Why is electricity so expensive in California?
California pays 33.61¢/kWh for residential electricity, 83.6% above the U.S. average of 18.31¢/kWh and the #2 highest of 51 jurisdictions. At 900 kWh a month that is about $302.49, against $164.79 at the U.S. average.
Rates are EIA residential averages through July 2026, refreshed Sep 28, 2026. The U.S. average is the EIA U.S.-total residential price; rank and region figures compare the 51 jurisdiction averages.
How California compares
| Measure | California |
|---|---|
| Residential rate (EIA, July 2026) | 33.61¢/kWh |
| U.S. average (EIA) | 18.31¢/kWh |
| Difference | +83.6% (+15.30¢) |
| Rank among 51 jurisdictions | #2 highest (#50 lowest) |
| West average (13 states) | 19.89¢/kWh |
| Affordability tier | Average (index 41/100) |
| 12-month change | rose 2.9% (32.66¢/kWh → 33.61¢/kWh) |
| 5-year change | rose 49.4% (22.49¢/kWh → 33.61¢/kWh) |
See every state in one ranked table on electricity cost per kWh by state or the West region.
What the EIA series shows for California
- Past 12 months (July 2025 → July 2026)
- The California residential rate rose 2.9% (+0.95¢/kWh), from 32.66¢ in July 2025 to 33.61¢ in July 2026.
- Past 5 years (July 2021 → July 2026)
- The rate rose 49.4% (+11.12¢/kWh), from 22.49¢ in July 2021 to 33.61¢ in July 2026.
- Past 10 years (July 2016 → July 2026)
- The rate rose 82.0% (+15.14¢/kWh), from 18.47¢ in July 2016 to 33.61¢ in July 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 July 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 33.7%, so California's +49.4% outpaced the nationwide move by 15.7 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 (July 2021 → July 2026)
- Measured over that identical five-year window, California's change is the 8th 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.
Between January 2001 and July 2026 the rate peaked at 35.25¢/kWh in April 2026 and bottomed at 10.08¢/kWh in September 2003.
Every month is charted on the California electricity price history page, with the year-over-year table and the same measured facts.
What sits on top of the rate in California
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)'s standard residential tariff adds $24.15 a month before the first kilowatt-hour, 24.23¢/kWh in riders, for an all-in 39.77¢/kWh at 900 kWh.
The line items are on hidden electricity fees and taxes for California.
Reviewed price drivers for California
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, high confidence). 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.
- Public purpose programs and surcharges (Taxes & Fees, high confidence). 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.
- Transmission investment for wildfire hardening (Transmission Constraints, medium confidence). Utilities in California have invested heavily in transmission and distribution hardening to reduce wildfire risk. These capital costs are recovered through rates.
The full set is on California electricity price drivers; the factors themselves are documented on electricity generation cost drivers.
What the rate means for a California bill
| Monthly usage | California (33.61¢/kWh) | U.S. average (18.31¢/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| 650 kWh | $218.47 | $119.01 |
| 900 kWh | $302.49 | $164.79 |
| 1,200 kWh | $403.32 | $219.72 |
| 1,600 kWh | $537.76 | $292.96 |
- Average electric bill in California, by home size and city.
- Estimate a California bill from your own usage.
- Why is my electric bill so high? The eight usual causes and what to check first.
Frequently asked questions
Why is electricity so expensive in California?
California pays 33.61¢/kWh for residential electricity, 83.6% above the U.S. average of 18.31¢/kWh and the #2 highest of 51 jurisdictions. Over the past 12 months the rate rose 2.9% (32.66¢/kWh → 33.61¢/kWh), and over five years it rose 49.4% (22.49¢/kWh → 33.61¢/kWh). 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 rate.
How does California's electricity rate compare with the U.S. average?
33.61¢/kWh in California against 18.31¢/kWh for the U.S. average (EIA, July 2026): 83.6% above, the #2 highest of 51 jurisdictions. The West average across 13 states is 19.89¢/kWh. At 900 kWh a month that is about $302.49, against $164.79 at the U.S. average.
Is electricity in California getting more expensive?
Over the past 12 months the rate rose 2.9% (32.66¢/kWh → 33.61¢/kWh), and over five years it rose 49.4% (22.49¢/kWh → 33.61¢/kWh). In EIA data from January 2001 to July 2026, the rate peaked at 35.25¢/kWh in April 2026 and bottomed at 10.08¢/kWh in September 2003. The full monthly series is on the California electricity price history page.
What can I do about a high electric bill in California?
Start with the kWh line: compare this bill with the same month last year, then the price per kWh, the billing days, and the fixed charges. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)'s standard residential tariff adds $24.15 a month before the first kilowatt-hour, 24.23¢/kWh in riders, for an all-in 39.77¢/kWh at 900 kWh. The high-bill guide walks through the eight usual causes.