWh page |
| 1,500 kWh | $498.75 | $5985.00 | Open 1,500 kWh page |
| 2,000 kWh | $665.00 | $7980.00 | Open 2,000 kWh page |
Connected electricity tools
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average monthly electricity usage in California?
- A typical California household uses about 680 kWh of electricity per month. At the state's average rate of 33.25 ¢/kWh, that works out to roughly $226.10 a month.
- How many kWh does the average California home use per year?
- The average California home uses roughly 8,160 kWh of electricity per year, based on modeled monthly usage of about 680 kWh.
- Does the average home in California use more electricity than the U.S. average?
- A typical California home uses about 219 kWh less per month than the U.S. benchmark of 899 kWh (680 kWh vs 899 kWh).
See your exact bill in California
Set your own usage to match your home — fees included. Then see savings options for California.
Know when California rates change
California rates move with each monthly EIA update. Get an email when electricity costs in California gets cheaper — or more expensive.
California appliance calculator examples
- Refrigerator calculator — Model refrigerator electricity cost in California at 33.25 ¢/kWh.
- Space Heater calculator — Model space heater electricity cost in California at 33.25 ¢/kWh.
- Window AC calculator — Model window ac electricity cost in California at 33.25 ¢/kWh.
- Portable AC calculator — Model portable ac electricity cost in California at 33.25 ¢/kWh.
- Central AC calculator — Model central ac electricity cost in California at 33.25 ¢/kWh.
- Clothes Dryer calculator — Model clothes dryer electricity cost in California at 33.25 ¢/kWh.
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
- 750 kWh cost in California — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- 600 kWh cost in California — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Electricity cost for 500 kWh 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: May 2026. Estimates use the EIA all-in average residential rate — energy, delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees together, not just the electricity itself. Fees are inside the rate, not an extra on top; how your own bill splits fixed versus per-kWh charges varies by utility. For what's inside the all-in rate, see hidden electricity fees; for how rates and estimates are defined, see the methodology hub.