California Electricity Rates and Prices

EIA data through July 2026 · updated with Edition 2 of Electricity Prices by State

In July 2026 the average residential electricity price in California was 33.61 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up 2.9% from July 2025. That is the 2nd highest of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, 15.30 cents above the U.S. average of 18.31 cents. Commercial and industrial prices, same month: commercial customers 30.56 cents (up 1.6%) and industrial customers 25.11 cents (down 0.6%).

How California compares

Over the 12 months to July 2026, residential customers in California paid 55.1% more per kWh than industrial customers, the 9th narrowest gap of 51. For comparison, the national figure is 102.6% and the median jurisdiction 85.0%. That puts California in the narrowest quarter.

Over the 12 months to July 2026, commercial customers in California paid 25.6% more per kWh than industrial customers, the 19th narrowest gap of 51. For comparison, the national figure is 55.3% and the median jurisdiction 33.6%.

Since the June 2026 edition

The residential gap widened from 54.7% to 55.1%, and California moved from 8th to 9th narrowest.

The commercial gap widened from 25.3% to 25.6%, and California moved from 18th to 19th narrowest.

California and its neighbors

Electricity prices in California over time

Each year is the simple mean of its monthly prices. EIA's own annual average weights each month by sales, so it can differ slightly.

Method and sources

Prices are average retail prices from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's monthly survey of electricity sales (EIA-861M): each customer class's revenue divided by its sales, in cents per kilowatt-hour. They are averages across every customer in the class, not a tariff and not a bill. Year-on-year changes compare the same calendar month, so seasonality cancels. The rate-class gaps compare 12-month average prices for the same reason. EIA revises recent months, and revisions are carried into the next edition. Every figure matches Edition 2 of Electricity Prices by State, and this page updates with each new edition.