California Electricity Rates & Average Electricity Bills

Electricity Rates in California

Electricity Rates, Plans & Statistics

  • The average electricity bill in California is $156.08
  • The average electricity rate in California is 31.46¢

Electric Bills and Electric Rates in California

The average residential electric bill in California is $156.08 per month. California is the 42nd most expensive state in the country for electricity.

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Electricity Companies & Statistics in California

  • Population
    see rank
    39,029,342
  • Total Production
    see rank
    216,585,133 MWh / 5.55 MWh per capita
  • Total Consumption
    see rank
    242,141,996 MWh / 6.2 MWh per capita
  • Total Production from Renewable
    see rank
    107,946,972 MWh / 2.77 MWh per capita
  • CO2 Emissions from Consumption
    see rank
    50,011,814,096 kg / 1,281.39 kg per capita
  • Total Production from Non-Renewable
    see rank
    109,607,519 MWh / 2.81 MWh per capita
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Average Residential Electricity Bills & Rates in California

California residential electric rates are highest in April and the highest average bill is in July.

Historical Electricity Rates:

Price Per kWhAverage Bill$0.343/kWh$0.141/kWh$226.98/mo.$58.91/mo.
51st31.46¢Average residential price per kWh in the state of California
42nd$156.08Average residential monthly electricity bill for California Residents

California Electricity Fuel Mix

California's Electricity Prices and Usage

Customers in California are faced with a higher residential electricity rate than many people in the United States, with an average state electric rate of 31.46 cents per kilowatt hour compared to the United States average price of 16.35 cents. California ranks as the 51st lowest priced state in the US by average electricity rate. The state features a deregulated electricity market, where citizens are able to choose from multiple electricity companies out of the over 60 providers that operate in the state. The largest electricity provider in the state based on megawatt hours sold is Southern California Edison. The electricity grid in the state has an average of 0.75 outages per customer a year, with outages lasting roughly 83.55 minutes. The US average for these two data points are 1.44 outages and 123.49 minutes. California ranks as the 50th highest state in the country for electricity use per person, with an annual average of 6.2 megawatt hours consumed per resident living in the state. California has increased the amount of electricity generated by hydroelectric power sources by approximately 12.69% over the previous year.

Residential Electricity Providers in California

ProviderService TypeResidential Rate (¢)Residential Rate State RankResidential Average Bill ($)Residential Average Bill State RankResidential Sales (MWh)Residential Sales State RankResidential Revenues ($)Residential Revenues State RankState Production (MWh)State Production Rank
Southern California EdisonBUNDLED32.7459173.715620,325,29716,654,795,11316,470,452.073
Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyBUNDLED36.1061192.015711,907,05524,298,621,000231,306,2231
Los Angeles Department of Water & PowerBUNDLED23.4248114.31388,184,476.0231,916,821,64035,977,6234
Sacramento Municipal Utility DistrictBUNDLED18.1628132.55475,131,594.494932,135,22147,132,793.032
Clean Power AllianceENERGY15.08981.4215,021,021.025756,953,374.63625
Marin Clean EnergyENERGY15.851568.52152,837,947.796449,811,390.27725
East Bay Community EnergyENERGY15.361251.4862,480,839.017381,011,432.26925
Imperial Irrigation DistrictBUNDLED17.0524226.25602,249,7228383,518,00081,373,1596
Central Coast Community EnergyENERGY11.13240.3231,761,007.079195,980,387.891425
San Diego Gas and ElectricBUNDLED47.5063168.27531,728,910.8910821,174,06751,273,3537
San Jose Clean EnergyENERGY15.901664.85121,626,01711258,518,003.161025
Peninsula Clean EnergyENERGY14.59758.4281,437,897.3412209,844,216.441225
Silicon Valley Clean EnergyENERGY14.96863.54111,340,920.6613200,579,636.091325
CleanPowerSFENERGY13.38537.1321,251,281.2714167,424,471.541525
Modesto Irrigation DistrictBUNDLED20.2239172.62551,051,526.6415212,611,05911470,332.8110
Pioneer Community EnergyENERGY13.56675.1318943,132.4216127,904,226.91825
Turlock Irrigation DistrictBUNDLED16.9323155.6451881,37817149,202,000162,104,409.195
Riverside Public UtilitiesBUNDLED19.5134110.7136724,183.3518141,270,862.741776,83815
Anaheim Public UtilitiesBUNDLED18.633085.0923614,245.8619114,406,070192,91421
Roseville Electric UtilitiesBUNDLED18.9131122.2443503,258.592095,173,163.8521429,26711

Commercial Electricity Providers in California

ProviderService TypeCommercial Rate (¢)Commercial Rate RankCommercial Average Bill ($)Commercial Average Bill State RankCommercial Sales (MWh)Commercial Sales State RankCommercial Revenues ($)Commercial Revenues State RankState Production (MWh)State Production Rank
Southern California EdisonBUNDLED24.92591,307.695528,263,71017,042,627,53416,470,452.073
Los Angeles Department of Water & PowerBUNDLED21.95512,433.056012,089,098.5422,653,546,57735,977,6234
Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyBUNDLED37.52641,187.95527,738,02232,903,301,000231,306,2231
Clean Power AllianceENERGY13.4112582.78313,983,161.224534,285,561.62626
Sacramento Municipal Utility DistrictBUNDLED16.8632777.81463,921,398.285661,038,97947,132,793.032
East Bay Community EnergyENERGY14.8020523.88272,797,588.076414,047,320.37726
Marin Clean EnergyENERGY15.1522471.6192,669,590.057404,414,442.37826
Central Coast Community EnergyENERGY10.052236.331,929,257.968193,801,448.491326
Silicon Valley Clean EnergyENERGY14.6919727.98411,850,846.229271,807,194.41126
San Jose Clean EnergyENERGY15.5825736.74421,789,068.0910278,751,167.421026
Peninsula Clean EnergyENERGY14.3516621.38321,776,240.9611254,881,041.021226
Imperial Irrigation DistrictBUNDLED16.83311,078.35491,677,78312282,344,00091,373,1596
San Diego Gas and ElectricBUNDLED40.84661,245.2531,585,354.2613647,461,09751,273,3537
CleanPowerSFENERGY11.964385.72171,415,755.0714169,370,225.061426
Modesto Irrigation DistrictBUNDLED15.8226393.8918888,720.5215140,586,31717470,332.8111
San Francisco Public Utilities CommissionBUNDLED18.783934,208.8965812,455.516152,605,869161,234,3478
Kings River Conservation DistrictBUNDLED0.841567,369.866806,166.27176,808,437.5752561,73210
Burbank Water and PowerBUNDLED17.50341,262.2454729,181.8318127,631,223.38209,57121
Pasadena Water and PowerBUNDLED22.14521,569.5856727,253.2219160,978,8931540,91017
Anaheim Public UtilitiesBUNDLED18.6938532.3229715,686.4320133,782,363.33182,91422

Power Plants in California

PlantCity/CountyPrimary Fuel TypeProduction (MWh)Emission (KG)Emissions/MWh (KG/MWh)Toxic Chemical ReleaseClosing Date
San Luis Obispo County Nuclear 16,690,971
Dynegy Moss Landing Power Plant HybridDynegy Energy Services (100.00%)
Monterey County Natural Gas 4,668,5061,789,093,953.08383.23
High Desert Power PlantMRP Generation Holdings, LLC (100.00%)
Victorville Natural Gas 4,584,8881,747,747,531.74381.2
Geysers Unit 5-20Calpine (100.00%)
Sonoma County Geothermal 4,397,407
Pastoria Energy Facility, LLCCalpine (100.00%)
Kern County Natural Gas 4,089,8291,531,045,504.1374.35
Delta Energy CenterCalpine (100.00%)
Pittsburg Natural Gas 3,997,1901,528,572,908.1382.41
Sacramento County Natural Gas 3,768,836.031,324,277,426351.38
Los Medanos Energy CenterCalpine (100.00%)
Pittsburg Natural Gas 3,119,7931,106,612,780.56354.71
Metcalf Energy CenterCalpine (100.00%)
San Jose Natural Gas 2,986,7741,210,348,211.1405.24
Colusa County Natural Gas 2,981,1731,142,174,759.88383.13
Antioch Natural Gas 2,933,6921,123,044,772.78382.81
Sunrise Power LLCNRG Energy (100.00%)
Kern County Natural Gas 2,605,191988,810,295.06379.55
Mountainview Generating StationSouthern California Edison (100.00%)
Redlands Natural Gas 2,578,313.351,090,489,279.18422.95
AES Huntington Beach Energy ProjectUllico Infrastructure Southland Borrower (49.00%)AES Corporation (51.00%)
Huntington Beach Natural Gas 2,574,769943,343,658.6366.38
AES Alamitos Energy CenterAES Corporation (60.52%)Ullico Infrastructure Southland Borrower (39.48%)
Long Beach Natural Gas 2,509,851930,571,373.76370.77
Long Beach Natural Gas 2,475,2611,018,292,235.1411.39
Otay Mesa Generating ProjectCalpine (100.00%)
San Diego County Natural Gas 2,435,872921,000,888.5378.1
Shasta County Conventional Hydroelectric 2,387,206
Butte County Conventional Hydroelectric 2,358,239
Watson CogenerationTesoro SoCal Cogen LLC (100.00%)
Carson Natural Gas 2,356,654.01581,820,630.94246.88

There is 1 Nuclear Power Plant in California

PlantCity/CountyPrimary Fuel TypeProduction (MWh)Emission (KG)Emissions/MWh (KG/MWh)Toxic Chemical ReleaseClosing Date
San Luis Obispo County Nuclear 16,690,971

Quick Facts

California ranks 28th in nation for production per capita from nuclear power, averaging 0.43 megawatt hours generated from nuclear sources.

California is the 2nd largest producer of megawatt hours produced from renewable fuel types.

Ranking 10th in wind power production in the nation, California has a total yield of 13,644,864.21 megawatt hours from wind power.

California produces 1.18 megawatt hours per capita per year from solar power, giving the state a rank of 5th in the nation for this category.

California has seen a decrease of 8.21% in coal consumption for the generation of electricity during the previous 12 months, compared to the previous 12 months before.

Wind generates 13,644,864.21 megawatt hours of electricity in California. This equals roughly 0.35 megawatt hours per person in California being produced from wind power, giving the state a rank of 24th highest in the nation in that category.

California Counties Comparison

CountyPopulationProvidersPlantsResidential Rate (¢)Residential Rate State RankResidential Rate National RankResidential Avg. Electric BillResidential Bill State RankResidential Bill National Rank
Los Angeles County9,721,1381822731.74133,128$162.51/mo122,094
San Diego County3,276,20888645.43583,210$172.20/mo292,608
Orange County3,151,184103634.29283,145$167.21/mo172,383
Riverside County2,473,9021510829.42123,105$190.10/mo413,016
San Bernardino County2,193,6561414232.49173,132$172.55/mo302,618
Santa Clara County1,870,945115535.99363,159$166.79/mo142,365
Alameda County1,628,997102636.32523,175$161.41/mo112,048
Sacramento County1,584,16985619.4662,631$136.85/mo3942
Contra Costa County1,156,96683036.54543,177$175.29/mo322,735
Fresno County1,015,190108635.64333,155$189.50/mo403,007
Kern County916,108921134.24263,143$181.85/mo362,897
Ventura County832,60581632.47163,131$167.56/mo182,407
San Francisco County808,4377620.8272,790$169.00/mo202,497
San Joaquin County793,229132534.54303,147$171.36/mo272,573
San Mateo County729,1818736.04373,160$165.48/mo132,298
Stanislaus County551,27592123.0792,987$171.28/mo262,570
Sonoma County482,65082036.06383,161$191.76/mo443,028
Tulare County477,54494133.28203,136$176.62/mo332,799
Solano County448,74793236.47533,176$176.91/mo342,808
Santa Barbara County443,83711733.39213,137$153.50/mo71,638
Monterey County432,85892534.25273,144$155.27/mo91,721
Placer County417,772112133.81233,140$167.21/mo162,382
Merced County290,01491733.90243,141$185.05/mo382,944
San Luis Obispo County282,01381234.89323,149$168.00/mo192,442
Santa Cruz County264,3708434.15253,142$153.52/mo81,639
Marin County256,0188336.66563,180$170.55/mo232,549
Yolo County222,11581136.82573,181$169.30/mo212,508
Butte County207,30391936.09403,163$191.91/mo463,030
El Dorado County192,646101534.55313,148$169.96/mo222,528
Shasta County180,930113832.59183,133$182.57/mo372,905
Imperial County178,71386917.3632,464$225.21/mo573,179
Madera County160,25671936.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
Kings County152,98194035.85353,158$190.64/mo433,022
Humboldt County135,0109536.30513,174$166.92/mo152,370
Napa County134,3008536.66553,179$170.55/mo242,551
Nevada County102,29310933.39223,138$178.47/mo352,854
Sutter County98,5037836.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
Mendocino County89,7838236.08393,162$191.88/mo453,029
Yuba County84,3107436.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
Lake County68,1917336.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
San Benito County67,5798334.30293,146$156.45/mo101,768
Tehama County65,2457536.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
Tuolumne County55,24391635.76343,157$190.14/mo423,017
Calaveras County45,3497536.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
Siskiyou County44,1512617.4742,473$142.31/mo41,169
Amador County40,0957536.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
Lassen County32,94910622.3482,868$171.85/mo282,592
Glenn County28,6757236.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
Del Norte County27,655217.4742,473$142.31/mo41,169
Colusa County21,7807336.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
Plumas County19,63181032.05143,129$244.28/mo583,204
Inyo County18,80471732.74193,134$173.71/mo312,661
Mariposa County17,2257236.10413,164$192.01/mo473,031
Trinity County15,8181511.111179$105.35/mo1210
Mono County13,2919932.15153,130$170.84/mo252,557
Modoc County8,723314.0221,284$121.59/mo2540
Sierra County3,07910228.59113,090$188.23/mo392,986
Alpine County1,344927.32103,075$148.22/mo61,424

Power Plant Fuel Types, Emissions & Pollution Factors

In California, Natural Gas makes up 42.04% of the fuel sources utilized for electricity generation. Solar and Conventional Hydroelectric are also important fuel sources in the state, with 21.29% and 14.84% of total electricity generation being generated from each, respectively. The state is the 6th worst ranked state when it comes to total CO2 pollution, with the state consuming enough electricity to account for 50,011,814,096.17 kilograms of CO2 emissions. More telling of the state's emissions reality is the per resident CO2 totals. Currently that amount stands at 1,281.39 kilograms of CO2 emissions from electricity use, which results in the state ranking as the 51st highest state in the US for CO2 pollution released per capita. California has the highest amount of electricity generation plants of any state in the United States, with 1609 plants. This translates to the 23rd most plants per person in the United States.

NATURAL GAS
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
42.04%
SOLAR
Solar
Solar
Solar
21.29%
CONVENTIONAL HYDROELECTRIC
Conventional Hydroelectric
Conventional Hydroelectric
14.84%
NUCLEAR
Nuclear
7.71%
WIND
Wind
6.30%
OTHER
Other
8.28%

California Net Metering

California has 45 out of 63 electricity providers reporting that they offer net metering to residents with personal solar panels. At the state level, California has favorable regulations for consumers interested in investing in solar.

Energy Loss

There are 34 electricity providers in California that reported energy loss. Together, these 34 providers average a yearly energy loss of 3.51% of electricity generated. The countrywide average is 2.43%, resulting in California receiving a rank of 32nd best in the US for energy loss efficiency.

Solar Taxes And Rebates

State governments can help encourage private citizens to consider installing solar panels by promoting tax incentives and rebates to their populace. California currently does not offer a state tax credit for solar panel installation at a private residence. The state has no all encompassing rebate program, but local rebates are available to many citizens who wish to install solar. Fortunately, California offers a 100% tax exemption to homeowners. at their place of residence. The state currently does not offer a sales tax exemption for the install of solar, leaving homeowners high and dry for this one.

State Level Initiatives

Consumers who are shopping for electricity plans that use renewable sources will have much better luck if there are state level initiatives that encourage green energy usage. Many states require renewable fuels to make up a percentage of the fuel used for electricity generation by electricity companies in the state. These requirements are referred to as Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). Electric suppliers in California are required to generate a minimum of 25% of their electricity using renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the state has a low income solar program in place to help low income households installing solar panels.

Learn about going solar in California, find out which system size is best for you, compare local installers and see which incentives are available in your area.

FAQ: Common Questions About Electricity in California

How many power plants are in California?

California is home to 1609 electricity plants producing electricity for the state.

Where does California get its electricity?

California's electricity is generated using primarily Natural Gas, which makes up 42.04% of the fuel used in the state. In addition, Solar makes up 21.29% and Conventional Hydroelectric makes up 14.84%.

What is a good electricity rate in California?

The average rate of electricity in California in 2024 is 31.46 cents per kilowatt hour (¢/kWh).

What electricity company is the largest provider in California?

By total megawatt hours sold, Southern California Edison is the largest electricity provider in California.

Does California have a deregulated electricity market?

Yes, the state has a deregulated electricity market. This means that consumers in the state can choose from multiple electricity companies to supply their electricity.

What is the average electric bill in California?

The average electricity bill in California in 2024 is $156 while the national average is $142.

How many electric companies offer service in California?

There are 63 electricity companies offering service in California.

What is the cheapest electricity company in California?

Residential Rate RankProviderResidential Rate (¢)State Customers
1Trinity PUD11.117,926
2Aha Macav Power Service11.28126
3Surprise Valley Electric12.214,731
4Sillicon Valley Power15.3057,778
5Corona Department of Water and Power15.511,842
6Needles Electric Company16.483,304
7Turlock Irrigation District16.9395,358
8Imperial Irrigation District17.05163,900
9Biggs, California Electric Utility17.36802
10City of Vernon Utilities17.851,782

Alex Zdanov
Last Reviewed By: Alex Zdanov
Published: 2024-10-29