California Electricity Rates
Residential rate
35.25¢/kWh
+87% vs US average
Rank (most expensive)
#2
of 51 (incl. DC)
Est. monthly bill
$310
at the US-typical 880 kWh/month
What that rate means in practice
| Appliance (typical use) | Cost per month in California |
|---|---|
| Space heater | $96.44 |
| Central air conditioner (3 ton) | $300.05 |
| Window AC unit | $77.16 |
| Portable AC unit | $94.30 |
| Electric water heater (tank) | $128.59 |
| Heat pump water heater | $32.15 |
| Electric clothes dryer | $32.15 |
| Washing machine | $2.68 |
| Dishwasher | $13.93 |
| Refrigerator (modern) | $12.86 |
| Chest freezer | $15.00 |
| Electric oven | $26.79 |
Typical wattages and durations, adjust them in the calculator.
Run your own numbers for California
- Heat pump vs gas furnace, gas here currently costs about $2.00/therm
- EV home charging cost
- Solar payback under 2026 rules
- California rebates that are still available
Rate source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential average). Bills vary by utility and usage.