Final 2024 EIA average: 503 kWh/month and $160.86/month. Verify the serving utility and current tariff before making a purchase decision.
ELECTRICITY INTELLIGENCE · REVIEWED AUGUST 2026
Electricity cost in California
California's statewide residential average is a planning benchmark, not the tariff assigned to a service address. Utility, baseline allowance, climate zone and time-of-use schedule can materially change the bill.
Calculate with your ZIP →What changes the real result?
- All-in delivered rate, fixed fees and time-of-use periods
- Actual monthly kWh and seasonal HVAC load
- Plan term, minimum-use rules, credits and early termination
- Solar export compensation and address-specific production
- EV charging losses, vehicle efficiency and charging time
DO NOT MIX THESE NUMBERS
Average price ≠ utility tariff ≠ retail offer.
EIA divides residential revenue by electricity sold to create an average-revenue benchmark. Your bill applies address-specific rate rules and fees. In competitive markets, compare the full disclosure document at your normal usage—not only the advertised cents per kWh.