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Energy Profile

How Much Is Electricity in California?

The residential electricity rate in California is 32.54¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh), ranking #50 cheapest among all 51 US states. The national average is 17.92¢/kWh, making California 82% above average.

Reviewed by EnergyProfile Editorial Team · Updated

32.54¢

Residential

#50

Price Rank

50.8%

Renewable

Residential Rate32.54¢/kWh
Commercial Rate26.36¢/kWh
Industrial Rate21.62¢/kWh
US Average (Residential)17.92¢/kWh

At 32.54¢/kWh, residential electricity in California is 82% above the U.S. average of 17.92¢/kWh — the 2nd most expensive residential rate among 51 states and territories.

Across rate classes, commercial customers pay 26.36¢/kWh and industrial customers 21.62¢/kWh — a 4.74¢/kWh gap that reflects the volume discounts large industrial loads receive. Renewables supply 50.8% of California's electricity generation — the 10th highest renewable share nationally — with natural gas the single largest source at 40.5%, followed by solar at 22.6%.

In 2024, California generated about 214,191 GWh of electricity in total.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2026.