California electric bills

Data through August 2026. Updated November 6, 2026.

What California homes pay

Residential customers in California paid an average of 29.8¢ per kWh in August 2026, down 3.8% from 30.9¢ in August 2025. Compared with August 2023, when it was 30.0¢, the price has moved -0.7%. Over the 12 months through August 2026 the average was 32.6¢, which puts California above the middle state at 15.8¢ and 2nd highest among the states and DC. States closest in price are Massachusetts (30.4¢), Maine (29.6¢), Rhode Island (29.5¢), New York (28.5¢).

Monthly average revenue per kWh, all residential customers. Source: EIA Form EIA-861M.

The highest monthly average in our records is 35.3¢ (April 2026) and the lowest is 26.5¢ (January 2023). These averages include fixed charges, so they typically move a little with the seasons even without a rate change: usage rises in peak months and spreads those fixed costs over more kWh. Your own price depends on your utility and plan, and can differ from the state figure by a wide margin.

How weather moves California bills

We compared monthly federal usage records with NOAA temperature data for California. For the average home, each extra 100 cooling degree days has gone with about 122 more kWh in a month, and each extra 100 heating degree days with about 32 more kWh. In California, heat has moved usage more than cold has, per degree day. At 32.6¢, 100 cooling degree days works out near $40 and 100 heating degree days near $10.

Put the actual weather and prices together, and an average-use home's bill over the past 12 months would have peaked around July at about $239 and bottomed around December at about $142. That is a seasonal swing of about $97 with nothing unusual going on, so comparing a July bill to a December bill says little. Use the same month a year apart when you can.

Model estimates using state price and degree days, not actual billed amounts. The model's accuracy on data it had not seen (R²) was 0.70. How we test this.

Reading a state average

A state figure is a useful yardstick but doesn't describe your bill. Different utilities within California can charge noticeably different prices, and your plan may include tiers, time-of-use pricing or a separate supplier. If your all-in price (total bill divided by kWh) sits far above 29.8¢, read your plan and fixed charges closely. In a low-usage month, a fixed charge alone can do that. Our guide to reading your bill shows which lines to compare, and the high bill checklist covers what to do if usage is the issue.

Common questions

What is the average electricity price in California?

The average residential price was 29.8¢ per kWh in August 2026, the latest federal figure. The 12-month average was 32.6¢. Your own rate depends on your utility and plan.

Are California electric rates going up?

The state average was down 3.8% from 30.9¢ a year earlier. One month's comparison is not a forecast, and it can differ from your utility's change.

How much does weather affect a California electric bill?

About 122 kWh for each extra 100 cooling degree days and 32 kWh for each extra 100 heating degree days, for an average home in the state. Your home may respond quite differently.

Which month has the highest electric bill in California?

Over the past 12 months our model put the average peak near July and the low near December. This is a statewide estimate and can vary by location and heating type.

Where does this data come from?

Prices come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Form EIA-861M through August 2026. Weather comes from NOAA, through October 2026. Both are statewide figures.