Independent resource. Not affiliated with any utility or energy provider. Data sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Verified June 2026
California Electricity Cost 2026: 35.25¢/kWh
California residential electricity rates average 35.25 cents per kWh in 2026, +87.2% vs the 18.83¢ US national average. The state operates a regulated retail market with natural gas/solar as the primary generation source.
State Rate
35.25
cents/kWh
Monthly Bill
$304
at 863 kWh
vs National
+87.2%
national avg 18.83¢
Rank (cheapest first)
49/50
YoY change +4.2%
Market Type
Regulated
Supply rate set by state PUC
Primary Generation
Natural Gas/Solar
per EIA State Energy Profile
Annual Bill (avg usage)
$3,650
vs national $1,950
California electricity market
Regulated investor-owned utilities (PG&E in the north, SCE in the south, SDG&E in San Diego) plus municipal utilities (LADWP in Los Angeles, SMUD in Sacramento). California has the second-highest residential rates in the lower 48 due to wildfire mitigation costs, infrastructure modernization, and aggressive clean-energy transition. Generation mix is heavily natural gas and solar, with the state on a 100%-clean-by-2045 target.
Where California residents save
TOU rates are now the default for new residential customers on PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E. Households that pre-cool before peak (4-9pm), shift EV charging overnight, and run laundry / dishwashers off-peak typically save 15-30% vs the legacy tiered rate. CARE and FERA discount programs serve low-income households.
Primary utilities
- Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
- Southern California Edison (SCE)
- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
California bill estimates by usage
| Home Profile | Monthly kWh | Monthly Bill | Annual Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment | 500 | $176 | $2,115 |
| Small house | 750 | $264 | $3,173 |
| Average household | 863 | $304 | $3,650 |
| Large house | 1200 | $423 | $5,076 |
| Large house + EV | 1500 | $529 | $6,345 |
Estimates use the California state-average rate of 35.25¢/kWh from EIA data. Your actual bill includes delivery charges, customer-service fees, and state/local taxes already blended into this retail rate, plus any locality-specific surcharges not captured at the state-average level.