Electricity rates › California

California electricity rates

Homes in California pay an average of 32.0¢ per kWh, 94% above the US average, and use 503 kWh a month. California ranks #2 of 51 for residential electricity prices.

32.0¢average price per kWh

503 kWhaverage use per month

$161average monthly bill

#2 of 51price rank (1 = most expensive)

Residential rates by utility in California

Utility	¢/kWh	ZIP codes served
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.	34.0	1,140
Southern California Edison Co	32.3	801
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power	23.0	260
San Diego Gas & Electric Co	45.5	210
Sacramento Municipal Util Dist	16.9	149
City & County of San Francisco	19.9	59
PacifiCorp	17.0	53
Imperial Irrigation District	17.6	40
City of Pasadena	24.1	35
City of Anaheim	17.5	32
City of Glendale	25.1	31
Modesto Irrigation District	19.7	30

Average residential rates for full-service utilities, from NREL’s utility rates by ZIP code (2023). In areas with retail choice, your price depends on the plan you pick.

Is solar worth it in California?

At 32.0¢ per kWh, every 1,000 kWh your roof makes and you use yourself is worth about $320. A system that covers the average California home would replace about 6,036 kWh a year, roughly $1,930 of electricity at today’s prices.

4.8 kWsystem for an average home (12 panels)

$14,400rough installed cost

$1,930electricity saved per year

~7 yearssimple payback

Assumes a typical 1,350 kWh per kW of panels a year and $3.00/W installed, before incentives and price increases. Your roof’s direction, pitch and shade change these numbers; the estimator measures them for your address.

Plan solar for your California home

State figures: EIA Table 5A, 2024 Average Monthly Bill - Residential (forms EIA-861, 861S, 861U).