California Electricity Rates & Average Electricity Bills

Electricity Rates in California

Electricity Rates, Plans & Statistics

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Electricity Companies & Statistics in California

  • Population
    see rank
    39,029,342
  • Total Production
    see rank
    214,906,365 MWh / 5.51 MWh per capita
  • Total Consumption
    see rank
    237,874,785 MWh / 6.09 MWh per capita
  • Total Production from Renewable
    see rank
    104,863,890 MWh / 2.69 MWh per capita
  • CO2 Emissions from Consumption
    see rank
    49,619,231,646 kg / 1,271.33 kg per capita
  • Total Production from Non-Renewable
    see rank
    110,838,191 MWh / 2.84 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 August.

Historical Electricity Rates:

Price Per kWhAverage Bill$0.343/kWh$0.141/kWh$207.78/mo.$58.91/mo.
51st30.14¢Average residential price per kWh in the state of California
39th$145.9Average residential monthly electricity bill for California Residents

California Electricity Fuel Mix

MonthlyWe report production data as it is published. Due to reporting methods and timing, data from 2023 and 2022 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 2022 will be finalized in the fall of 2023. Until that time, some data may be incomplete. Data for 2023 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 30.14 cents per kilowatt hour compared to the United States average price of 16.12 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 0.48 outages per customer a year, with outages lasting roughly 37.75 minutes. The US average for these two data points are 1.27 outages and 137.24 minutes. California ranks as the 51st highest state in the country for electricity use per person, with an annual average of 6.09 megawatt hours consumed per resident living in the state. California has increased the amount of electricity generated by hydroelectric power sources by approximately 50.11% 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 EdisonBUNDLED30.86145.6818,041,8615,566,858,0005,722,542.19
Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyBUNDLED36.72172.510,427,4413,828,497,00030,389,658
Los Angeles Department of Water & PowerBUNDLED23.38109.667,871,136.41,840,194,7815,720,719
Clean Power AllianceENERGY10.8960.84,828,339.69525,713,095.46
Sacramento Municipal Utility DistrictBUNDLED17.08111.714,606,424.1786,908,2606,937,775.28
Marin Clean EnergyENERGY11.9949.42,530,498.3303,423,285.01
East Bay Community EnergyENERGY13.4946.482,398,776.06323,714,485.81
Imperial Irrigation DistrictBUNDLED18.51199.131,819,617336,892,3101,457,513
Central Coast Community EnergyENERGY11.4439.911,589,994.18181,904,059.38
San Diego Gas and ElectricBUNDLED46.31156.041,567,156.67725,697,4461,099,523.79
64 providers total

Commercial Electricity Providers in California

ProviderService TypeCommercial Rate (¢)Commercial Average Bill ($)Commercial Sales (MWh)Commercial Revenues ($)State Production (MWh)
Southern California EdisonBUNDLED23.101,183.1127,474,3356,347,928,0005,722,542.19
Los Angeles Department of Water & PowerBUNDLED21.712,339.0511,766,599.142,554,307,5205,720,719
Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyBUNDLED36.961,104.647,251,8132,680,499,00030,389,658
Clean Power AllianceENERGY10.27542.623,988,307.85409,744,248.9
Sacramento Municipal Utility DistrictBUNDLED16.23694.963,641,856.63591,064,2316,937,775.28
East Bay Community EnergyENERGY12.65530.142,773,875.05350,768,012.14
Marin Clean EnergyENERGY11.32406.652,596,295.02294,026,739.57
Central Coast Community EnergyENERGY10.26283.591,881,430.52193,083,935.7
Peninsula Clean EnergyENERGY11.68623.121,803,555.73210,631,629.75
San Jose Clean EnergyENERGY15.06786.711,735,943.74261,457,952.99
68 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 17,324,4318/2025
Dynegy Moss Landing Power Plant HybridDynegy Energy Services (100.00%)
Monterey County Natural Gas 4,842,4721,841,001,277.64380.18
Geysers Unit 5-20Calpine (100.00%)
Sonoma County Geothermal 4,422,335
High Desert Power PlantMRP Generation Holdings, LLC (100.00%)
Victorville Natural Gas 4,323,3731,646,124,738.16380.75
Pastoria Energy Facility, LLCCalpine (100.00%)
Kern County Natural Gas 4,077,1061,525,169,268.28374.08
Delta Energy CenterCalpine (100.00%)
Pittsburg Natural Gas 3,818,4231,470,269,041.36385.05
CosumnesSacramento Municipal Utility District (100.00%)
Sacramento County Natural Gas 3,615,022.031,273,559,001.46352.3
Los Medanos Energy CenterCalpine (100.00%)
Pittsburg Natural Gas 3,075,0921,090,628,667.8354.67
Elk Hills Power LLCCalifornia Resources Elk Hills LLC (68.17%)Elk Hills Power LLC (31.83%)
Kern County Natural Gas 3,032,2331,039,910,046.42342.95
Colusa Generating StationPacific Gas and Electric Company (100.00%)
Colusa County Natural Gas 2,929,1341,119,203,016.54382.09
354 power plants total

There is 1 Nuclear Power Plant 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 17,324,4318/2025
1 power plant total

Quick Facts

California ranks 28th in nation for production per capita from nuclear power, averaging 0.44 megawatt hours generated from nuclear sources.

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

Ranking 7th in wind power production in the nation, California has a total yield of 14,833,314.6 megawatt hours from wind power.

California produces 1.08 megawatt hours per capita per year from solar power, giving the state a rank of 5th in the nation for this category.

During the past 12 months, there has been a 8.37% decrease in the use of non-renewable fuel sources for electricity generation in California.

California ranks 2nd highest in hydroelectric power generation, generating 32,412,985.41 megawatt hours per year from hydroelectric facilities.

CountyPopulationProvidersPlantsResidential Rate (¢)Residential Avg. Electric Bill
Alameda County1,628,99714736.76$157.32/mo
Alpine County1,3441430.55$140.49/mo
Amador County40,09510137.62$168.13/mo
Butte County207,30312337.61$168.08/mo
Calaveras County45,34910237.62$168.13/mo
Colusa County21,78010137.62$168.13/mo
Contra Costa County1,156,966111337.27$164.43/mo
Del Norte County27,655218.71$157.42/mo
El Dorado County192,64615336.09$161.92/mo
Fresno County1,015,190131836.94$166.49/mo
Glenn County28,6751037.62$168.13/mo
Humboldt County135,01012237.01$160.12/mo
Imperial County178,713111319.07$197.46/mo
Inyo County18,80411331.78$151.60/mo
Kern County916,108126134.90$161.53/mo
Kings County152,98112837.26$167.25/mo
Lake County68,19110137.62$168.13/mo
Lassen County32,9491127.71$150.02/mo
Los Angeles County9,721,138214931.88$152.28/mo
Madera County160,25610337.62$168.13/mo
Marin County256,0181136.75$158.46/mo
Mariposa County17,2251037.62$168.13/mo
Mendocino County89,7831137.61$168.06/mo
Merced County290,01412436.12$165.29/mo
Modoc County8,723218.71$157.42/mo
Mono County13,2911432.38$154.76/mo
Monterey County432,85812536.50$154.53/mo
Napa County134,3001136.75$158.46/mo
Nevada County102,2931535.92$161.71/mo
Orange County3,151,184131034.52$153.17/mo
Placer County417,77216235.33$159.30/mo
Plumas County19,63110337.62$168.13/mo
Riverside County2,473,902173130.24$163.23/mo
Sacramento County1,584,16911720.24$120.38/mo
San Benito County67,5791136.58$155.61/mo
San Bernardino County2,193,656181931.98$157.68/mo
San Diego County3,276,208112845.03$154.27/mo
San Francisco County808,43712132.16$158.06/mo
San Joaquin County793,22916536.30$166.43/mo
San Luis Obispo County282,01311437.59$167.73/mo
San Mateo County729,18112236.20$158.98/mo
Santa Barbara County443,83714335.48$153.29/mo
Santa Clara County1,870,94515637.17$165.10/mo
Santa Cruz County264,3701136.38$153.01/mo
Shasta County180,930141035.64$166.93/mo
Sierra County3,0791432.67$148.80/mo
Siskiyou County44,151218.71$157.42/mo
Solano County448,74712437.45$166.56/mo
Sonoma County482,65011337.60$168.01/mo
Stanislaus County551,27512530.52$159.32/mo
Sutter County98,50310237.62$168.13/mo
Tehama County65,24510137.62$168.13/mo
Trinity County15,8181211.64$106.78/mo
Tulare County477,54412233.50$158.16/mo
Tuolumne County55,24312537.12$166.92/mo
Ventura County832,60511732.54$155.65/mo
Yolo County222,1151137.32$161.12/mo
Yuba County84,31010137.62$168.13/mo

Power Plant Fuel Types, Emissions & Pollution Factors

In California, Natural Gas makes up 42.58% of the fuel sources utilized for electricity generation. Solar and Conventional Hydroelectric are also important fuel sources in the state, with 19.62% and 15.08% 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 49,619,231,646.36 kilograms of CO2 emissions. More telling of the state's emissions reality is the per resident CO2 totals. Currently that amount stands at 1,271.33 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 354 plants. This translates to the 28th most plants per person in the United States.

NATURAL GAS
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
42.58%
SOLAR
Solar
Solar
19.62%
CONVENTIONAL HYDROELECTRIC
Conventional Hydroelectric
Conventional Hydroelectric
15.08%
NUCLEAR
Nuclear
8.06%
WIND
Wind
6.90%
OTHER
Other
8.13%

California Net Metering

California has 42 out of 64 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 33 electricity providers in California that reported energy loss. Together, these 33 providers average a yearly energy loss of 9.15% of electricity generated. The countrywide average is 2.87%, resulting in California receiving a rank of 49th 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 354 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 42.58% of the fuel used in the state. In addition, Solar makes up 19.62% and Conventional Hydroelectric makes up 15.08%.

What is a good electricity rate in California?

The average rate of electricity in California in 2024 is 30.14 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 $146 while the national average is $138.

How many electric companies offer service in California?

There are 64 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 Proj9.061,859
2Aha Macav Power Service10.29122
3Trinity PUD11.647,320
4City of Industry Electricity12.10118
5Needles Electric Company14.812,957
6Corona Department of Water and Power15.171,844
7Sillicon Valley Power15.5857,949
8Turlock Irrigation District17.0595,297
9Sacramento Municipal Utility District17.08660,442
10City of Vernon Utilities17.261,867

Alex Zdanov
Last Reviewed By: Alex Zdanov
Published: 2024-06-24