Electricity cost in California, 2026
Homes in California paid an average of 33.25¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 83% above the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 2.5% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 50th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$89.78a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.50
- Per day
- $2.99 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $1,092 · 3,285 kWh
Wattage on the nameplate is the maximum. Thermostat-controlled appliances (fridges, heaters, AC) cycle, so their real cost is usually lower; a plug-in meter tells you exactly.
What appliances cost to run in California
At 33.25¢/kWh, 30-day month. Your utility's rate and fixed charges will differ; your bill's total divided by its kWh is your real price.
| Appliance | Watts | h/day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (modern, ENERGY STAR) | 150 | 10 | $14.96 | $182.04 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $279.30 | $3,398 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $71.82 | $873.81 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $89.78 | $1,092 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $134.66 | $1,638 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $40.40 | $491.52 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $93.96 | $1,143 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $4.99 | $60.68 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $9.58 | $116.51 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $13.47 | $163.84 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $5.99 | $72.82 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $114.91 | $1,398 |
California compared with its neighbors
California is in the EIA's Pacific region. July's price (33.61¢) ran above the year-to-date average, the usual summer peak. In the same region, Washington paid 14.40¢.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 14.40 | +13.0% | 15 of 51 |
| Oregon | 15.40 | +1.4% | 23 of 51 |
| California | 33.25 | +2.5% | 50 of 51 |
Charging an EV in California
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $10.56 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $126.67 a month to the bill. Size the circuit with the EV charger calculator.
Solar panels in California
NREL's PVWatts model puts a south-facing, 20° roof array in Los Angeles at about 1,677 kWh per kW of panels a year (6.1 peak sun hours a day). Covering the average US home's 899 kWh a month takes about 6.4 kW, or 17 panels of 400 W; at 33.25¢/kWh that power is worth about $3,792 a year. Output peaks in Aug (173 kWh per kW) and bottoms out in Dec (100). Run your own numbers in the solar panel calculator.
Running backup power instead
A 7.5 kW portable generator at half load burns about 0.75 gallons of gasoline an hour, roughly 3.75 kWh. At $3.20 a gallon that is about 64¢ per kWh — 1.9 times California's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.