How Much Is The Average Electric Bill in California?

Last updated: June 30, 2026

California has some of the highest residential electricity prices in the United States. But there is no single “average California electric bill” that accurately reflects what every household pays.

A homeowner in Sacramento may pay far less than a similar homeowner in San Diego. A coastal apartment can use a fraction of the electricity used by a larger inland home running air conditioning through the summer. Your utility, rate plan, electricity habits, EV charging, solar setup, household size, and local climate all affect the final number.

Still, statewide data gives us a useful starting point.

According to the latest full-year U.S. Energy Information Administration data, California households used an average of 503 kWh per month and paid an average monthly electric bill of $160.86 in 2024.

However, the latest monthly EIA electricity-price data shows California’s residential electricity price reached 35.25 cents per kWh in April 2026, up from 33.82 cents per kWh in April 2025. That is about 87% higher than the U.S. residential average of 18.83 cents per kWh.

California Electric Bill: Quick Answer

The $160.86 statewide benchmark is useful, but it reflects 2024 annual data. It should not be treated as the typical bill for every California home in June 2026.

At the latest statewide average price of 35.25 cents per kWh, a household using the same 503 kWh per month would pay roughly $177 per month before any local differences in rate design, fixed charges, or utility-specific pricing are considered.

How Much Does Electricity Cost in California by Usage?

The table below uses California’s latest statewide average residential electricity price of 35.25 cents per kWh. It is a simple usage estimate, not a quote from a utility.

Your actual bill can be lower or higher because utility rates vary dramatically across the state.

For example, a household using 750 kWh per month may pay far less in Sacramento than a household using the exact same amount of electricity in San Diego.

California Electric Bill Comparison by Utility

One of the best ways to understand California electricity costs is to compare the same amount of electricity use across different utilities.

The following figures show estimated residential bills for 750 kWh of monthly usage as of June 1, 2026, based on a California utility comparison published by SMUD.

This comparison helps explain why statewide averages can be misleading.

A household using the same 750 kWh per month could pay about $149 with SMUD or about $322 with SDG&E, a difference of roughly $173 per month.

That is why your utility provider matters just as much as your electricity usage.

Average Electric Bill by California City

Electricity costs in California are based on your utility territory, not only the city where you live.

To see the available rates and Community Choice Aggregator options around your home, use the California Public Utilities Commission’s electric rate comparison tool. You can search by ZIP code, county, or city and select residential, CARE, or EV rate options.

Why Are California Electric Bills So High?

California electricity bills are high for several reasons. It is not simply about solar power, renewable energy, or one specific utility charge.

High Electricity Prices

California’s average residential electricity price reached 35.25 cents per kWh in April 2026. That is far above the national average of 18.83 cents per kWh.

Even small increases in household usage can have a noticeable impact.

For example, an extra 200 kWh per month could add around $70 to a bill at California’s latest statewide average electricity price.

Time-of-Use Pricing

Most large California utilities use Time-of-Use pricing. This means electricity costs more during certain hours, usually when the grid is under the most demand.

For many households, the expensive period is in the late afternoon and evening, when people return home, use air conditioning, cook dinner, charge vehicles, run appliances, and use more electricity at the same time.

The exact rate plan matters. Some customers may have different pricing schedules, EV rates, solar tariffs, or older grandfathered plans.

Still, for most California homeowners, avoiding large electricity use between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. is one of the most practical ways to lower a bill.

Fixed Charges and Delivery Charges

California utility bills include more than just electricity generation.

Your bill can include:

• Electricity generation charges
• Delivery charges
• Transmission and distribution costs
• Wildfire mitigation expenses
• Grid maintenance costs
• Public-purpose programs
• Taxes and regulatory charges
• Fixed monthly service charges
• Community Choice Aggregator charges or credits

California’s large investor-owned utilities have also implemented Base Services Charges, which are fixed charges designed to recover part of the cost of maintaining poles, wires, transformers, meters, billing systems, and customer service.

The result is that lowering your electricity usage can reduce your bill, but it may not remove every charge from it.

Hot Inland Summers

A home in San Diego or San Francisco may have a relatively moderate cooling load. A home in Fresno, Bakersfield, Riverside, Palm Desert, Rancho Cucamonga, or the Inland Empire may use far more electricity during summer.

Air conditioning can be the largest driver of a high California electricity bill.

Other major contributors include:

• Electric vehicle charging
• Pool pumps
• Older AC systems
• Electric heating
• Heat pump water heaters
• Poor attic insulation
• Air leaks around windows and doors
• Large households
• Home offices and server equipment
• Multiple refrigerators or freezers
• Heavy evening electricity use

Why Home Size Alone Does Not Predict Your Electric Bill

A larger house will usually use more electricity, but square footage is not enough to estimate a California electric bill accurately.

A 1,200-square-foot home with central AC, an EV, a pool pump, and poor insulation may use more electricity than a 2,500-square-foot efficient home with solar panels and moderate cooling needs.

A better way to understand your bill is to review your monthly kWh usage.

The most helpful number on your bill is often your effective cost per kWh.

Use this formula:

Effective cost per kWh = total electric charges ÷ total kWh used

This gives you a more realistic picture than looking at only the generation rate because it includes delivery costs, fixed charges, and other components of your bill.

CARE and FERA: California Electricity Bill Discounts

Many California households qualify for electric-bill assistance programs but do not apply.

CARE Program

The California Alternate Rates for Energy program, known as CARE, provides qualifying households with a discount on electricity bills.

For customers of large utilities, CARE generally provides a 30% to 35% discount on electric bills. Smaller utilities may offer a 20% discount.

The current CARE and FERA income guidelines are effective from June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027.

You may also qualify through enrollment in certain public-assistance programs, including Medi-Cal, WIC, SNAP, SSI, LIHEAP, CalWORKs, and other eligible programs.

FERA Program

The Family Electric Rate Assistance program, known as FERA, is designed for households that earn too much to qualify for CARE but still need electricity-bill relief.

FERA provides an 18% discount on electricity bills for eligible customers of PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E.

Energy Savings Assistance Program

Eligible households may also qualify for California’s Energy Savings Assistance Program.

The Energy Savings Assistance Program can provide no-cost weatherization and energy-efficiency improvements, which may include:

• Attic insulation
• Weatherstripping
• Caulking
• Energy-efficient refrigerators
• Energy-efficient furnaces
• Water-heater blankets
• Low-flow showerheads
• Door and building-envelope repairs

The program is available to qualifying households through participating utilities.

California Climate Credit in 2026

California’s Climate Credit is an automatic bill credit funded through the state’s cap-and-invest program.

Beginning in 2026, eligible residential electric customers of PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E are expected to receive their California Climate Credit during August and September, when summer electricity bills are often highest. The CPUC’s 2026 Climate Credit update confirms that customers do not need to apply for the credit.

The Climate Credit can reduce a bill during those months, but it should not be viewed as a permanent reduction in utility rates.

How to Lower Your Electric Bill in California

Review Your Rate Plan

Your current rate plan may not be the cheapest option for your electricity habits.

A household that charges an EV overnight may benefit from a different plan than a household that uses most electricity between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Download or review at least 12 months of electricity use before switching plans. Look for:

• High summer usage
• Evening electricity spikes
• EV charging times
• Weekday versus weekend differences
• Seasonal rate changes
• Whether your household regularly exceeds baseline usage

Shift Flexible Usage Outside Peak Hours

Move flexible electricity use away from expensive peak periods whenever possible.

Examples include:

• Charge your EV overnight
• Run dishwashers after 9 p.m.
• Do laundry earlier in the day or later at night
• Schedule pool pumps during off-peak hours
• Pre-cool your home before peak pricing begins
• Avoid using multiple high-demand appliances at the same time during peak hours

Improve Cooling Efficiency

For many inland California homes, air conditioning is the largest electricity expense.

High-impact upgrades may include:

• Smart thermostat scheduling
• HVAC maintenance
• Better attic insulation
• Air sealing
• Ceiling fans
• Window shades or solar screens
• Efficient heat pumps
• Replacing older AC systems
• Sealing ductwork

Check Community Choice Aggregator Options

Many California homeowners receive electricity generation through a Community Choice Aggregator, also called a CCA.

Your local CCA may offer different generation prices or renewable-energy options than the default utility provider. However, PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E may still handle electricity delivery.

Always compare the total bill impact, not only the generation rate.

Consider Solar and Battery Storage

Solar can help California homeowners reduce their exposure to high electricity prices, especially if they have:

• High electricity use
• Large summer cooling bills
• Electric vehicle charging
• Electric appliances
• A pool
• Planned home electrification
• High evening electricity costs
• A long-term plan to stay in the home

Battery storage can be particularly valuable for households with high evening electricity use, because it can store solar energy produced during the day and use it when utility rates are higher.

However, solar and battery savings vary significantly by utility, roof orientation, local electricity rates, electricity-use patterns, solar production, and current tariff rules.

A good solar proposal should show:

• Your current annual electricity use
• Your current utility and rate plan
• Expected solar production
• Expected battery contribution
• Estimated utility-bill savings
• Fixed charges that solar may not eliminate
• Export compensation assumptions
• Long-term electricity-rate assumptions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average electric bill in California?

The latest full-year statewide average electric bill is $160.86 per month, based on 2024 data. Actual 2026 bills can be much higher or lower depending on utility territory, household electricity use, season, and rate plan.

What is the average electricity rate in California?

California’s average residential electricity price was 35.25 cents per kWh in April 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Why is my electricity bill higher than the California average?

Your bill may be higher because you live in a higher-cost utility territory, use air conditioning, own an electric vehicle, charge a battery, operate a pool pump, use more electricity during peak periods, or pay higher delivery and fixed charges.

Is SDG&E the most expensive major utility in California?

SDG&E is frequently among the highest-cost major utility territories in California. In the June 2026 utility comparison above, a household using 750 kWh per month would pay about $322 with SDG&E, compared with about $149 with SMUD.

Is Los Angeles cheaper than PG&E or SDG&E?

Many customers in the City of Los Angeles are served by LADWP, which may have lower bills than PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E for comparable electricity use. However, your actual bill depends on usage, season, and rate plan.

Can solar eliminate my electric bill?

Solar can substantially reduce the energy-use portion of your bill, but it may not remove every fixed charge, delivery-related charge, minimum bill amount, or non-bypassable charge.

How do I find my exact electricity rate?

Check your utility bill, utility account portal, or California’s electric rate comparison tool. Enter your ZIP code and select the type of rate you want to compare, including residential, CARE, or EV options.

Bottom Line

California’s average electric bill may be around $161 per month based on the latest full-year statewide data, but that number does not tell the full story.

In 2026, the same 750 kWh of monthly electricity use can cost roughly $149 in Sacramento-area SMUD territory or more than $320 in SDG&E territory.

The best way to lower your electricity costs is to understand your utility, rate plan, monthly kWh usage, and peak-hour electricity habits. For many homeowners, a combination of rate-plan optimization, energy-efficiency upgrades, solar, and battery storage can create meaningful long-term savings.