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 35.25 ¢/kWh, that's about $239.70 a month.
California modeled monthly usage
680 kWh
California modeled annual usage
8,160 kWh
U.S. monthly benchmark
899 kWh
California average rate
35.25 ¢/kWh
Modeled monthly cost
$239.70
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 | 35.25 ¢/kWh |
| Modeled monthly cost | $239.70 |
California usage vs U.S. household benchmark
California monthly usage
680 kWh
U.S. monthly usage
899 kWh
California rate
35.25 ¢/kWh
U.S. benchmark rate
19.32 ¢/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 35.25 ¢/kWh, that works out to about $239.70 a month.
Usage-to-cost scenarios in California
| Monthly usage | Estimated monthly cost | Estimated annual cost | Canonical cost page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $176.25 | $2115.00 | Open 500 kWh page |
| 1,000 kWh | $352.50 | $4230.00 | Open 1,000 kWh page |
| 1,500 kWh | $528.75 | $6345.00 | Open 1,500 kWh page |
| 2,000 kWh | $705.00 | $8460.00 | Open 2,000 kWh page |
Connected electricity tools
Compare electricity options in California
Explore savings options, plan types, and provider offers for California.
Track California electricity changes
Get notified about electricity costs rate changes and savings opportunities in California.
California appliance calculator examples
- Refrigerator calculator — Model refrigerator electricity cost in California at 35.25 ¢/kWh.
- Space Heater calculator — Model space heater electricity cost in California at 35.25 ¢/kWh.
- Window AC calculator — Model window ac electricity cost in California at 35.25 ¢/kWh.
- Portable AC calculator — Model portable ac electricity cost in California at 35.25 ¢/kWh.
- Central AC calculator — Model central ac electricity cost in California at 35.25 ¢/kWh.
- Clothes Dryer calculator — Model clothes dryer electricity cost in California at 35.25 ¢/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
- 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
- Electricity cost for 900 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: 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.