Electricity in California

Electricity Rates, Plans & Statistics

Electricity Coverage & Statistics in California

  • Population
    see rank
    39,538,223
  • Total Production
    see rank
    196,727,106 MWh / 4.98 MWh per capita
  • Total Consumption
    see rank
    247,503,813 MWh / 6.26 MWh per capita
  • Total Production from Renewable
    see rank
    81,372,303 MWh / 2.06 MWh per capita
  • CO2 Emissions from Consumption
    see rank
    64,469,744,885 kg / 1,630.57 kg per capita
  • Total Production from Non-Renewable
    see rank
    115,471,235 MWh / 2.92 MWh per capita
Coverage Map Placeholder

Residential Electricity Bills & Rates in California

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

Historical Electricity Rates:

Price Per kWhAverage Bill$0.267/kWh$0.141/kWh$175.59/mo.$58.91/mo.
50th23.51¢Average residential price per kWh in the state of California
32nd$126.96Average residential monthly electricity bill for California Residents

Energy Profile of California

MonthlyWe report production data as it is published. Due to reporting methods and timing, data from 2021 and 2020 may be incomplete. Data is released in full each fall for the previous calendar year. For clarification on any data points, please contact our team.
AnnualAnnual data for 2020 will be finalized in the fall of 2021. Until that time, some data may be incomplete. Data for 2021 is a summation of all information released to date, which may only represent a portion of the actual production that has occurred. For clarification on any data points, please contact our team.

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 23.51 cents per kilowatt hour compared to the United States average price of 13.99 cents. California ranks as the 50th 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 state's electrical grid is faced with an average of 0.67 power outages per consumer each year. These outages last on average of 48.58 minutes. In comparison, the national average is 1.21 outages per consumer and 122.99 minutes an outage. On average, residents of California account for 1,630.57 kilograms of CO2 emissions from electric use per citizen of the state, while the national average emissions per capita is 4,511.01. The state is ranked 4th highest in the nation in total electricity produced within its borders, with 196,727,106.47 megawatt hours produced. The state has seen a 13.17% increase in electricity produced from the use of solar energy over the previous year.

Residential Electricity Providers in California

ProviderService TypeResidential Rate (¢)Residential Average Bill ($)Residential Sales (MWh)Residential Revenues ($)State Production (MWh)
Southern California EdisonBUNDLED22.31125.2222,279,4804,969,724,0004,176,041.89
Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyBUNDLED26.51151.4813,122,4223,478,204,00027,799,439
Los Angeles Department of Water & PowerBUNDLED21.55107.018,191,3041,764,866,4876,501,196
Clean Power AllianceENERGY7.3348.945,532,622405,415,600
San Diego Gas and ElectricBUNDLED33.11118.285,462,8231,808,682,7951,906,514.84
Sacramento Municipal Utility DistrictBUNDLED16.32112.224,719,505770,271,2246,365,362.27
Marin Clean EnergyENERGY8.6345.242,698,838232,955,500
East Bay Community EnergyENERGY8.2833.882,473,446204,871,500
Imperial Irrigation DistrictBUNDLED14.97173.561,911,012286,078,0001,316,176
San Jose Clean EnergyENERGY8.8741.871,790,192158,804,900
62 providers total

Power Plants in California

PlantCity/CountyPrimary Fuel TypeProduction (MWh)Emission (KG)Emissions/MWh (KG/MWh)Toxic Chemical ReleaseClosing Date
Diablo CanyonPacific Gas and Electric Company (100.00%)
San Luis Obispo County Nuclear 16,477,3668/2025
Dynegy Moss Landing Power Plant HybridDynegy Energy Services (100.00%)
Monterey County Natural Gas 5,322,5521,972,283,072.48370.55
Geysers Unit 5-20Calpine (100.00%)
Sonoma County Geothermal 4,580,405
Delta Energy CenterCalpine (100.00%)
Pittsburg Natural Gas 4,465,0811,735,098,346.1388.59
Pastoria Energy Facility, LLCCalpine (100.00%)
Kern County Natural Gas 4,259,1511,599,787,811.58375.61
CosumnesSacramento Municipal Utility District (100.00%)
Sacramento County Natural Gas 4,013,073.021,418,109,855.3353.37
AES Huntington Beach Energy ProjectUllico Infrastructure Southland Borrower (35.00%)AES Corporation (65.00%)
Huntington Beach Natural Gas 3,841,7451,392,187,006.56362.38
High Desert Power PlantMRP Generation Holdings, LLC (100.00%)
Victorville Natural Gas 3,803,8801,515,211,126.66398.33
Elk Hills Power LLCCalifornia Resources Elk Hills LLC (69.32%)Elk Hills Power LLC (30.68%)
Kern County Natural Gas 3,778,1361,330,307,744.78352.11
Gateway Generating StationPacific Gas and Electric Company (100.00%)
Antioch Natural Gas 3,433,1781,318,399,754.28384.02
302 power plants total

Quick Facts

California generates 2.92 megawatt hours of electricity per person in the state from non-renewable electricity sources. They are the 47th highest state in the country for non-renewable production per capita.

During the course of the previous year, California has seen a 1,340,636,728.45 kilogram (3.11%) increase in CO2 emissions on account of electricity consumption.

California produces the 46th highest amount of electricity per capita from natural gas, with the fuel source accounting for 0.01 megawatt hours a year per capita.

California ranks 4th highest in hydroelectric power generation, producing 14,241,975.39 megawatt hours a year from hydroelectric facilities.

California generates 81,372,302.62 megawatt hours of electricity from renewable fuel sources. This ranks California 3rd in the country for total renewable electricity generation.

California has a population of 39,538,223 residents.

CountyPopulationProvidersPlantsResidential Rate (¢)Residential Avg. Electric Bill
Alameda County1,682,3536725.06$128.93/mo
Alpine County1,204619.73$111.89/mo
Amador County40,4742126.51$151.48/mo
Butte County211,6324326.50$151.41/mo
Calaveras County45,2922226.51$151.48/mo
Colusa County21,8392126.51$151.48/mo
Contra Costa County1,165,92731225.68$137.45/mo
Del Norte County27,743212.93$115.94/mo
El Dorado County191,1857324.33$134.00/mo
Fresno County1,008,65451825.93$147.87/mo
Glenn County28,917226.51$151.48/mo
Humboldt County136,4634325.21$134.51/mo
Imperial County179,70231015.12$172.59/mo
Inyo County19,0163222.17$121.92/mo
Kern County909,23544924.18$136.93/mo
Kings County152,4864626.20$149.55/mo
Lake County68,1632126.51$151.48/mo
Lassen County32,730319.37$118.01/mo
Los Angeles County10,014,009134721.18$120.95/mo
Madera County156,2552326.51$151.48/mo
Marin County262,321325.45$133.50/mo
Mariposa County17,131226.51$151.48/mo
Mendocino County91,601326.49$151.37/mo
Merced County281,2024424.85$147.03/mo
Modoc County8,700212.93$115.94/mo
Mono County13,195621.92$123.07/mo
Monterey County439,0354524.84$125.52/mo
Napa County138,019325.45$133.50/mo
Nevada County102,241724.49$139.76/mo
Orange County3,186,9895923.76$120.86/mo
Placer County404,7398223.80$131.60/mo
Plumas County19,7902326.51$151.48/mo
Riverside County2,418,18591819.89$138.43/mo
Sacramento County1,585,0553717.17$115.49/mo
San Benito County64,209324.89$126.37/mo
San Bernardino County2,181,654101920.69$123.72/mo
San Diego County3,298,63432431.88$122.03/mo
San Francisco County873,9654123.09$144.58/mo
San Joaquin County779,2339424.95$136.41/mo
San Luis Obispo County282,4243425.42$134.52/mo
San Mateo County764,4424224.83$131.41/mo
Santa Barbara County448,2296123.90$122.36/mo
Santa Clara County1,936,2597725.49$136.25/mo
Santa Cruz County270,861324.76$124.30/mo
Shasta County182,15561023.98$145.12/mo
Sierra County3,236621.34$121.33/mo
Siskiyou County44,076212.93$115.94/mo
Solano County453,4914525.74$138.67/mo
Sonoma County488,8633326.48$151.29/mo
Stanislaus County552,8785520.74$146.73/mo
Sutter County99,6332226.51$151.48/mo
Tehama County65,8292126.51$151.48/mo
Trinity County16,112129.38$92.19/mo
Tulare County473,1174122.99$129.48/mo
Tuolumne County55,6204526.08$148.82/mo
Ventura County843,8433721.17$122.86/mo
Yolo County216,403325.32$130.41/mo
Yuba County81,5752126.51$151.48/mo

Power Plant Fuel Types, Emissions & Pollution Factors

In California, Natural Gas makes up 49.05% of the fuel sources utilized for electricity generation. Solar and Nuclear are also important fuel sources in the state, with 17.41% and 8.38% of total electricity generation being generated from each, respectively. The state is the 5th worst ranked state when it comes to total CO2 pollution, with the state consuming enough electricity to account for 64,469,744,885.32 kilograms of CO2 emissions. More telling of the state's emissions reality is the per resident CO2 totals. Currently that amount stands at 1,630.57 kilograms of CO2 emissions from electricity use, which results in the state ranking as the 50th 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 302 plants. This translates to the 29th most plants per person in the United States.

NATURAL GAS
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
49.05%
SOLAR
Solar
Solar
17.41%
NUCLEAR
Nuclear
8.38%
WIND
Wind
7.94%
CONVENTIONAL HYDROELECTRIC
Conventional Hydroelectric
7.24%
OTHER
Other
Other
10.04%

California Net Metering

California has 43 out of 62 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 31 electricity providers in California that reported energy loss. Together, these 31 providers average a yearly energy loss of 11.94% of electricity generated. The countrywide average is 2.76%, resulting in California receiving a rank of 51st 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 Energy in California

How many power plants are in California?

California is home to 302 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 49.05% of the fuel used in the state. In addition, Solar makes up 17.41% and Nuclear makes up 8.38%.

What is a good electricity rate in California?

The average rate of electricity in California in 2022 is 23.51 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 2022 is $127 while the national average is $124.

How many electric companies offer service in California?

There are 62 electricity companies offering service in California.

What electricity companies offer service in California?

What is the cheapest electricity company in California?

Residential Rate RankProviderResidential Rate (¢)State Customers
1Colorado River Indian Irr Proj6.621,850
2Trinity PUD9.387,312
3City of Industry Electricity9.69114
4Needles Electric Company10.072,948
5City of Vernon Utilities10.631,899
6PacifiCorp12.9345,800
7Sillicon Valley Power13.4656,691
8Liberty Utilities14.0050,210
9Azusa Light and Power14.0316,988
10Biggs, California Electric Utility14.39746

Last Reviewed By: Nick Reese
Published: 2021-03-16Last Updated: 2022-06-25