Electricity rates in California: 32.99¢ per kWh
Homes in California paid an average of 32.99¢ per kilowatt-hour from August 2025 to July 2026, 83% above the U.S. average of 17.99¢. That is the 2nd-highest of 51, between Hawaii (43.51¢) and Massachusetts (30.43¢).
The average California home used 488 kWh a month — the least of the 51 — so its typical bill came to $161 a month, the 20th-highest. At the national rate the same 488 kWh would cost $73 less a month.
In July 2026, the latest month published, the California rate was 33.61¢.
| Rank | State | Average rate | Latest month | Average home use | Average bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 48.00¢ | 514 kWh/mo | $224/mo |
| 2 | California | 32.99¢ | 33.61¢ | 488 kWh/mo | $161/mo |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 30.49¢ | 599 kWh/mo | $182/mo |
| 4 | Maine | 29.31¢ | 32.41¢ | 532 kWh/mo | $156/mo |
What a month of electricity costs in California
At 32.99¢ per kWh, every extra 100 kWh a month adds $32.99 to the monthly bill and $396 to the year. The table runs from half to twice the California average home's 488 kWh, using the same calculation as the calculator above.
| Monthly use | Per month | Per year | vs. U.S. rate (17.99¢) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 kWh (half the average) | $82 | $990 | +$38 |
| 488 kWh (state average) | $161 | $1,932 | +$73 |
| 750 kWh (1.5× the average) | $247 | $2,969 | +$113 |
| 1,000 kWh (twice the average) | $330 | $3,959 | +$150 |
California electricity through the year
The average California home's bill peaked at about $202 in September 2025 and was lowest, about $134, in November 2025. Use ran from 392 kWh in April 2026 to 632 kWh in September 2025, 1.6 times as much.
The rate moved too, from 30.29¢ in January 2026 to 35.25¢ in April 2026. A monthly rate includes that month's fuel and seasonal charges, which is why the calculator uses the 12-month average for a yearly estimate.
| Month | Rate | Use per home | Bill per home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | 31.65¢ | 614 kWh | $194 |
| Sep 2025 | 32.04¢ | 632 kWh | $202 |
| Oct 2025 | 33.60¢ | 451 kWh | $152 |
| Nov 2025 | 31.89¢ | 419 kWh | $134 |
| Dec 2025 | 34.71¢ | 401 kWh | $139 |
| Jan 2026 | 30.29¢ | 604 kWh | $183 |
| Feb 2026 | 33.22¢ | 420 kWh | $140 |
| Mar 2026 | 33.35¢ | 461 kWh | $154 |
| Apr 2026 | 35.25¢ | 392 kWh | $138 |
| May 2026 | 33.25¢ | 408 kWh | $136 |
| Jun 2026 | 34.74¢ | 474 kWh | $165 |
| Jul 2026 | 33.61¢ | 571 kWh | $192 |
Largest electricity providers in California
Among the 10 largest providers listed, average residential rates in 2024 ran from 16.34¢ at Turlock Irrigation District to 43.63¢ at San Diego Gas & Electric Co. On the average California home's 488 kWh that is a difference of $133 a month.
These are 2024 figures, the latest final year. The California average was 31.97¢ that year and 32.99¢ over the last 12 months, up 3% — compare the providers with each other, not with today's average.
These providers serve 56% of California's 14,217,180 residential customers. Many of the rest buy their power from a separate supplier while the local utility delivers it, so no single company's revenue covers their whole bill.
| Provider | Type | Homes served | Average rate | Use per home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California Edison Co | Investor-owned | 3,219,520 | 32.43¢ | 506 kWh/mo |
| Pacific Gas & Electric Co. | Investor-owned | 1,856,780 | 39.62¢ | 500 kWh/mo |
| Los Angeles Department of Water & Power | Municipal | 1,410,191 | 23.84¢ | 485 kWh/mo |
| Sacramento Municipal Util Dist | Public power | 592,557 | 17.87¢ | 702 kWh/mo |
| San Diego Gas & Electric Co | Investor-owned | 307,982 | 43.63¢ | 365 kWh/mo |
| Imperial Irrigation District | Public power | 142,078 | 17.91¢ | 1,159 kWh/mo |
| City of Anaheim | Municipal | 105,839 | 17.11¢ | 467 kWh/mo |
| Modesto Irrigation District | Public power | 103,650 | 21.78¢ | 808 kWh/mo |
| City of Riverside | Municipal | 100,450 | 20.20¢ | 637 kWh/mo |
| Turlock Irrigation District | Public power | 80,575 | 16.34¢ | 862 kWh/mo |